The short version: Owens Corning Oakridge and TruDefinition Oakridge shingles now carry a UL 2218 Class 3 impact resistance rating on qualifying products. Oakridge is the budget-friendly architectural shingle we install every week in New Orleans, so homeowners now get a tested impact rating without moving up to a premium shingle.
What changed
Owens Corning announced in November 2026 that its Oakridge series shingles now offer a UL 2218 Class 3 impact resistance rating on qualifying products. TruDefinition Oakridge, a color line with more contrast, is included and is sold in select regions. Nothing about how Oakridge is installed changes, and it is still the value option in the Owens Corning line.
What a Class 3 rating means
UL 2218 is the standard lab test for impact resistant roofing. Steel balls of increasing size are dropped onto the shingle from set heights, and the shingle is checked for cracks and breaks. There are four classes:
- Class 1: 1.25-inch steel ball
- Class 2: 1.5-inch ball
- Class 3: 1.75-inch ball
- Class 4: 2-inch ball, the highest rating
So Class 3 is one step below the top rating. It is a meaningful upgrade over a standard shingle with no impact rating, but it is not the same as Class 4. For homeowners who want the highest rating, Class 4 impact resistant shingles are available as a quoted option.
Why it matters in New Orleans
Our roofs take more than hurricane wind. Spring and summer thunderstorms bring hail some years, and high winds throw branches, limbs and debris onto roofs, especially under the live oaks that shade so many New Orleans streets. A shingle that has passed a tougher impact test is better able to take those hits without cracking.
The rating also comes with honest limits. Owens Corning states that the lab results do not guarantee a shingle will resist all weather conditions, and hail damage is specifically excluded from its shingle warranty. Impact rating is one factor in a roof that lasts, along with a solid deck, proper nailing, good underlayment and flashing done right.
Can it lower your insurance premium?
Possibly. Owens Corning notes that in some areas, homeowners may qualify for insurance discounts when they install impact resistant shingles, and that homeowners should check with their insurance provider for eligibility.
In Louisiana, the discounts insurers are best known for are tied to Class 4 shingles and to FORTIFIED roofs, so whether a Class 3 roof earns a credit depends on your insurance company and your policy. Before you choose a shingle, ask your agent two questions: Do you give a premium discount for impact resistant shingles? and Does it require Class 3 or Class 4? We provide the shingle product information for your records, and the rest is between you and your insurer.
Oakridge or Duration?
We install both Owens Corning shingles, and every estimate can show them side by side:
- Oakridge: our budget-friendly choice, now with a Class 3 impact rating on qualifying products.
- Duration: a step up, and Duration Series shingles can qualify for a limited wind warranty of up to 160 mph when installed with the full Owens Corning system. See what that takes.
Either way, every shingle goes on with six nails instead of the standard four, and we register your Owens Corning warranty in your name. That is on top of our own 5-year workmanship warranty, transferable to a new owner at no cost.
Source: Owens Corning, Oakridge Series Shingles Class 3 Impact Resistance announcement, November 2026. Oakridge and TruDefinition Oakridge shingles are tested in a laboratory setting and classified as UL 2218 Class 3 impact resistant. See the Owens Corning warranty for complete details, limitations and requirements.