DECRA Roofing and Insurance Premiums: What the Class 4 Rating Actually Means for Your Policy
Installing a DECRA stone coated steel roof can reduce your homeowner’s insurance premiums by 10 to 30% on the dwelling coverage portion of your policy. That range reflects real variation across insurers, states, and individual policies — but the discount mechanism is well-established, and understanding it helps you quantify the financial benefit before you sign a roofing contract.
Here’s what drives the discount, how it differs between Arkansas and Michigan, and what documentation you need to capture the savings.
How Insurance Companies Evaluate Roofing Material
Homeowner’s insurance pricing is built on claim probability. A roof that’s more likely to survive a hail event without filing a claim is a lower-cost risk for the insurer — and insurers pass some of that savings back to policyholders as a premium reduction.
The primary metric insurers use for hail and impact resistance is the UL 2218 test standard, which classifies roofing materials into four impact resistance levels based on a standardized steel ball drop test:
- Class 1: Withstands a 1.25-inch steel ball dropped from 7 feet
- Class 2: Withstands a 1.5-inch steel ball dropped from 10 feet
- Class 3: Withstands a 1.75-inch steel ball dropped from 14 feet
- Class 4: Withstands a 2-inch steel ball dropped from 20 feet without cracking or fracturing
Class 4 is the maximum rating. DECRA’s full product line — Shake XD, Shingle XD, Tile, and Villa Tile — carries Class 4 ratings. TILCOR and Westlake Royal Unified Steel products also achieve Class 4. This is not a DECRA-exclusive advantage, but DECRA’s Class 4 certifications are among the most documented in the industry, which matters when you’re submitting documentation to your insurer.
What UL 2218 Testing Actually Means
The UL 2218 test was designed to simulate hail impact. A 2-inch steel ball represents roughly the kinetic energy of a large hailstone. Panels that crack, fracture, or split on impact are classified at a lower tier. Panels that remain intact — meaning no cracking of the coating, no exposed substrate — qualify for Class 4.
Standard asphalt architectural shingles typically achieve Class 3 impact ratings when rated at all — many are not rated for impact resistance. The Atlas Pinnacle Pristine, which we also install, is a Class 3 product. Class 3 typically qualifies for modest premium discounts (5 to 15%) in hail-prone states, but the discount for Class 4 is substantially larger in high-risk markets.
Insurance Market Differences: Arkansas vs. Michigan
Arkansas
Arkansas ranks among the top 10 states nationally for hail claim frequency. Hail season runs from March through May, with severe storm events capable of producing 1.5 to 3-inch hailstones in a single storm. The result: Arkansas insurers are aggressive about pricing roof replacement risk into premiums — and equally aggressive about discounting it when a homeowner installs impact-resistant roofing.
Class 4 impact-resistant roofing discounts in Arkansas typically range from 20 to 30% on the dwelling coverage portion. Some insurers in the state apply the discount to the full premium; others apply it only to the wind and hail coverage component. The Arkansas Insurance Department doesn’t mandate specific discount rates, so actual savings vary by insurer. The major insurers writing policies in central Arkansas — State Farm, Farmers, Allstate, and regional writers — all recognize Class 4 ratings.
Michigan
Michigan’s insurance market is driven more by snow and ice damage risk than by hail. Lake effect snowfall in West Michigan — where our Pullman office serves Van Buren, Allegan, and Kalamazoo counties — creates ice dam risk that most AR insurers never price for. Michigan insurers price dwelling coverage with winter storm exposure in mind.
Class 4 impact ratings still earn premium discounts in Michigan, but the discount range is typically narrower — 10 to 20% — reflecting the different dominant risk profile. Some Michigan insurers emphasize wind resistance ratings more than impact ratings, and DECRA’s wind warranty to 120 mph satisfies those criteria as well. If your Michigan insurer specifically asks about wind ratings rather than impact ratings, DECRA’s 120 mph wind certification is the relevant figure to cite.
Calculating Real-World Savings Scenarios
Premium discounts compound over the roof’s 40 to 70-year lifespan. Here are two scenarios illustrating the actual dollar impact:
Scenario 1: Bryant, AR homeowner
- Annual homeowner’s insurance premium: $2,200/year
- Current roof: 15-year-old asphalt shingles, no impact rating
- DECRA installation, Class 4 rated, documented for insurer
- Class 4 discount applied: 25% on $1,400 dwelling coverage component
- Annual savings: $350/year
- Savings over 40 years: $14,000 (nominal, not inflation-adjusted)
Scenario 2: Pullman, MI homeowner
- Annual homeowner’s insurance premium: $1,800/year
- Class 4 discount applied: 15% on $1,200 dwelling coverage component
- Annual savings: $180/year
- Savings over 40 years: $7,200 (nominal)
These figures are illustrative — your actual savings depend on your insurer, policy structure, and current premium. But they demonstrate that the insurance benefit is a genuine financial offset against the upfront premium over asphalt, not a theoretical talking point.
Documentation Required to Capture the Discount
Insurance companies require documentation to apply impact resistance discounts. What you’ll typically need:
- Product specification sheet: The manufacturer’s spec sheet showing the UL 2218 Class 4 rating. DECRA publishes these on their website; we also provide copies to homeowners.
- Installation completion certificate: Documentation from the installing contractor confirming the product installed and the date of completion.
- Permit documentation: In most Arkansas and Michigan jurisdictions, roofing permits require a final inspection. The inspection sign-off serves as independent verification of installation completion.
- Photos: Some insurers request installation photos showing the product and installation method.
We recommend contacting your insurer before installation to confirm exactly what documentation they need, and to get a written quote for the post-installation premium so there are no surprises. Our roof insurance claim assistance team can also help you navigate documentation requirements and get a professional roof inspection report to support your insurer’s review. Some insurers will not apply the discount retroactively if you don’t notify them within a specific timeframe after installation.
One Important Distinction: New Roof vs. Replacement Discount
Some insurers distinguish between replacing an old asphalt roof with a Class 4 product and a newly constructed home receiving its first roof. In replacement scenarios, insurers in hail-heavy markets sometimes offer an additional “new roof” discount of 5 to 15% that stacks with the Class 4 impact rating discount. Ask your agent specifically whether a “new roof replacement” discount applies and whether it stacks with the impact resistance discount.
For the full picture of how stone coated steel investment pays back over time — including insurance, maintenance, and replacement cost comparisons — see our stone coated steel roofing services page. For complete pricing context including insurance premium offsets factored into total cost of ownership, review our stone coated steel cost guide. And if you want to understand the full scope of DECRA’s product performance, our definitive guide to stone coated steel roofing covers the complete picture.