If you are looking for good shingles to outfit your home with, look no further than TAMKO and Atlas. Both are very highly regarded and popular brands of shingles in the USA and North America in general. They are known for producing high-quality products that last for many years to come. That said, there are certain differences between the two that you need to know about.
These differences are exactly what we are here to discuss today. Let’s figure out whether TAMKO or Atlas is the right brand for you.
TAMKO Overview
First, we have TAMKO, which is a somewhat newer company, as it was founded in just 1994, in Missouri. This is a very proud American manufacturer of a variety of roofing products and shingles. There are many asphalt shingles in their lineup, as well as metal shingles and other varieties.
This brand does have quite a selection of products to choose from, although the Heritage lineup of asphalt shingles is by far one of the most popular. TAMKO as a brand is known for producing durable and relatively high-quality shingles that are also very affordable.
Although they may not be considered the number one best in the industry, they do generally hold up fairly well towards impact and weather. Furthermore, many people consider this to be a budget brand, as many of the products are very affordable, but there are a few premium shingles with advanced features as well.
Atlas Overview
We then have Atlas, which is a bit older than TAMKO, as it was founded in 1982 out of a single asphalt shingle manufacturing facility. In a very short amount of time, Atlas grew to have over 36 facilities located all throughout North America, which means that it does currently have worldwide distribution.
If you are looking for a huge selection of underlayments, roof and wall insulation products, molded products, and yes, shingles, then this is a good brand to consider.
This brand name is also known for producing reasonably high-quality products at decent prices. Again, they may not be considered the best brand in the world, but their products also won’t cost you a fortune.
TAMKO vs Atlas: How Do They Compare?
Now that we know the basics about both TAMKO and Atlas, let’s take a closer look at what sets them apart from each other.
Product Lineup
Atlas does have a pretty good selection of products, and this includes specialty shingles, architectural shingles, 3-tab shingles, and basic asphalt shingles too. Some of the most popular products from this brand are the Pinnacle Pristine shingles, so this will be our main focus for today.
This manufacturer actually has seven types of asphalt shingles to choose from, as well as a few types of metal shingles.
If we are talking about TAMKO, this brand has six different types of asphalt shingles, as well as some metal options too. That said, if what you are going for are asphalt shingles, and you want a big selection, then Atlas is the better brand here.
Overall Quality
In terms of overall quality, coming to an exact conclusion here can be relatively difficult. Both brand names produce very high-quality shingles, and as for our main focuses for today, the Pinnacle Pristine and the Heritage lineups from both brands respectively, seem to be fairly equal.
The Heritage lineup does have good algae resistance, energy efficiency, fire ratings, and wind ratings, and the Pinnacle Pristine shingles have many of the same high-class ratings. However, when it comes down to overall durability and impact resistance, the Atlas Pinnacle Pristine shingles are likely slightly better.
Durability
The TAMKO Heritage lineup of shingles is known for being quite durable and they can handle quite a bit of punishment. These shingles are known for not suffering from much granule loss, as well as being quite resistant to impacts, as well as the elements.
That said, based on customer reviews, it is likely that Atlas Pinnacle Pristine shingles are a bit more durable. They just have better impact resistance, and less granule loss, and they can hold up against the elements a little bit better as well.
Wind Rating
Both of the main shingles we are here looking at today, the Atlas Pinnacle Pristine shingles and the TAMKO Heritage shingles, have wind ratings of 130 mph, or roughly 210 kilometers per hour. However, both brands do also produce higher-end shingles that can resist winds up to 150 miles per hour.
Algae Resistance
The TAMKO Heritage lineup of shingles is fairly algae-resistant, which can also be said for the Atlas Pinnacle Pristine shingles. In fact, both brands use special products and materials that help prevent the spread and growth of algae. Both also offer special Scotchgard features that offer lifetime protection against growth.
Energy Efficiency
The Atlas Pinnacle Pristine shingles are Energy Star certified and should allow for a reduction in heating and cooling costs by around 15%. Technically speaking, the TAMKO Heritage shingles should also qualify as Energy Star certified, although it depends on the area you live in. Generally speaking, the Atlas brand name has more products that are energy certified.
Fire Rating
Both of the products from both brands we are looking at today have Class A fire ratings.
Warranty
The vast majority of products from TAMKO have a 50-year warranty, whereas most of the products from Atlas have limited lifetime warranties.
Price
Most of the shingles from Atlas should cost roughly $2.20 to $3.25 per square foot, or slightly more if you are going for the very high-end options.
TAMKO shingles, on the other hand, should cost you anywhere between $2 and $4 per square foot, usually a bit less than the maximum. The Pinnacle Pristine shingles are a bit more expensive than the Heritage shingles.
TAMKO vs Atlas: Which Offers Better Roofing Shingles?
When it comes down to it, the Atlas Pinnacle Pristine shingles are slightly better. They might cost a little bit more, but they also appear to have better impact resistance and overall resistance to the weather. That said, in the grand scheme of things, both are fairly equal on most fronts.
It really comes down to the style and aesthetic qualities that you prefer.
How Do TAMKO and Atlas Compare with Other Shingles Brands?
See how TAMKO compares with: CertainTeed | GAF | IKO | Malarkey | Owens Corning
See how Atlas compares with: CertainTeed | GAF | Malarkey | Owens Corning