Should you choose GAF Timberline impact-resistant shingles?
Short answer. GAF's impact-resistant Timberline options, Timberline AS II and Timberline UHDZ with UltraMat, are both rated UL 2218 Class 4 and make the most sense for Georgia homes in repeat-hail areas, owners staying long term, and anyone whose insurer offers a Class 4 discount. If none of those apply, standard Timberline HDZ, already rated Class 3, may be all the roof you need.
Who benefits most
- Homes in neighborhoods that have been hit by hail more than once in recent years.
- Owners planning to stay long enough for avoided repairs and any discount to add up.
- Policies with a percentage wind and hail deductible, where every claim costs you real money.
- Homeowners whose insurer gives a credit for Class 4 roofs.
Questions to ask before upgrading
- Does my insurer discount Class 4 roofs, by how much, and what proof is needed?
- What is my wind and hail deductible?
- What is the price difference between HDZ and the Class 4 options on my roof?
- Which colors are available locally in each line?
- For UHDZ, will the bundles carry the UltraMat logo and Class 4 statement?
AS II or UHDZ?
AS II gets its rating from flexible SBS modified asphalt and keeps a standard Timberline look. UHDZ gets it from a heavier fiberglass mat and adds a thicker, bolder profile. GAF has also promoted Class 4 rated ridge cap shingles to pair with them, so ask whether your quote includes them.
The middle option
Timberline HDZ carries a Class 3 rating on packages bearing that statement, a meaningful step up from unrated shingles at no premium.
Realistic expectations
No shingle is hail-proof, and GAF excludes hail damage from its shingle warranty. Check your area's storm history on the North Georgia Hail Map, and read impact-resistant shingles in Georgia and Georgia hail season.