HailGuard: The First Asphalt Shingle
With a Hail Warranty.

Here's a distinction almost nobody explains to homeowners: a hail rating and a hail warranty are two completely different things. Every impact shingle on the market has a rating — a lab score that tells you how it held up to a steel ball. But until recently, not a single asphalt shingle would put written coverage behind that rating. TAMKO's HailGuard is the first one that does.

I install in Ohio and Northern Kentucky — squarely inside the Midwest hail belt — so this is the kind of thing I get genuinely excited about. Let me walk through what HailGuard actually is, what its hail warranty covers, and where it fits (and doesn't) for a homeowner here.

Rating vs. Warranty: The Part That Matters.

A UL 2218 impact rating is a laboratory measurement. Underwriters Laboratories drops a steel ball on a test shingle and grades how it survives, Class 1 through Class 4. I wrote a full guide on UL 2218 and the insurance discount here. Class 4 is the top of that scale.

A hail warranty is different. It's a written promise from the manufacturer that if hail damages the shingle within a set period, they'll do something about it. For decades, asphalt shingles simply didn't offer that — you got the rating, and that was it. If hail cracked your "impact-resistant" roof, your only recourse was an insurance claim (and your deductible).

HailGuard changes that. It carries the Class 4 rating and backs it with a written hail warranty. That's the headline, and it's a real first for asphalt.

What HailGuard Actually Is.

HailGuard is built on TAMKO's ImpactCore technology. The specs that matter:

• UL 2218 Class 4 — tested beyond Class 4. Class 4 is the highest impact classification an asphalt shingle can earn (the 2-inch steel ball from 20 feet). TAMKO has tested HailGuard beyond that standard — but to be precise, Class 4 is still the top published UL tier, so I describe it as "Class 4, tested beyond," never as some higher class number.
• A written hail warranty. More on the terms below.
• 160 mph wind with the full TAMKO Complete system.
• Class A fire rating — the top fire classification.

The Hail Warranty, In Plain Terms.

Every HailGuard roof I install carries the base HailGuard Limited System Warranty, which includes two things worth understanding:

• A 10-year non-prorated "Full Start" period. "Non-prorated" is the important word — during those first 10 years, coverage isn't whittled down year over year the way most shingle warranties are.
• A 7-year hail warranty. Written coverage against hail damage, on top of the impact rating.

And here's the part I want to be straight about, because there's a lot of confusion around TAMKO warranty tiers: this base hail warranty is available right now, on every HailGuard roof, from any contractor who installs it correctly — including me. You do not need a special certification level to get the base 10-year Full Start and 7-year hail coverage. Longer Full Start periods and longer hail terms do exist and scale up as a contractor adds TAMKO certifications down the road — so when I earn those, the coverage I can register gets even stronger. But the version you can get on your roof today is already real, and already in writing.

What HailGuard Needs to Hold Its Warranty.

A warranty only sticks if the roof is built to spec. For the HailGuard warranty, that means the roof is assembled with TAMKO's own underlayment components:

• TAMKO Synthetic Guard — synthetic underlayment.
• TAMKO Moisture Guard — ice & water shield at the eaves, valleys, and penetrations.

So a HailGuard roof uses TAMKO underlayments by design. Ventilation and pipe boots are a different story — I still run the GAF / Roofivent components I trust there, because those are the parts I've watched outlast everything else. The shingle system is TAMKO; the vents and boots stay with what works. That's how I build it either way.

HailGuard vs. GAF Timberline UHDZ: An Honest Comparison.

GAF Timberline UHDZ is my default Class 4 pick, and it's an excellent shingle — same LayerLock install as the standard HDZ, 30-year StainGuard Plus PRO, no-max-speed WindProven wind warranty. So why would I reach for HailGuard?

The honest answer: the written hail warranty. Both shingles carry the Class 4 rating. Both shrug off the hail that bruises a normal roof. But HailGuard is the one that puts hail coverage in writing on top of the rating. If hail is the specific thing that keeps you up at night — you've already had one claim, or you're in a part of town that gets hammered every spring — that written warranty is the difference-maker.

If you want the classic, proven GAF lineup and the insurance discount that comes with a documented Class 4 install, UHDZ is a fantastic choice and what most of my customers go with. If you want the toughest impact build TAMKO makes plus a hail warranty, HailGuard is the answer. I install both, and I'll tell you which one fits your roof and your situation when I walk it.

Where HailGuard Fits (And Where It Doesn't).

Setting expectations honestly:

• It's not magic — it's tougher. No shingle makes hail bounce off. Class 4, tested beyond, means it survives the hits that crack normal shingles. Very large hail (think 2.5"+ at a bad angle) can still do damage. The warranty exists precisely because nothing is bulletproof.
• It's a premium shingle. HailGuard sits at the top of the TAMKO Storm Series and is priced accordingly. The value is in fewer claims, fewer headaches, and written coverage — but you should run your own numbers, not just take a pitch.
• Availability varies by region. HailGuard launched in select regions. I can get it for hail-country roofs around Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky, but lead time can differ from an off-the-shelf shingle — so if you want it, let's talk early.
• The warranty has terms. Coverage requires the proper TAMKO system and following the claims process. It is not a blank check. Read it.

Quick FAQ.

Is HailGuard's hail warranty really available to me now, or do I have to wait?

The base HailGuard Limited System Warranty — the 10-year non-prorated Full Start plus the 7-year hail warranty — is available now on every HailGuard roof, installed correctly, by any contractor. That includes mine. Enhanced (longer) terms scale up as a contractor adds TAMKO certifications, but the base coverage is real today.

Does the hail warranty replace my homeowner's insurance?

No — they're separate. Your insurance covers storm damage to your home; the HailGuard warranty is the manufacturer's written coverage on the shingle itself. They can work alongside each other, but one doesn't replace the other. A Class 4 roof may also earn you an insurance premium discount — that's a third, separate benefit.

Is HailGuard "Class 5"?

No. Class 4 is the highest published UL 2218 impact class for asphalt shingles — there is no Class 5. HailGuard is Class 4, and TAMKO has tested it beyond that standard. Anyone selling you a "Class 5 shingle" is using a number that doesn't exist.

Do I have to use all-TAMKO components?

For the HailGuard warranty, the roof uses TAMKO underlayments (Synthetic Guard and Moisture Guard) — that's how the warranty is structured. Ventilation and pipe boots can still be the GAF / Roofivent components I prefer. I build the system the way that keeps your coverage intact and your roof performing.