Roofing materials,compared for Omaha weather.
This is every roofing line we carry, from everyday architectural shingles to standing seam metal and synthetic slate, laid out side by side so you can see what each one does in hail and wind before anyone climbs a ladder.
The short answer
What's the best roofing material for Omaha?
For most Omaha homes, the best roofing material is a Class 4 impact-rated architectural shingle. Hail ends more roofs in this metro than anything else, and Class 4 is the highest impact rating a shingle can earn. GAF Timberline ArmorShield II is our top pick for hail protection, with Owens Corning Duration FLEX close behind it. If you plan to stay in the house for decades, standing seam metal and stone-coated steel give you a 40 to 50 year roof.
Side by side
How do the brands we carry compare?
| Brand and line | Impact rating | Wind rating | Look | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GAF Timberline HDZ | Class 3 | Up to 130 mph | Architectural | $ |
| GAF Timberline UHDZ | Class 4 | Up to 130 mph | Thicker dimensional | $$ |
| GAF Timberline ArmorShield II | Class 4 | Up to 130 mph | Architectural | $$ |
| Owens Corning Duration | Class 3 | 110-130 mph | Architectural | $ |
| Owens Corning Duration FLEX | Class 4 | Up to 130 mph | Architectural | $$ |
| CertainTeed Landmark / Landmark Pro | Class 3 | Varies by line | Architectural | $ |
| CertainTeed Landmark IR | Class 4 | Varies by line | Architectural | $$ |
| IKO Nordic | Class 4 | Varies by line | Architectural | $ |
| Malarkey Vista AR | Class 4 | Varies by line | Architectural | $$ |
| Atlas StormMaster Shake / Slate | Class 4 | 150 mph with HP 6-nail install, 110-130 mph standard | Shake or slate profile | $$ |
| Brava | Class 4 | Varies by profile | Composite slate and shake | $$$ |
| DaVinci | Class 4 | Varies by profile | Synthetic slate and shake | $$$ |
| Pro-Rib | Steel panel | Varies by install | Exposed-fastener vertical rib | $ |
| Standing seam | Steel panel | Varies by system | Concealed-fastener metal | $$$ |
| Unified Steel | Class 4 | Varies by profile | Stone-coated steel, shingle and tile looks | $$$ |
Where a wind number is listed, it's the manufacturer's warranty figure. Lines marked varies depend on which product in the family you pick, and for the metal panels impact performance comes down to gauge and profile. Price bands are relative between these lines, not bids. We go over the exact spec and cost in a detailed estimate, which is free.
Hail
What's the best shingle for Omaha hail?
A Class 4 shingle. The rating means it took a 2 inch steel ball dropped from 20 feet in UL 2218 testing without cracking. The two we recommend first are GAF Timberline ArmorShield II and Owens Corning Duration FLEX, because both use SBS polymer-modified asphalt, which stays flexible in the cold so an impact spreads out instead of cracking through. Malarkey Vista AR and Atlas StormMaster do the same job. Class 4 costs more per square, and many carriers give some of it back with a 10-30% insurance discount depending on carrier. Whichever one you pick, it needs a well-ventilated attic under it to reach its full life.
Beyond asphalt
When does metal or synthetic slate make sense?
Two situations. The first is when you want the roof to outlast your time in the house, and standing seam metal does that with a 40 to 50 year service life. The second is when the house calls for a slate or shake look that asphalt can't quite fake. DaVinci and Brava build that look in lightweight synthetic tile, and Unified Steel does it in stone-coated steel with a Class 4 rating. They cost more up front than shingles, and the price bands in the table above show where each one lands.
On real houses
What do these materials look like?
A spec sheet only gets you so far. Here's how a few of these products read from the curb, with more photos on each product page. Shingle brand shots are on the way, and we bring physical samples to every estimate so you can hold the material before you choose it.
GAF Timberline color range (brand photo coming)
Owens Corning Duration finished roof (brand photo coming)
The lineup
Which brands can you get through Tailwind?
Every line below has its own page with the full detail. Velux is the odd one out, since it's a skylight rather than a roof covering, but it rides along on most roof projects.
Our primary brand
GAF
Timberline HDZ is the everyday architectural shingle. UHDZ steps up to a thicker dimensional profile with a Class 4 rating, and ArmorShield II is the dedicated Class 4 hail shingle with SBS-modified asphalt. We're a GAF Certified contractor, which qualifies your roof for GAF's system warranty.
See GAFShingles
Owens Corning
Duration shingles use SureNail, a woven strip in the nailing zone that helps fasteners hold in wind. Duration FLEX adds SBS polymer for a Class 4 impact rating, and TruDefinition brings deeper color blends. 15 colors are available in the Omaha area.
See Owens CorningShingles
CertainTeed
The Landmark family runs from the standard architectural shingle up through Landmark Pro to Landmark IR, the Class 4 version. Presidential Shake is the designer profile for homes that want a heavier, sculpted look.
See CertainTeedShingles
IKO
Nordic is a polymer-modified Class 4 shingle at a competitive price. Dynasty leans toward looks, with algae-resistant granules that keep the roof from streaking over time.
See IKOShingles
Malarkey
Vista AR is an SBS-modified Class 4 shingle, so it stays flexible in cold weather instead of turning brittle. Legacy and Windsor Scotchgard round out the line.
See MalarkeyShingles
Atlas
StormMaster Shake and Slate carry a Class 4 rating, and with the HP Technology 6-nail application the wind warranty reaches 150 mph. Pinnacle Pristine is the standard architectural option.
See AtlasComposite tile
Brava
Composite slate and shake tiles with a premium look at a fraction of real slate's weight. A step up in price, and the curb appeal shows it.
See BravaSynthetic slate & shake
DaVinci
Synthetic slate and shake tiles built for high-end curb appeal. If you want the look of a slate roof in a lighter material, this is the line to sit down with.
See DaVinciMetal
Pro-Rib
Exposed-fastener steel panels and the most affordable way into a metal roof. Common on acreages and outbuildings, and showing up on more modern homes.
See Pro-RibMetal
Standing Seam
Concealed-fastener metal with clean vertical lines and a 40 to 50 year service life. It's the premium metal option we carry.
See Standing SeamStone-coated steel
Unified Steel
Stone-coated steel panels shaped like traditional shingles and tiles, so you get metal durability without the metal-building look.
See Unified SteelWho's behind the recommendations
Picked by a builder, not a sales sheet.
Tailwind is led by David Nelan: 25+ years in the trades, 18 of them running an exteriors company in the Omaha metro, and a Class B contractor's license. He has worked with most of the materials on this page over those years, so when we point you toward a shingle, the recommendation comes from time on roofs in this climate, not from whichever brand pays the best margin.
Questions
Common questions about roofing materials
What's the difference between Class 3 and Class 4 shingles?
It's an impact test called UL 2218. A Class 4 shingle has to take a 2 inch steel ball dropped from 20 feet without cracking, which is a fair stand-in for the hail that comes through this metro. Class 3 passes the same test with a smaller ball. Class 4 costs more per square, and it's the rating we point most Omaha homeowners toward because hail is what ends the most roofs here.
Do Class 4 shingles lower insurance premiums?
Many carriers in Nebraska offer a discount of 10-30% depending on carrier for a Class 4 roof. Call your agent before you pick a shingle and ask what your policy does for impact-resistant materials. We document the product and impact class on your paperwork so you have what the carrier needs.
Is GAF better than Owens Corning?
They're both good, and they compete hard at every tier. GAF is our primary line because we're a GAF Certified contractor, which qualifies your roof for GAF's system warranty coverage. Owens Corning answers with SureNail fastening and Duration FLEX, and some homeowners pick OC on color alone. If hail protection is the goal, ArmorShield II and Duration FLEX are both Class 4 and we quote either one.
Do you install metal roofing in Omaha?
Yes. Pro-Rib is the exposed-fastener panel and the most affordable way into metal. Standing seam hides the fasteners and runs 40 to 50 years. Unified Steel is stone-coated steel shaped like shingles and tile, so the house doesn't read as a metal building from the street.
How long do these materials last in Nebraska?
An architectural shingle roof in this climate is a 20 to 30 year roof, and attic ventilation has a lot to do with which end of that range you land on. Standing seam metal runs 40 to 50 years. Synthetic slate and stone-coated steel are long-haul materials too, and the warranties on those lines reflect it.
Not sure which material fits your house?
We'll look at your roof, talk through which of these lines make sense for it, and give you a detailed estimate on the ones you're deciding between.
Planning the whole project? See how a roof replacement works.