Atlas vs. CertainTeed — Which Shingle Is Right for Your Oklahoma Roof?

We sell two types of shingles, and there are  reasons for that. The first comes from 30 years in roofing. The second comes from research. If you’ve already done your research and you’re leaning toward one of them, that’s great. If you’re just checking out what we install and what we are certified in, that works too.

Here’s how I plan to approach this — and it requires a quick side trip.

I like GMC trucks. I’ve bought several over the last few years. I know the trim levels by heart and the pricing for each one, even though I think the price of trucks is too high. But every time I go look at a Ford, I have to start over — relearn the trim levels, cross-reference the pricing, figure out what compares to what. What I’m saying is, I’m going to lay everything out for you right here so you can look up exactly what you need with minimal effort. That’s honestly part of why I never bought a Ford or a Dodge. Too much work. Ha.

Here’s what we’re covering:

• Shingle options with each brand
• What I like and don’t like about each brand
• My history installing both
• Main differences
• Shingle failure issues
• Warranty
• Color options

Already know the brand? Skip to the comparison section.

Let’s Start with CertainTeed

My roofing career started in 1996, and CertainTeed was the shingle of choice at the company I worked for. I grew up installing them, got very comfortable with them, and honestly — I was happy with CertainTeed. I believe they are the most consistent shingle out there. The shingles respond well when driving nails through them and they’re easy to install.

CertainTeed Shingle Options

* 160 mph when combined with CertainTeed starter shingle and hip & ridge cap

CertainTeed Landmark
The Landmark is a Class 3 shingle rated for hail. It has a wind rating of 110 mph — and 160 mph when combined with their starter shingle and hip and ridge cap.

CertainTeed Landmark ClimateFlex
The ClimateFlex is CertainTeed’s Class 4 impact-resistant shingle for hail damage, with the same wind speeds as the standard Landmark.

CertainTeed Northgate ClimateFlex
This is where things get interesting. Instead of the normal 3 bundles per square, Northgate comes in at 4 bundles per square — adding 20 lbs. or more per square. When you walk on these shingles it’s like walking on sandpaper because the granules adhere so much better. They are Class 4 rated for hail and have the same wind warranty.

What I Don’t Like About CertainTeed

This is going to sound nerdy but stick with me.

All laminated shingles are basically two shingles glued together. Where they overlap is called the common bond area — and that’s where you nail the shingle to the roof. CertainTeed shingles only overlap 3/4 of an inch. What that means is you’re only nailing through one layer of shingle, which makes it easier to blow the nail through when it’s hot out or when it gets a little cold.

CertainTeed RoofRunner underlayment going down with Landmark bundles staged on the roof. Quality starts before the first shingle is ever nailed.

The back of a CertainTeed shingle — manufacture date and Class 3 impact rating. Always check what you are getting before the bundles go on the roof.

The second thing is the color options — they’re a little hard to follow. CertainTeed has standard colors and colors with more variance; kind of a checkerboard look according to my neighbor. If you want a standard color, you’re fine. But if you want more options, you must switch to the Patriot shingle. Or the ClimateFlex option comes in regular colors, but the Northgate only comes in the checkerboard look or the Max Def version. Are you catching my point? It’s just a pain to explain to a homeowner.

My History Installing CertainTeed

CertainTeed has always held up well against the elements — so much so that back in the day, when a customer chose something different, we’d be disappointed. We were the installers back then, not the salesmen, so we had no choice. Because we could feel the difference when we were nailing another brand, sometimes we had to slow down. Sometimes we threw more shingles away. CertainTeed just installed cleaner.

Shingle Failure Issues

There’s good news and bad news in everything. Over the years we’ve seen some defects where excess oil came through the top of the shingle — almost looked like hail damage. That’s not just a CertainTeed issue; it happens across the industry. But the good news is CertainTeed paid to replace every roof that had the problem.

The Northgate has a separate issue with shingles sticking together in the bundle. If you order Northgate, have your supply house special order it directly rather than pulling from their shelf stock. The difference matters — some supply houses carry shingles that have been sitting for years, and you don’t want those. The problem is you end up throwing shingles away because they’re stuck together, and you might not have enough to finish the job.

Warranty

CertainTeed’s lifetime warranty is solid. The contractor must be certified and use CertainTeed products, but the warranty covers 50 years against defects and 25 years against blue-green algae. Meaning if a defect happens, CertainTeed writes you a check for a new roof.

Color Options

Here in Oklahoma, we have a lot of HOAs, and most of them require the color to be weathered wood. I think CertainTeed’s weathered wood colors are the most impressive-looking option out there — people love the dark gray look. For more options, look toward the Patriot shingle and the Max Definition series. It’s a little hard to follow their color chart, but some of the best colors are in there.

Atlas Pinnacle Pristine bundles with WeatherMaster ice and water shield staged and ready. These are the products that earn the Atlas Signature Select warranty.

On to Atlas

I found Atlas years ago while researching to write a blog about wind damage. While I was writing it, all I could think was — why am I not installing these? But think about it: I installed one brand for most of my career. Who likes to change? Ha. Well, we did change, and we couldn’t have been happier.

Atlas Shingle Options

Atlas Summit 60 underlayment across the full deck with vent penetrations cut clean. The foundation of a solid Atlas install — before a single shingle goes down.

Atlas ProLam

The ProLam has no hail rating. It’s the cheapest option in the Atlas lineup, and that’s about the only reason to use it — if price is the absolute only thing that matters.

Atlas Pinnacle Pristine

This is our most-purchased shingle. Class 3 rating for hail, 130 mph wind warranty, and a lifetime warranty against blue-green algae.

Atlas Pinnacle Impact

Same benefits as Pristine but bumped up to a Class 4 hail rating.

Side by side on concrete — Atlas on the left, CertainTeed on the right. You can see the size difference and the sealant strip placement. This is the comparison most homeowners never get to make.

Atlas StormMaster Shake

150 mph wind rating and Class 4 hail rating. The upgrade cost from the Pinnacle Impact is extremely low, but it is worth every penny.

What I Like About Atlas

Quite the list. Atlas makes the largest shingle of any brand on the market, which means you install 8 fewer shingles per square. The common bond area is 1-1/2 inches wide, so every nail goes through 2 layers of shingle every time — no exceptions. There are also 2 rows of sealant on every shingle. When it comes to defending against wind damage, Atlas is at the top of the list.

My History Installing Atlas

We’re only a few years into installing these shingles, but we’ve been extremely happy. I’m not worried about Atlas roofs holding up against Oklahoma storms — I have confidence in the product when those storms come through. We have had a couple of small setbacks: some excess water in the bundles created a hazard when walking on a wet roof, and some plastic strips didn’t come off the shingles cleanly. Atlas has been working on both of those. No major defects so far.

Shingle Failure Issues

No major defects at the moment. The StormMaster Shake isn’t a huge seller compared to the other lines, so like the Northgate on the CertainTeed side, I have the supply house special order it rather than pulling whatever they have sitting in stock. You don’t want shingles that have been on a shelf for three years.

Warranty

A finished CertainTeed roof on an Owasso brick home. When it is installed right with a certified contractor, it is hard to argue with the result.

The entry-level Atlas warranty is non-prorated for the first 15 years, then prorated out to 50 years. That warranty is free if you use Atlas products — which is fair. And honestly, within 15 years you’re going to know whether there’s a defect or not. Extended warranties at 20 and 25 years are also available to purchase. Combine this with the lifetime Scotchgard protection against blue-green algae and you’ve got a strong package.

Color Options

Atlas colors are straightforward — they don’t change between the Impact and StormMaster lines, but the selection of colors gets smaller, which honestly makes it easier to explain to a homeowner. The Pinnacle Pristine Coastal Granite is one of the best colors out there if you want to brighten up the house with a splash of color. The weathered wood option is good but takes a back seat to CertainTeed’s version.

How Do They Compare?

Both are great shingles. Both are backed by solid companies with great local reps — and that matters when something goes wrong.

I give Atlas the nudge on performance. The larger shingle size, the 1-1/2” common bond area, and every nail going through two layers every time — that’s where it earns it.

I give CertainTeed the nudge on colors. Some of those Patriot colors are hard to explain but they do look good. And Northgate? I think it’s hands down the best shingle on the market. Four bundles per square — they’re just in a different category. The Storm Master Shake is a close second.

The last factor to consider is pricing. The upgrade cost is more expensive on the CertainTeed side. The upgrade from Class 3 to Class 4 CertainTeed could run $5–10 more per bundle, but that depends on the contractor. Installing CertainTeed could cost $450–900 more on a 30-square roof. The Northgate shingle would cost about $20–30 more per square, so $600–900 more on a 30-square roof than the StormMaster Shake. Completely worth it, but it’s up to your budget.

Which One Is Right for You?
Here’s How to Decide in 30 Seconds.

Two great options — hopefully a little less to research than before.

A ton of information was just laid out. I’m a roofing guy, not necessarily the most polished blog writer — ha. That’s why I always say just shoot me a call and let’s talk. Both options are good and there is no need to make it more complicated. Thanks for reading — let’s talk. Green Country Roofing at 918-607-7409.