Atlas Roof Shingles Review – Pros and Cons

Atlas is one of the most known brands for roofing shingles. But is the hype worth the reputation? In this Atlas shingles review, we'll look at the brand, including its history, product lineup, and the best and worst things about the company and its offerings for roofing and construction materials.

Atlas History

Atlas has a long, positive track record dating back to its inception in the 1980s. Since then, Atlas has been at the forefront of new product developments, technological advancements, and pollution-reducing manufacturing processes. 

  • A - Accountability
  • T - Talent
  • L - Leadership
  • A - Agility
  • S - Sustainability

Today, Atlas has grown from its single factory in Meridian, Mississipi, to now owning and operating 36 facilities throughout North America (including the US and Canada). 

Thousands of customers rely on Atlas for their asphalt shingles, polyiso insulation, rigid expanded polystyrene, roof underlayments, protective packaging, cold chain, geofoam, lost foam, and coated and paper facers. 

Why choose Atlas? (Benefits)

Atlas is among the top 5 most known and preferred manufacturers of asphalt roofing shingles. It makes sense, then, that there are numerous advantages to choosing this brand. 

Above-Average Warranties

As far as warranties go, Atlas offers above-average warranties protecting against defects due to manufacturing, wind damage (varying mph by product line), and some have algae coverage.

Compared to other brands, Atlas offers the best warranty for three-tab shingles, with the Legend brand covering up to 40 years. Four other shingle lines have 50-year warranties, which classify as a lifetime for most contractors. 

Complete Roofing System

A prime reason for choosing Atlas is the Signature Select system - a complete roofing system. This kit comes with Atlas WeatherMaster Ice & Water underlayment, Pro-Cut starter strip, Pro-Cut Hip and Ridge protectors (with Scotchgard), and shingles with Scotchgard from nine products lines (see below). 

There is no guarantee that installing the Signature Select will produce better results than mixing the components with different brands. But the Select will give you coverage for all of the Atlas materials, whereas you might not get protection from other companies.

Price Can Meet All Kinds of Budget

Atlas makes it easy to pick your shingles based on budget. They have 2 basic affordable three-tab lines, 3 "better" mid-grade lines - Value Architectural, and 4 Designer premium lines with Scotchgard protectant.

Downsides of Atlas

There are a few minor downsides to note about using Atlas shingles.

The first thing to mention is that you may not be eligible for the warranty coverage offered with the Signature Select system if you're installing an overlay instead of doing a tear-off (removing the old product before replacing it with the new shingles).

You may not get the extended Premium Protection warranty if the contractor you use isn't qualified as an Atlas Pro Plus. 

Another concern is that the Atlas warranty will not cover damage due to a roof sealed improperly. Atlas shingles require sunlight (70℉) to seal, so installation in the winter or fall (below 50℉) may result in defectiveness.

Your warranty will also become void if you install Atlas shingles over spray foam insulation. Denied warranty claims are the number one customer complaint, as is typical of all shingle companies. Reasons for denial included improper installation, poor attic ventilation, incorrect underlayment, and defective sealing. 

Atlas Products Line

There are 4 major divisions under Atlas' belt - Shingle and underlayment, Polyiso Wall & Roof Insulation, Web Technologies, and Molded Products.

Atlas offers shingles in 3-tab, specialty slate, or architectural. If you're on a budget, a three-tab is the most affordable. Specialty slate and architectural shingles add unique character, but they're more expensive. All three types of shingles are the same material.

3-Tab Shingle

Product Line

Glassmaster

Legend

Warranty

30-year

40-year

Winds

60 mph

110 mph

Scotchgard

No

Yes

Colors

10

5

Three-tab shingles are lightweight and require more maintenance and repairs than other types of shingles. There are two collections Atlas offers - Glassmaster and Legend. 

The Glassmaster line has a 30-year warranty against defects, algae, and 60 mph winds. The Legend line offers a 40-year guarantee and protection for wind gusts up to 110 mph. A 3M Scotchgard layer protects this brand from algae and stains. 

Atlas Legend Shingle Roof

Legend line

Almost all the colors of these two product lines are black, gray and brown. But Legend's five colors are dark, while Glassmaster's 10 colors range from dark to light.

For Legend Line, we recommend Hearthstone Gray and Weathered Wood, which are very elegant colors. For GlassMaster line, the browns provided in this line are a good choice of roof colors, suitable for a rustic style house, which can create a very warm atmosphere.

Atlas GlassMaster Shingle Roof

GlassMater line

Bottom Line: The 3-shingled tabs is a definitely suitable choice for people who are trying to stay within budget. The Glassmaster line is ideal for customers in locations with mild weather while the Legend one would serve better in climates with intense, unpredictable weather.

Value Architectural Shingles

Product Line

ProLam

StormMaster Shake

Briarwood

Pinnacle

Castlebrook

Warranty

20 years

50 years

50 years

15 years

35 years

Winds

60 mph

140 mph

130 mph

130 mph

130 mph

Scotchgard

No

Yes

No

Yes

No

Colors

7

10

5

19

7

Architectural shingles are thicker and up to 50% heavier than three-tab shingles, making them cost more and have lengthier warranties. Five product lines offer this style - ProLam, Briarwood Pro, Pinnacle Pristine, Stormmaster Shake, and Castlebrook.

Value Architectural Shingles

Briarwood Pro and Castlebrook

Briarwood offers the most wind protection against up to 130 mph gusts and has six color choices. All five colors of Briarwood are dark. Castlebrook can withstand up to 130 mph winds and has a 35-year warranty. In addition to black and gray, Castlebrook also has slightly lighter shades of reddish brown and gold, such as Burnt Sienna and Desert Shake.

Value Architectural Shingles

Pinnacle Pristine

The Pinnacle shingle brand offers 19 colors, all with an algae-protectant Scotchgard coating. Pinnacle's colors were brighter than those of other Architectural Shingles product lines, such as Prinstine Sunset and Green. It provide stunning color that lasts. This line is fire-resistant and wind-resistant and has a limited lifetime warranty. Pinnacle Pristine with 3M ranks as the best in the market for durability and strength by Consumer Reports.

ProLam Pewter

ProLam - Pewter

ProLam offers wind coverage up to 60 mph and a limited lifetime warranty, plus a built-in algae-protectant.

Atlas Architectural Shingles Morning Harvest

StormMaster - Morning Harvest

StormMaster Shake offers maximum protection in extreme weather conditions (hail, high winds, extreme temperatures). This line has 10 colors, and color collage in different shades of the same color system is its feature.Morning Harvest is a very special color resembling metallic gold. It brand features Core4 - an enhanced polymer with PolyCore, FlexCore, WeatherCore, and ThermalCore technology. And a limited lifetime warranty for algae resistance, defects, and wind damage up to 140 mph.

Bottom Line: Architectural shingles can give your roof better protection while being more durable and resistant to common issues like wind, algae, hail, high temperatures, and heavy rain. The StormMaster Shake is the perfect solution for locations with extreme weather. 

Specialty Shingels

Although Atlas does offer specialty shingles, there's only one brand - StormMaster Slate. This shingle has Core4 tech, 3M anti-algae protection, and Class 4 impact resistance. A lifetime limited warranty covers manufacturer defects and damage from winds up to 130 mph. 

Most homeowners will not find enough advantages in the Specialty category to influence them to choose this style over the more affordable options. But this brand may be the best solution if you live where there are frequent hurricanes, threats of tornadoes, or significant winds.

Atlas vs IKO Shingle Roof

Both Atlas and IKO offer roof shingles for residential properties. They both offer multiple product lines, with shingles of varying degrees of durability and resistance. Based on customer reviews, both companies have strong customer loyalty, although there were also a lot of negative reviews due to defective products. 

A significant factor to consider is that you can find Atlas shingles in some stores in limited states while IKO shingles can only be purchased through a contractor, often meaning a higher cost for the customer.

Conclusion

The biggest feature of Atlas is its produces multiple styles of roof shingles in a good/better/best tier system, with varying cost points and features. So you can choose traditional 3-tab shingles or for a higher price tag, invest in a more durable and visually appealing Atlas architectural shingle.

Leave a Comment