Missouri Home Gets a Fresh Appearance With Impact-Resistant Roof Upgrade

Of the $723 million in property damage caused by hail in the United States annually, many of those losses take place in the “hail belt,” a center strip of the country that regularly receives more hail damage than most parts of the country.

Sibley, Missouri, a suburb of Kansas City, sits squarely in the buckle of the hail belt. An impressive five-bedroom home built in Sibley had weathered several damaging storms, but unfortunately, the home’s wood shake roof could not stand the test of time.

When Chase Roscher, vice president of Zucca & Daughters & Sons Roofing Company, Inc., was approached by the homeowner, the home’s roof was failing and in need of total replacement.

“This particular roof was a wood shake roof and had bad hail damage,” says Roscher. He explained that while popular for its natural aesthetic, wood shake roofing can be difficult and expensive to maintain properly.

“Unlike asphalt roofing, wood shake roofing requires yearly maintenance and upkeep to avoid becoming a hazard,” said Roscher. Without diligent upkeep, he added, prolonged sun and water exposure can cause wood shake to break down, making it more vulnerable to mold, algae, fires and impact damage from hail and wind-blown debris.

In addition to needing an impact-resistant roof solution, the slope of the roof was an extremely steep 12/12 pitch. The roof would need a sturdy, reinforced shingle that would resist the forces of gravity. According to Roscher, the homeowner considered swapping out their aging wood roof with a slate roof. While slate can provide a long-lasting, sophisticated appearance, the weight and cost of the product are often prohibitive.

“Slate roofing will last longer, but it is so heavy that if your house isn’t built for it, you have to go in and do a lot of additional structural work to support it,” Roscher says. “It’s also extremely expensive compared to asphalt. For people looking for a higher-end appearance, the value proposition of an impact-resistant asphalt shingle really fits that need.”

Roscher suggested CertainTeed Belmont IR (Impact Resistant) shingles in the color Black Granite for the project. Emulating the appearance of slate, the product offered a natural-looking solution with the strength and durability of a reinforced, impact-resistant asphalt shingle. Eighty-five squares of the product were required for the project.

“We try to present Belmont to customers as an option,” says Roscher. “With this product, you’re spending less to get the same great look as slate with more functionality.”

Installing the product came with benefits for both the homeowner and the roofing contractor. The product offers Class 4 impact-resistance — the highest impact rating in the industry — allowing the homeowner to qualify for a premium discount on their home insurance and decreasing the chances of having to file a hail damage claim in the future.

For the roofing contractor, working with a familiar, lighter-weight asphalt product — as opposed to a heavier slate product — saved his crew time and improved the safety of the installation. That was especially important, given the steep pitch of the roof and three stories separating the eaves from the ground below.

“The homeowner was extremely happy, and the product gave the homeowner insurance savings and more value,” Roscher says. “That’s better for us and the homeowner.”

TEAM

Roofing Contractor: Zucca & Daughters & Sons Roofing Company Inc., Blue Springs, Missouri, www.zuccaroofing.com

MATERIALS

Shingles: Belmont IR in Black Granite, CertainTeed, www.certainteed.com