Atlas Corporation strives to be different, unique, innovative, and most importantly, accessible
Welcome to Roofing Insights. We are continuing our series of how-to, discussing asphalt shingles, specifically, Atlas Roofing Corporation shingles. Not your typical, shingle manufacturer, Atlas Corporation strives to be different, unique, innovative, and most importantly, accessible. Atlas roofing products are designed to meet every market segment. Exciting stuff.
Beginning in the early 80s with a single asphalt shingle manufacturing facility in Meridian, Mississippi, and with its purchase of four additional roofing plants in the mid-90s, Atlas has grown to keep up with the demands of the ever-growing asphalt shingle industry.
Roofing is an exciting building materials industry that thrives on new ideas and innovation. Atlas has been recognized by the Environmental Protection Agency for its efforts in reducing greenhouse gas emissions, by industry trade organizations for its efforts in safety across its many facilities, and by several national building materials supply chains for growth and partnerships.
Does Atlas recommend Drip Edge or Gutter Apron For Their Asphalt Shingles?
A drip edge is a metal flashing or another overhanging factor with an outward protecting lower edge, intended to control the direction of dripping water and help protect underlying building components.
A gutter apron is a long piece of metal fold that starts under the first track of shingles and hangs over the sheathing of the roof. Gutter aprons take on an additional role by hanging down an inch or so into the back of the gutter to prevent water from dripping or splashing behind the gutter.
Atlas recommends drip edge, it’s not a requirement for installation but for best practices the drip edge is recommended. If you do not have a drip edge system, not to worry, it’s not going to void the warranty.
What will happen to the shingle warranty if you install staples?
Staples in general cause tears inside the fabric of shingles so water will get in and behind the shingle and will eventually enter the house. All manufacturers recommend cap staples and that will help to prevent water leakage. Cap staples will also prevent tearing as you walk across the deck so if you do use staples it will void your warranty.
Do we have to use starter asphalt shingles?
It is recommended by Atlas that you use starter shingles, you can also use the three-tab it depends on what kind of warranty you’re looking for. If you’re looking for a system warranty which Atlas calls, the signature select warranty, then you’ll have to use the starter shingles. If you choose out of the box warranty you can use a three-tab, but it is recommended that you use the starter shingle. You will also notice how wide the starter shingle is compared to other shingles.
What kind of asphalt shingle are we installing today?
Installing the pinnacle pristine featuring Scotch Guard. A 42-inch shingle that is the largest one on the market right now and the biggest one in the United States. 42 inches wide and provides for a six-inch exposure.
Begin installing your atlas asphalt shingles.
You want your seams to line up towards the bottom of the edge of the roof. You want to make sure you overlap at a minimum of a quarter inch up to 3/4 of an inch. Then you can put your nails right above the seal.
What if I don’t have a drip edge?
Nail placement is four to six nails evenly spaced and an inch off the sides. If you have a drip edge flush the shingles with the drip edge a quarter inch over the top as a natural overlap.
What if I have plywood?
Be at least a quarter of an inch off the sides so nail placement is a bit closer to the edge.
Do we install flush with the starter shingles?
Now that we are installing our singles you want to do an offset. Now you have a pattern on your roof. You can do four or six nails depending on your code. If it’s a six-nail requirement, of course, you must use six nails out of the box. Atlas only requires four nails. Atlas guarantees shingle stability at a hundred thirty miles an hour winds with the four-nail placement.
When you install your nails one inch from the sides, you’re going to do four nails per shingle. Have the next two shingles evenly spaced from the center. Also, you don’t want a high nail. You want to get the common bond area. The common bond area in the Atlas shingle is easy to identify. So, if you go for the top seam line down to your exposure, you’re going to be in that common bond area every single time.
What’s the coldest temperature shingles can be installed in?
There is a lot of misinformation out there in the market today. You can install shingles at any temperature you want. There are a few things that you must be considerate of when it gets too cold.
You have shingle brittleness. It’ll crack, it won’t be as flexible and most importantly your sealant line is not going to activate to hold your other shingle down. Recommend is to have the seal line activated at 40 degrees and above.
How does the installation temperature affect the warranty?
Say you install the shingles at 45 degrees and they never seal, is that your responsibility or a manufacturer responsibility to take care of it? If you properly install the shingles as to the instructions in 45-degree temperature, then you have a legitimate warranty claim. If you install the shingles in 20 degrees for example and you don’t go back and follow installation instructions by not sealing it then it’s the installers’ fault. But if you go back and seal it in a thermally active temperature and it fails, the manufacturer is responsible.
Will it seal at 50 degrees?
In Minnesota, for example, you get a lot of winter roof shingle application. If you installed say in October and the temperature is 45 or 55 degrees but you don’t have enough Sun. Maybe you have two weeks left and then you go for four or five months of the freeze. Technically you do it right, but do you still have a risk.
Atlas uses a very aggressive seal and the shingles are also sealing back to back so shingles will seal at 50 degrees. It’s going to take a little more time in the cold winter months versus the usual summertime when they could be sealed by the time you walk off the roof.
In the wintertime, if it’s 45 – 50 degrees it’s going to take a little bit longer. It’s going to thermally activate and seal. Anything colder than that you can certainly install shingles on cold weather but be very careful that you go back and hand seal those shingles.
Am I supposed to see the edge?
You want to be right on the edge. Come all the way down to your exposure wherever that line is. Again, four nails per shingle. Now take the next shingle and go 12 inches off the starter. Do your offsets first and then do your next layer of courses.
Does Atlas have the same Hip & Ridge for all their products?
You have the same hip and ridge for most Atlas products. You fold the shingles down one upon another and nail it down at five and five-eighths inch exposure which is your cover.
According to code, you place shingles around ventilation and then you put your nails in right below the seal. Five and five eights inch exposure which is right. The seal should have a uniform appearance.
What are the most common mistakes Atlas sees? What tends to void warranties?
When it comes to HIPAA breaches primarily it’s for the sky lighting. You must use our Scotch Guard HIPPA and reach for the sky warranty. In general purposes, you see a lot of people miss the alignment. It’s not going to seal properly unless you use proper alignment. If you go five-eighths inch, you’re at the mark right there.
Are there any requirements for Valleys? Atlas recommendations?
If you use the limited warranty with Atlas shingles, you can use the California-cut valley you can use an open valley you can use the closed valley. Any of those three are good if the overlay is proper. Because of the nature and the aesthetics of the shingle, it must lay flat, you don’t what water penetration underneath.
Can you install Atlas shingles over the existing roof and still have a warranty? Can you overlay architectural shingles over 3-Tab shingles? Will it void your warranty?
You can put Atlas Shingles over 3-tab they must lay flat. If you follow the guidelines your warranty is sound.
Any recommendations on penetrations?
You must repair the shingles if they are damaged. If there is curling, they must be repaired you must have a flat surface. You must pay attention to your nail size as well. You must make sure that the nail penetrates an eighth of an inch into the bottom side of your deck.
Make sure you use a longer nail inch and a quarter at least to penetrate when you’re going through double laminate or single laminate. Are if you’re going through a three-tab. It’s not going to void the warranty but if going through a three-tab shingle it must be in good condition and lay flat.
According to all building codes, shingles must be lying flat. So, if it’s 20-year-old shingles you don’t have to remove it you can lay over it and will not void the warranty.
Atlas recommends you follow best practices for flashing around chimneys and boots and those types of things. Follow the guidelines and you will be in good shape.
Final concerns, & more common mistakes
Follow the instructions to make sure you get all your warranty. Be careful about chimney flashing, dormer flashing with meatal siding use building best practices.
Atlas has a six-inch exposure which makes it easy to do the math as you go up the roof. Use the six, twelve, and eighteen-inch measurement snapping chalk lines.
If you stay true to the math you use a lot fewer shingles on your roof with Atlas shingles than a standard five and five-eighths exposure.
Another common mistake is improper nail placement. Also, a lot of times cold-weather applications not following guidelines and sealing properly.
Most complaints are about the ceiling line and gunk in the nail guns. So, Atlas has spaced out the ceiling line on top and thinned out the nail gun gunk.
Atlas makes some of the best shingles. They are sealing shingles with thermal bonding right to fiberglass. You get that bond every single time and that’s why they do it. On top of that, they do a lot of testing at their Technical Center. In their wind tunnel, Atlas proves their case every single day. They put two ceiling lines on their roof just for extra protection and that is what gives Atlas the advantage to offer a nail that will stick at a 130 mile an hour wind warranty. Atlas goes the extra mile.
Let me know what you think in the comments below if you install it on your house. If you are a roofer would you be recommending something like this to homeowners. Let me know, I read all my comments, I want to hear your feedback.
Thanks, Roofing Insights Team.
