Glossary

Impact-resistant roof

A roof built with a covering tested to withstand hail and debris impact, which can earn a premium credit from some insurers in hail-prone states.

Also called: impact-rated roof, hail-resistant roof, impact-resistant shingles

An impact-resistant roof is one covered with material that has passed a standardized impact test, most often UL 2218, which rates products from Class 1 to Class 4, or FM 4473. Some asphalt shingles, metal panels, tile and synthetic products can earn a rating. The best-known label is class 4 roof, the top UL 2218 class.

Insurers in hail-prone states may reduce the premium for a rated roof, since hail is a major driver of claims. The credit is not automatic, and it varies by insurer and state. Ask your agent which ratings count, what documents are required, and when the credit takes effect. Typical proof is the manufacturer's rating certificate, the installer's invoice and sometimes photographs.

Say you replace a 20-year-old roof with an impact-rated product and the insurer takes a percentage off the roof-related premium (hypothetical). The saving is real but may be smaller than the extra cost of the roof, so compare payback before you commit.

Three limits are worth knowing. A rating does not make a roof hail-proof. Some insurers attach a cosmetic damage exclusion to rated roofs. And impact resistance says nothing about wind uplift, which is tested separately. The guide impact-resistant (Class 4) roofs and hail discounts covers the details, and The FORTIFIED Home standard and insurance discounts addresses wind.

Last reviewed October 10, 2026

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Related terms

Class 4 roof A roof covering that earned the top impact rating under the UL 2218 test, which simulates hail with a dropped steel ball, and that insurers may discount. Hail damage Dents, bruises, cracks and punctures that falling ice causes to roofs, siding, windows and outdoor equipment, covered under the windstorm or hail peril. Cosmetic damage exclusion An endorsement that excludes hail dents, pitting and surface marks that do not stop a roof or siding from doing its job, often in exchange for a lower premium. Mitigation credit A premium discount for building features shown to reduce storm or wildfire damage, such as a reinforced roof, impact windows or defensible space. Windstorm The peril of damage from high winds, including hurricanes, tornadoes and thunderstorm gusts, which most policies cover, sometimes with a separate deductible.

Related guides

Impact-resistant (Class 4) roofs and hail discounts What a Class 4 rating tests, which roofs qualify, how insurers and states handle the discount, and the cosmetic-damage catch to check before you upgrade. Metal roofs and insurance How insurers treat metal roofs: hail dents and cosmetic damage exclusions, fire, wind and hail credits, age limits, matching, and what to ask before you buy.

Related insurers

Farmers Mutual of Nebraska (FMNE) Lincoln, Nebraska insurer founded by 22 farmers in 1891, selling home, farm and auto coverage through independent agents in Nebraska and the Dakotas. Mountain West Farm Bureau Insurance Laramie-based Farm Bureau insurer founded in 1948 that sells home, auto and ranch coverage in Wyoming and Montana; Idaho Farm Bureau bought it in 2026. Texas Farm Bureau Insurance Waco-based Farm Bureau insurer, writing in Texas since 1952 through county-office agents; Texas' ninth-largest home insurer, for Texas Farm Bureau members only.

Related tools

Roof and mitigation upgrade payback calculator Weigh a roof or storm-hardening upgrade, after grants, against the premium discount it earns and see how many years it takes to pay for itself.