Yeah, I totally get what you mean about the underlayment—didn’t think it’d matter much until I actually heard the difference during a storm. As for impact shingles, I was on the fence at first because of the price, but after last spring’s hail trashed half my neighbor’s roof and mine came out fine, I’m convinced they’re worth it. The peace of mind alone is huge, especially when you’re tired of dealing with insurance claims every other year. Only thing is, don’t expect miracles with attic temps—like you said, it’s just a small improvement, but every little bit helps when it’s roasting outside.
The peace of mind alone is huge, especially when you’re tired of dealing with insurance claims every other year.
That’s honestly the main reason I bit the bullet on impact shingles too. The upfront cost stings, but not having to patch things up after every hailstorm is a relief. I do wish they did more for attic heat, but yeah—small gains are still gains.
I do wish they did more for attic heat, but yeah—small gains are still gains.
Honestly, that’s where I think impact shingles get a bit overhyped. They’re solid for hail, sure, but if you’re worried about attic heat, you might want to look at better ventilation or even lighter-colored shingles. I’ve seen folks swap to impact-rated thinking it’ll help with summer temps, but unless you address airflow and insulation, it’s not a game changer. Just my two cents from crawling around a lot of attics...
I’ve actually seen this play out a few times—neighbors swapped to impact-rated shingles after a nasty hailstorm, but their attics still felt like ovens in July. The shingles held up great against hail, but the heat issue didn’t budge until they added ridge vents and swapped to a lighter color. From what I’ve seen, shingle type helps with hail, but attic temps are way more about ventilation and insulation. It’s easy to get caught up in the marketing, but the basics still matter most.
- Seen a lot of folks get sold on the “hail resistant” label, but I always wonder—are those shingles actually tested in real-world hail, or just in a lab with ice balls?
- Completely agree, attic heat’s a whole other beast. Around here (Midwest), I’ve inspected homes with brand new impact shingles and they still had 130°F up there in July. Usually poor soffit/ridge venting or not enough insulation.
- Lighter colors can help, but honestly, I’ve seen some dark roofs run cool if the airflow’s right.
- Curious if anyone’s noticed a difference in noise with the impact-rated stuff during storms? Some clients say it’s quieter, some say no change.
- Anyone ever have issues with insurance not giving a discount after upgrading? One homeowner told me their rate barely budged even after switching.
- Last thing—has anyone tried those newer synthetic underlayments under impact shingles? Wondering if that adds anything for hail or just marketing hype...