The Bottom Line: Texas homeowners pay $2,000-$4,000 more for "impact-resistant" shingles. New independent testing reveals a wide performance gap between products marketed the same way:
- Top performers: Owens Corning Duration and GAF Grand Sequoia tied at 8.0/10
- Mid-pack: 16 products scored 6.0-7.9 (all rated "Good")
- Underperformers: 5 products scored 5.2-5.8 ("Marginal") — not recommended for hail-prone areas
- Key finding: No product achieved "Excellent" (9+) — even the best have vulnerabilities
Texas homeowners pay premium prices for impact-resistant shingles — often $2,000-$4,000 more than standard options. The promise? Protection against the state's brutal hail seasons. The reality? New independent testing shows not all "Class 4" shingles deliver on that promise.
The Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety (IBHS) just released their most comprehensive shingle ratings ever, testing 24 products representing 95% of the market. The results reveal a wide performance gap — and some popular brands fell short.
Here's what the data shows, and what it means for your next roof.
The Full 2025 IBHS Rankings
IBHS is funded by the insurance industry with no manufacturer ties. Their testing uses lab-made ice hailstones — not the steel balls used in standard UL 2218 testing — providing a more realistic measure of how shingles perform in actual storms.
Products are rated across three damage categories:
- D/R (Dents & Ridges) — Structural damage that can compromise weatherproofing
- T (Tears) — Shingle integrity failure exposing underlayment
- GL (Granule Loss) — Protective coating stripped away, accelerating aging
Scores range from 0-10, with 6+ rated "Good" and 9+ rated "Excellent."
Good Rated Products (18 shingles)
These products are recommended for hail-prone areas:
| Rank | Product | Brand | Overall | D/R | T | GL |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Grand Sequoia Designer Lifetime | GAF | 8.0 | 8.0 | 8.8 | 7.2 |
| 1 | TruDefinition Duration | Owens Corning | 8.0 | 7.6 | 8.1 | 8.3 |
| 3 | Timberline AS II ArmorShield SBS | GAF | 7.9 | 6.0 | 9.6 | 8.0 |
| 4 | Legacy Scotchgard Protector | Malarkey | 7.8 | 8.6 | 7.6 | 7.3 |
| 5 | Northgate ClimateFlex | CertainTeed | 7.7 | 4.5 | 8.9 | 9.7 |
| 5 | Belmont IR | CertainTeed | 7.7 | 8.2 | 9.6 | 5.3 |
| 7 | TruDefinition DurationFLEX | Owens Corning | 7.5 | 6.0 | 7.9 | 8.5 |
| 8 | Highlander AR | Malarkey | 7.0 | 3.5 | 9.1 | 8.3 |
| 9 | Presidential Shake | CertainTeed | 6.9 | 7.4 | 7.2 | 6.2 |
| 9 | Landmark | CertainTeed | 6.9 | 5.8 | 8.2 | 6.7 |
| 9 | TruDefinition DurationSTORM | Owens Corning | 6.9 | 5.8 | 8.2 | 6.6 |
| 12 | StormMaster Shake | Atlas | 6.8 | 4.7 | 7.3 | 8.3 |
| 13 | Timberline HDZ High Definition | GAF | 6.7 | 4.9 | 7.5 | 7.7 |
| 14 | Pinnacle Impact | Atlas | 6.6 | 5.2 | 8.3 | 6.2 |
| 15 | Prestige | Pabco | 6.2 | 3.9 | 8.3 | 6.4 |
| 15 | Landmark ClimateFlex | CertainTeed | 6.2 | 3.4 | 7.2 | 7.9 |
| 17 | Timberline UHDZ Ultra High Definition | GAF | 6.1 | 6.8 | 7.3 | 4.3 |
| 18 | Pinnacle Pristine | Atlas | 6.0 | 4.2 | 8.1 | 5.7 |
Marginal Rated Products (5 shingles)
These products are NOT recommended for hail-prone areas:
| Rank | Product | Brand | Overall | D/R | T | GL |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 19 | StormFighter Flex4 | TAMKO | 5.8 | 4.3 | 6.7 | 6.3 |
| 20 | Dynasty with Armour Zone | IKO | 5.7 | 5.6 | 6.3 | 5.3 |
| 21 | Nordic with Armour Zone | IKO | 5.6 | 4.4 | 7.1 | 5.3 |
| 22 | Titan XT Premium Architectural | TAMKO | 5.4 | 4.2 | 7.8 | 4.3 |
| 23 | Vista AR | Malarkey | 5.2 | 6.7 | 3.3 | 5.7 |
Key finding: No product achieved "Excellent" (9+) overall. Even the top-rated shingles have vulnerabilities in at least one category. This is why installation quality and overall roof system design matter as much as shingle selection.
Why This Matters for Texas Homeowners
Texas isn't just another hail market — it's THE hail market. According to IBHS data, Texas accounts for 43% of all impact-resistant shingles sold nationally. The state experiences both the highest frequency of hail AND the largest hailstones in the country.
This creates a unique situation: Texas homeowners are the biggest buyers of impact-resistant shingles, but many are getting products that underperform in exactly the conditions they're designed for.
The Real Cost of Choosing Wrong
Here's what makes this data urgent: Texas insurers are increasingly switching from flat deductibles to percentage-based deductibles for hail and wind events.
Instead of a $1,000 deductible, you might face 1-2% of your home's value:
| Home Value | 1% Deductible | 2% Deductible |
|---|---|---|
| $300,000 | $3,000 | $6,000 |
| $400,000 | $4,000 | $8,000 |
| $500,000 | $5,000 | $10,000 |
| $600,000 | $6,000 | $12,000 |
If your "impact-resistant" shingles fail after a moderate hail event, you're covering that cost yourself. Choosing a shingle that scored 5.4 instead of 8.0 isn't just a spec difference — it's potentially thousands of dollars when the next storm hits.
The Compounding Problem
- Marginal-rated shingles sustain more damage per storm
- More claims = higher premiums or policy non-renewal
- Granule loss accelerates aging, shortening roof lifespan
- You paid the premium price but didn't get the premium protection
The Class 4 Myth
Here's the critical disconnect most Texas homeowners don't understand: UL 2218 Class 4 certification is not the same as IBHS testing.
Class 4 uses a steel ball drop test. IBHS uses realistic ice hailstones that behave like actual hail — they shatter, they have irregular shapes, they impact at realistic velocities.
A shingle can pass Class 4 certification but still score "Marginal" on IBHS testing.
Look at the data: Several Class 4 rated products landed in the 5.2-5.8 range — not recommended for hail-prone areas despite having the industry's highest impact rating. The certification doesn't tell the whole story.
What to ask your contractor: Don't just ask "Is this Class 4?" Ask "What's the IBHS score?" and verify at ibhs.org/ImpactRatings
Want Help Choosing the Right Shingle?
We can walk you through the options based on your specific situation and location.
Get Free ConsultationWhat We Install and Why
We're transparent about our product choices because they're based on data, not marketing relationships.
Owens Corning Duration (Score: 8.0 — Tied #1)
- Highest overall score in IBHS testing
- Particularly strong in Granule Loss (8.3) — critical for Texas UV exposure
- Our go-to recommendation for hail-prone areas like Austin
- SureNail technology provides excellent fastener strength
GAF Timberline HDZ (Score: 6.7 — Good)
- Still "Good" rated — a solid mid-pack performer
- Where it shines: unlimited wind speed warranty
- Best for areas where wind is the primary concern over hail
- As a GAF Master Elite contractor (top 2% nationwide), we offer Golden Pledge warranty protection
The Honest Take
We install both because Texas weather varies. Austin's hail risk calls for Duration's #1-rated hail performance. Gulf Coast properties face different threats where HDZ's wind warranty matters more. We recommend based on your specific location and risk profile — not a one-size-fits-all approach.
Beyond Shingles: FORTIFIED Certification
For homeowners wanting the highest level of verified protection, IBHS also administers the FORTIFIED roof program — a comprehensive building standard that goes beyond shingle selection to verify installation quality.
A FORTIFIED roof includes:
- Sealed roof deck preventing water intrusion even if shingles blow off
- Ring-shank nails with double the wind uplift resistance
- Enhanced drip edge and flashing at vulnerable points
- Third-party verification — not just good materials, but proven installation
While not yet common in Texas, FORTIFIED designations are standard in hurricane-prone states like Louisiana and are expected to expand as insurers push for proven resilience. We're already one of the most experienced FORTIFIED contractors in the region with hundreds of certified installations.
Learn more about FORTIFIED certification →
Frequently Asked Questions
The Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety rates shingles on a 0-10 scale across three categories: Dents/Ridges, Tears, and Granule Loss. Unlike UL 2218 testing (steel balls), IBHS uses lab-made ice hailstones that replicate real storm conditions. Ratings of 6+ are "Good," 9+ are "Excellent."
GAF Grand Sequoia Designer and Owens Corning TruDefinition Duration tied for #1 with an overall score of 8.0. No shingles achieved "Excellent" (9+) overall, making these the best-performing options currently available.
No. UL 2218 Class 4 uses steel ball drop tests, while IBHS uses realistic ice hailstones. A shingle can be Class 4 certified but still score "Marginal" on IBHS testing. IBHS ratings better predict real-world hail performance because they simulate actual storm conditions.
Several Class 4 rated products landed in "Marginal" territory (5.2-5.8), including options from IKO, TAMKO, and Malarkey. This highlights the gap between marketing claims and independent testing results. The UL 2218 steel ball test doesn't replicate how real ice hailstones behave on impact.
Not yet directly, but insurers fund IBHS research. As percentage-based hail deductibles become standard in Texas, expect insurers to start differentiating based on verified performance data, not just Class 4 certification. The trend is moving toward data-driven underwriting.
Based on IBHS data, the top performers are Owens Corning Duration (8.0), GAF Grand Sequoia (8.0), and GAF Timberline AS II ArmorShield (7.9). All scored "Good" with strong performance across damage categories. For most Texas homeowners, OC Duration offers the best combination of hail resistance and value.
Ask for the specific product name and check it against the IBHS scorecard at ibhs.org/ImpactRatings. Avoid contractors who only reference "Class 4" without specifying the actual product and IBHS rating. A reputable contractor will know their products' scores and be transparent about performance data.
FORTIFIED is an IBHS-administered building standard that verifies not just materials but installation quality. A third-party evaluator inspects the roof before, during, and after installation. Common in hurricane states like Louisiana, it's expanding to hail-prone regions like Texas as insurers push for verified resilience.
