How shingles are evolving to withstand extreme weather

By Jesse Sanchez. 

Hail, wind and flying debris are rewriting the rules of roofing and here’s why it matters now more than ever. 

As climate patterns shift and violent storms batter rooftops year-round, the roofing industry is being forced to rethink resilience. One of the voices leading that conversation is James White, senior product manager at CertainTeed, who joined the Roofing Road Trips® podcast to lay out exactly how changing weather has become impossible to ignore. 

James, who manages CertainTeed’s impact-resistant shingle portfolio, explained how today’s storms are no longer predictable or contained to specific regions. “You could pretty well predict a storm season...April or May through September. Now people are getting damaging hail in Christmastime,” he said. That expanded timeline and geographic reach, from Utah to Pennsylvania, has heightened demand for shingles that can do more than just look good. 

At the center of CertainTeed’s approach is a material known as SBS or styrene butadiene styrene, a synthetic polymer that makes shingles more pliable, durable and resistant to extreme conditions. “What we do is we blend it at a molecular level,” James said. The result? A product that can withstand major impacts and harsh temperatures without cracking. A key defense against water intrusion and long-term roof failure. 

This isn’t just an upgrade for homeowners, it’s a business edge for contractors. “The rubberizing content makes it a lot more workable,” James said, noting how easier installation in cold weather helps roofing crews extend their working season. For states with hail risks, there are also potential insurance discounts tied to Class 4 shingles, which are tested using a two-inch steel ball dropped from 20 feet. 

Impact-resistant shingles are no longer just a premium upsell, they're a strategic necessity. “The reason to go with an impact-resistant shingle is to just minimize disruption in your life,” James said. “If you could do anything to avoid [roof replacement] for really a minimal investment up front...I think it’s a pretty easy sell.” 

And that “easy sell” is only becoming more urgent as severe weather becomes a fixture of every season. 

Read the transcript or Listen to the podcast to learn more about how CertainTeed’s impact-resistant shingles are redefining roof durability in the face of extreme weather!