Are Impact-Resistant Shingles Really Necessary for Homes in Northeastern Illinois?

Hailstorms are part of life in the Midwest. Some pass with nothing more than a few dents in your gutters. Others leave behind cracked shingles, roof leaks, and unexpected insurance claims. And if you've ever gone through the stress of a post-storm inspection, you may have wondered: Is there a way to prevent hail damage? Would impact-resistant shingles have made a difference?

At Happy Roofing, we primarily work with impact-resistant shingles and have seen how these materials perform in the greater Naperville area. We're not here to sell you on an upgrade that you don't need, but help you decide whether impact-resistant shingles are worth it for you and your home.

In this article, we'll break down:

• What impact-resistant shingles are, and how they earn their impact rating
• A real-world example of how Malarkey's impact-resistant shingles performed during a hailstorm
• What you can expect to pay for impact-rated shingles

Table of Contents

• What Is an Impact-Resistant Shingle?
• How Do Impact-Resistant Shingles Perform?
• Are Impact-Resistant Shingles Worth It in Illinois?
• How to Choose the Right Shingles For Your Home?

What Does it Mean When a Shingle is Impact-Resistant?

An impact-resistant shingle is designed to better withstand damage from hail, debris, and severe weather without cracking, splitting, or losing granules. These shingles are rated for durability using industry-standard impact tests (where a steel ball is dropped from a specified height onto the shingle), with Class 4 being the highest rating.

Others have taken these industry-standard tests a step further, using an "ice-cannon" to simulate extreme hail conditions and really put impact-rated shingles to the test.

If you live in a storm-prone area like Naperville or the greater Chicagoland area, these shingles can potentially reduce damage after a hailstorm. In some cases, they can even help lower insurance premiums.

Impact-resistant shingles are typically made one of two ways:

• Polymer-based mesh: Some impact-resistant shingles use a reinforcing mesh, usually made from fiberglass or polyester, built into the back of the shingle. This mesh helps spread out the force from hail or flying debris so the shingle is less likely to crack.
• Rubberized asphalt: Other shingles, like those that we primarily use from Malarkey, use SBS-modified asphalt. This is a rubberized polymer blend that adds flexibility and helps the shingle absorb impacts without breaking.

Below is a visual breakdown of how Malarkey Roofing Products constructs its impact-rated shingles, from their website:

How Do Impact-Rated Shingles Perform After a Hail Storm?

The performance of impact-rated shingles depends on factors like storm severity, roof condition, and installation quality. While they can reduce the risk of damage, results will always vary from one home and storm to the next.

After a hailstorm that brought hail up to 2 inches in diameter to Naperville in 2023, our team at Happy Roofing had the opportunity to inspect two neighboring homes in Farmingdale Village, directly across the street from one another, for signs of hail or other storm damage.

One of the homes belonged to a homeowner who had us install Malarkey Vista shingles, which have a Class 4 Impact Rating. The other home had non-impact-rated shingles and faced the same conditions during the storm. This gave us a rare, side-by-side performance comparison between impact and non-impact-rated shingles.

How Did the Two Homes (One With and One Without Impact-Rated Shingles) Fare After the Storm?

Both homes suffered similar storm damage to areas like the siding, exterior window trim, gutters, and roof penetrations like vents or skylights. The differences became more apparent when we looked at the shingles specifically:

• The neighboring roof, which had standard non-impact-rated shingles, was left with multiple shingles that showed clear bruising, exposed asphalt, and granule displacement. We documented enough damage for the homeowner to begin the insurance claim process. The visible damage exposed the underlying asphalt and created potential entry points for moisture, which could negatively impact the long-term effectiveness of the roof.
• The Malarkey roof showed minimal signs of damage. While a few shingles had light, isolated impact marks, there was no structural damage or major cause for concern. While there was some granule loss (the protective coating that gives asphalt shingles their color and protects the asphalt from environmental exposure) in those impact areas, it wasn't significant enough to cause any immediate leaks or failure points. We did recommend minor, preventative repairs in those areas, but the homeowner chose not to pursue that route.

Here are some photos of the two roofs side by side, showing the difference in the amount of visible shingle damage we documented:

While no level of impact-resistant shingles can protect everything (gutters, siding, and other exterior elements are still vulnerable), in this case, the impact-rated shingles did make a difference. The Malarkey roof experienced far less damage compared to the standard shingles across the street, minimizing the need for repairs after the storm, while the neighboring home required more urgent attention and resulted in an insurance claim.

But does that mean impact-rated shingles are necessary if you live in Illinois?

Are Impact-Resistant Shingles Worth It in Illinois?

Whether or not impact-resistant shingles are worth the upgrade depends on your home, your goals, and where you live. For many homeowners in areas like Naperville, they can offer real long-term benefits.

However, we recognize that they're not the right fit for everyone. While we do primarily install Malarkey's impact-rated shingles and would always recommend them to homeowners, they aren't absolutely necessary in Illinois.

Who Could Benefit From Impact-Resistant Shingles?

If you plan on keeping your house long-term or prioritize durability, impact-resistant shingles can be a worthwhile investment for you. The storms we get in Northeastern Illinois can be pretty severe, but we typically only see one or two significant hail events a year.

So deciding whether or not the upgrade is worth it depends on your goals:

How Much Do Impact-Resistant Shingles Cost?

Upgrading from basic asphalt shingles to Class 3 or Class 4 impact-rated shingles typically adds about $30 - $40 per square (100 square feet) to the cost of materials, depending on the brand and product line.

For an average-sized roof (around 2500 square feet, or 25 squares), this could mean an additional $750 - $1,000 on the total job. Installation costs will typically remain the same regardless of the shingle's impact rating, so most of that price difference comes solely from material choice.

How Can You Choose the Right Shingles For Your Home?

Choosing the right shingle comes down to research and comparisons. Many manufacturers use similar terminology to describe their shingles, but these companies are far from the same.

Impact-rated shingles can be a smart investment in hail-prone areas like Naperville, but that doesn't mean they're the right fit for every home or homeowner. Whether the upgrade makes sense depends on your goals, your budget, and how long you plan to stay in the home.

Regardless of which you choose, comparing manufacturers before a roofing project can help you stay in control of your home's future. If you're still weighing your options and want a closer look at Malarkey as a brand, read our next article: An Honest Review of Malarkey Roofing Products: Pros, Cons, and How They Compare.

If you want to talk to a professional for some clarity on your specific situation, we offer no-commitment consultations. Our goal is to give you clear, honest guidance on whether impact-resistant shingles, or any upgrade, is the right move for your home, with no obligation to move forward