Hail Protection Beyond Class 4
TAMKO markets this system’s HailGuard shingle as exceeding standard Class 4 performance in their own testing. There is no Class 5 rating, so “beyond Class 4” is how TAMKO itself describes the product, not an independent certification. What Atrium engineers around it is a complete assembly: UL 2218 Class 4 shingle, underlayment, flashings, and balanced ventilation.
The hail-focused engineered system.
LEGACY™ is Atrium's newest engineered system and our first built around TAMKO — specifically the TAMKO HailGuard shingle and its hail-focused warranty program.
Important distinction: Malarkey makes a shingle called Legacy, and it is one of the component options within Atrium's STORMLOCK™ system. Atrium's own LEGACY™ engineered system is a separate product family built around TAMKO HailGuard. Different manufacturer, different product, name coincidence only.
Every Atrium engineered system is specified as a complete assembly, not just a shingle. LEGACY™ keeps that same structure: underlayment, ice and water barrier, starter course, flashings, same-manufacturer ridge, and balanced attic ventilation. What defines LEGACY™ is the primary roof covering — TAMKO HailGuard — and the hail-focused engineering and warranty program that come with it.
TAMKO launched HailGuard in March 2026 as an asphalt shingle specifically positioned around hail protection, with marketing language like "Built for Hail" and "Beyond Class 4." We state that plainly as TAMKO's positioning, not as an official UL rating, because UL 2218 testing does not currently go above Class 4. HailGuard is Class 4, and the "Beyond Class 4" language describes TAMKO's own ImpactCore engineering approach to reaching that tier.
Who it's for
Homeowners who prioritize hail protection above other considerations, in a market where hail is the dominant risk. Central Texas fits that profile. LEGACY™ is for homeowners who want a manufacturer with a specific hail-engineering story and a warranty program built around that exposure, rather than a generic impact-rated shingle. If you are comparing it to Atrium's other Class 4 options, the overview lives on our IMPACTSHIELD™, STORMLOCK™, and Class 3 vs Class 4 article pages. FOUNDATION™ is the Class 3 baseline, and THERMALGUARD™ is the option organized around energy performance instead of impact class.
What a LEGACY™ roof is made of
This is a representative configuration, not a fixed spec sheet. Component selection varies by project, and the exact list is written on your proposal before anything is ordered.
The primary roof covering is TAMKO HailGuard, a UL 2218 Class 4 impact-rated shingle. TAMKO markets it as "Built for Hail" and uses ImpactCore technology — a polymer-modified asphalt and engineered fiberglass mat construction designed to distribute and absorb impact stress. "Beyond Class 4" is TAMKO's marketing term, not a UL classification, because UL 2218 does not currently test above Class 4.
HailGuard is designed to be installed as part of the TAMKO Complete roofing system for full warranty eligibility: same-manufacturer starter, hip and ridge, and underlayment. This is consistent with the enhanced matching ridge caps and enhanced ventilation standards that are part of every Atrium engineered system.
Balanced intake and exhaust sized to the attic, on every install. Under-ventilated attics age shingles from underneath, which is why ventilation is included in the system rather than sold as an add-on.
Underlayment, ice and water barrier, starter course, and flashings follow the same five-layer system described in “The system, not the shingle” on our roof replacement page. Same layers, same standards — LEGACY™ does not change them.
TAMKO HailGuard is designed to be installed as part of the TAMKO Complete roofing system for full warranty eligibility. The exact terms of the registered warranty — including hail-leak coverage details, term length, and accessory requirements — depend on the specific product and registration; ask Atrium directly for the terms that would apply to your install.
What the hail-focused upgrade actually costs — and earns back
The Class 4 upgrade premium is the same bounded number as Atrium's other Class 4 systems. The discount side still depends on your carrier — so here's the math, not a promise.
vs. standard laminated shingles, for a typical San Antonio single-family roof.
Many carriers offer a wind-and-hail discount for a documented Class 4 roof — amount depends entirely on your carrier and policy. See how the paperwork works.
the top tier Underwriters Laboratories assigns.
What this roof could be worth to you — in your numbers
Enter numbers from your own policy. This is an illustration, not a forecast.
Enter yours from your policy.
Use the wind/hail line, not the all-peril line. Many Texas policies list it as a percentage.
Ask your agent for this in writing. This page covers a Class 4 roof.
Ask about a cosmetic damage exclusion. Some carriers apply one to roofs that receive an impact-resistant credit. It generally means they will not pay for hail marks that change how the roof looks but not how it performs. Ask your agent, and get the answer in writing before you decide.
Each replacement paid through insurance costs you one deductible. Pick the scenario you want to see.
Starting value is an illustration. Use your roofer's quote.
Enter your dwelling coverage and wind/hail deductible above.
Enter your agent's quote above to see this.
Pick how many replacements to model above.
Premium savings from the discount you entered, plus skipped deductibles from the scenario you picked.
Ask about a cosmetic damage exclusion. Some carriers apply one to roofs that receive an impact-resistant credit. It generally means they will not pay for hail marks that change how the roof looks but not how it performs. Ask your agent, and get the answer in writing before you decide.
What this leaves out
- Roof prices that rise over time.
- How filing claims can affect your premium.
- Anything your policy does not cover.
- Rules that are specific to your carrier.
Class 4 impact-resistant shingles can qualify for a premium discount in Texas. The amount is set by your insurance carrier, so ask your agent what yours would be.
Why roof age changes what insurance pays
A $10,000 roof on a house insured for $200,000 with a 2% ($4,000) deductible:
| Roof age | Roof's value | Minus deductible | Policy pays |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 years | $8,500 | −$4,000 | $4,500 |
| 10 years | $7,000 | −$4,000 | $3,000 |
| 20 years | $4,000 | −$4,000 | $0 |
Source: Texas Department of Insurance example, as published by TDI.
On actual-cash-value policies, payments fall as the roof gets older. Some policies use a roof payment schedule instead, and that varies by carrier. A new roof starts at age zero.
How to claim a credit
- At closeout, you get the impact-resistant certification when it applies to your system. See the Power Package.
- Send it to your agent. Ask them to apply the credit in writing.
- Ask the cosmetic-exclusion question before you sign anything.
What the Class 4 test actually is
To earn a Class 4 rating, a shingle has to survive UL 2218's steel ball test: a 2-inch solid steel ball dropped from 20 feet, twice on the same spot. The shingle passes if there's no cracking, tearing, or rupture on the underside — UL 2218 measures functional damage, not cosmetic appearance.
TAMKO built HailGuard's ImpactCore technology — a polymer-modified asphalt and engineered fiberglass mat — specifically around hail exposure, and markets it as exceeding standard Class 4 performance. UL 2218 doesn't test above Class 4, so that characterization is TAMKO's own, not an independent rating above the one we're showing here. What HailGuard actually holds is the same UL 2218 Class 4 certification as our other two Class 4 systems, engineered a third way.The impact-resistant certification your carrier needs to apply a discount is one of the documents in your Power Package — ready to give to your agent.
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The manufacturer's warranty first. Ours underneath it.
A manufacturer-backed system warranty ranks above any contractor's own warranty for one reason: it survives the contractor. If a roofing company closes, changes hands, or simply stops answering the phone, a warranty backed by Owens Corning or GAF is still honored. A contractor's warranty is only worth as much as the contractor still being in business, and that is as true of ours as it is of anyone's.
TAMKO HailGuard installs are eligible for the TAMKO MasterShield Enhanced Limited Warranty, available at TAMKO Pro Platinum standing, available because Atrium holds TAMKO Pro Platinum. We do not offer the TAMKO DiamondShield warranty — that requires TAMKO Pro Diamond certification, which is one tier above the standing we hold. The tier-by-tier difference is explained on our brands and certifications page.
Atrium's workmanship layer
Atrium backs every roof replacement with a written 10-year workmanship warranty. It is non-prorated, so coverage in year ten is identical to year one, and it is fully transferable to the next owner. If a covered installation defect appears, we cover the labor and the materials to correct it.
The warranty covers the roof replacement we performed. It is our installation of your new roof system that carries the ten years.
It covers our installation, and that is all it covers. It is not insurance and it does nothing for hail, wind, or anything else an insurance claim would handle. The manufacturer's warranty on the shingles themselves is a separate document.
If you want the mechanics behind all of this — how the two documents differ, what quietly voids them, and how the certification tier decides which one can be registered — our roof warranty guide walks through it.
Whichever warranty applies to your system is registered in your name and delivered as part of the Power Package — up to five documents, depending on your roofing system; on a shingle system that includes the supplier's material invoice.
Why a hail-focused system makes sense here
San Antonio and the surrounding Hill Country sit in one of the most active hail corridors in the country. Hail is not a side risk here; for many homeowners, it is the primary roof risk they weigh when they choose a replacement. TAMKO designed HailGuard and its marketing specifically for that reality — a shingle positioned around severe hail exposure rather than general impact resistance.
That positioning is legitimate, but it is not a promise of immunity. UL 2218 Class 4 is the highest documented impact tier available, and the manufacturers' own disclaimers are clear that lab testing does not correlate perfectly with real-world hail. A LEGACY™ system is the highest documented protection available for homeowners who want the hail-specific engineering story; it is not a guarantee that hail cannot damage the roof.
LEGACY™ FAQs
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