Class A explained
What Class A means, and what it doesn't
Class A is the highest of three fire ratings for a roof covering. A product earns it in a test where fire is set on the roof, and it applies to the covering and how it's put down.
The state insurance department says most roofs qualify: asphalt shingles, concrete, brick or masonry tile, and metal shingles or sheets. Wood shake does not. The State Fire Marshal keeps a list of tested and approved roofing materials, and we bring the listing for what we price.
It rates the covering, not the house
A Class A roof still needs ember-resistant vents and enclosed eaves
Rating papers go in your file for your insurer
Materials
Four coverings, and where each stands
We price the Class A choices side by side and write what each one adds or leaves out.
Class AAsphalt shingles
The most common covering. Lighter than tile, widely available and rated Class A in most product lines.
Product listing on the estimate
Class AConcrete tile
Heavy and long-lived. The deck and framing are checked for the weight before we quote it.
Structure checked first
Class AMetal panels
Standing-seam steel or aluminum sheets. Light, with few places for embers to lodge.
Sound is a trade-off; we say so
Not Class AWood shake and shingle
Not Class A, per the state. We repair a few shakes if you ask, and we say plainly that the roof stays unrated.
We don't price new shake
What we check
Four steps from the old roof to a rated one
- 01
Step 1: Look at what's there
Covering, deck, underlayment, vents and edges, with photos of each.
- 02
Step 2: Choose a covering
Two or three Class A options, priced side by side with what each adds.
- 03
Step 3: Build the roof assembly
Tear-off, deck repair, underlayment, covering, metal drip edge and vents, as written.
- 04
Step 4: Document it
Final photos and product listings for your file and for your insurer.
Class A questions
Is my asphalt shingle roof already Class A?
Many are, but not all, and an older roof may have lost its rating in the field. The inspection looks at the product on your roof and the listing for it.
Is a metal roof better in a wildfire?
Metal covering is Class A and sheds embers well. The vents, eaves and edges still decide how embers get in, so we treat them as part of the same job.
Does Class A change what my insurer charges?
The state says a Class A roof qualifies for an insurance discount. How much, and how it's applied, your insurer decides. We never quote one.
Find out what's on your roof
Book a roof and vent inspection. You get photos and the written findings whether or not you hire us.