What Are Atlas Shingles?

Atlas is a company that first started manufacturing fiberglass shingles in 1982. Founded in Mississippi, this brand now has more than a dozen facilities across North America. The company sells insulation in addition to its famous asphalt roof shingles.

You can buy three types of roof shingles from Atlas: 3-tab, specialty slate, and architectural shingles. They are all made with similar materials and come in different shapes and sizes.

Atlas Shingles: Pros and Cons

Here are a few things to consider if you’re thinking about choosing Atlas shingles for your roof. These attributes and drawbacks hold true regardless of the specific type of shingles you buy.

Pro: Widespread Availability

You can buy Atlas shingles just about anywhere. Atlas is a brand that many independent roofing companies are familiar with and its products can be found at just about every roofing supply store.

Pro: Wind- and Algae- Resistant

There are some other brands that have some algae-resistant features on some of their shingles, but Atlas is the only one that offers it across the board. Plus, these shingles have a special Scotchgard protector from 3M that has a lifetime warranty against any algae damage.

They’re are also wind-resistant, with a larger nailing area and a double adhesive sealant line. This ensures wind resistance up to 150 miles per hour.

Con: Not the Most Eco-Friendly Shingles

Asphalt shingles, in general, aren’t the most eco-friendly since they need to be replaced every 20 to 30 years. Most recycling centers also do not accept asphalt shingles, so it can be hard to get rid of them in an environmentally-conscious way.

Con: Atlas Shingles are Not Ideal for Cold Weather

Most asphalt shingles, including those manufactured by Atlas, don’t seal well in extreme cold. That’s something to be considered if you live in a colder climate like we do here in Minnesota.

Pro: Recommended by Many Roofing Contractors

Atlas is one of the most universally recommended brands by roofing professionals. That’s due to the wind and algae resistant features as well as the ability to choose from two felt Atlas underlayment options.

Pro: (Mostly) Cost-Effective

Asphalt shingles from Atlas aren’t the cheapest on the market – but they’re not the most expensive, either. While the higher price tag might make you balk at first, remember that this company has some of the best and most competitive warranties in place for its products, especially in regard to wind and algae damage.

These warranties are lifetime warranties against material defects along with lifetime warranties for algae and wind.

Con: Not the Best Over Rigid Foam Insulation

Atlas recently announced that any installation of Atlas shingles over rigid spray foam insulation would void the warranty. That’s because the shingles tend to crack and blister when installed over this, as rigid SPF stops the transfer of radiant heat from the sun into the home.

Pro: Great Surface Area Coverage

True coverage is somewhat difficult to understand, but when you buy shingles for your roof, you want to choose those that are specifically designed to cover more surface area per bundle. You can purchase fewer bundles and save money on your roof.

Their shingles offer excellent coverage. They are consistently manufactured, too, so you won’t see any variation in quality or style between two separate bundles of the same type of shingle.

Pro: Minimal Granule Loss

Atlas shingles have minimal granule loss, even after intense precipitation or wind. The shingles are both storm- and impact-resistant. Some shingles in the product line-up are rubberized polymer that’s ideal for handling hail and wind-driven debris – something known as SBS.

That said, these shingles aren’t guaranteed to be “hail-resistant.” Hail damage isn’t covered under a warranty from Atlas, but that’s true of all asphalt shingle manufacturers anyway.

Are Atlas Shingles Worth It?

They might not be the right choice for every home – but hopefully, this post has given you the information you need to make an educated decision.

To get more information on Atlas shingles and the many other types of shingles on the market, be sure to contact Ashton McGee Restoration Group. We’ll help you figure out whether these shingles are right for you or if there’s a better alternative for your unique situation. Of course, we’ll take care of every other aspect of your roofing job for you, too.

Send us a message to schedule a free roofing inspection. Best roofers in Minneapolis, from start to finish, don’t worry – we got this, y’all.