Roofing companies in Pittsburgh put a lot of badges on their trucks and websites. Some of those badges mean something for the homeowner, and some are just marketing. The one we get asked about most is our Atlas Pro Plus Platinum contractor status, often written as AtlasPro+ Platinum Select. This guide explains what that status is, how a roofer earns it, what it does for you as the owner of the roof, and how to check any contractor's credentials before you sign a contract.
Malick Brothers Exteriors is a family owned company that Ryan Malick started in 2022, with our shop at 500 Perry Highway in West View. We are an AtlasPro+ Platinum Select contractor, which is the reason we can register the Atlas 50 year warranty on a complete Atlas roof system. If you are planning a roof replacement in Pittsburgh, that warranty is one of the biggest differences between hiring a certified installer and hiring whoever happens to be cheapest that week.
What is an Atlas Pro Plus Platinum contractor?
Atlas Roofing is a shingle, underlayment and ventilation manufacturer. AtlasPro+ is its contractor program. Any roofer can buy Atlas shingles at a supply house, but only contractors enrolled in AtlasPro+ earn status in the program, and status is earned by what the contractor actually installs over the course of a year.
The program has ascending levels. Atlas has described them as Silver, Gold, Platinum and Diamond. A contractor moves up by installing Atlas shingles and complete Signature Select roofing systems, which are roofs built entirely from matching Atlas components rather than a mix of brands. The levels reset annually, so a roofer has to keep installing qualifying systems to keep the status.
Platinum sits near the top of that ladder. Platinum Select is the designation Atlas uses for Platinum contractors who are eligible to offer the manufacturer's longest system warranty. In plain terms, it tells you three things about the roofer:
- They install a high volume of Atlas roofs, so the crews know the product and the manufacturer's installation specifications.
- They install complete systems, not just shingles over whatever underlayment was on sale.
- Atlas will stand behind their roofs with a longer warranty than it offers through a non certified installer.
How a roofer earns Platinum Select status
Nobody buys their way into Platinum. Atlas awards points for each square of qualifying product a contractor installs and registers, and the contractor's annual total decides the level. A Signature Select system, meaning Atlas shingles with Atlas underlayment, starter, hip and ridge and ventilation, counts for more than shingles alone. Contractors also complete Atlas product and installation training through the program.
Our own path shows how the levels work. We reached AtlasPro+ Silver in December 2022, seven months after we opened. We moved to Gold in May 2023 and to Platinum later that same year, and we have held Platinum since. We got there by installing Atlas Pinnacle Pristine, StormMaster Shake and Signature Select systems across the North Hills and the city, on homes in Ross Township, Allison Park, Emsworth, Ben Avon, Squirrel Hill, Mt. Washington and the neighborhoods around our West View shop.
What Platinum Select gets the homeowner: the Atlas 50 year warranty
This is the part that matters when you are the one paying for the roof. Atlas shingles carry a standard limited lifetime warranty no matter who installs them. When a Platinum Select contractor installs a complete Atlas system and registers it, the homeowner qualifies for the enhanced Atlas system warranty, which extends the non prorated coverage period to 50 years.
What "complete Atlas system" means on our jobs:
- Atlas shingles, usually Pinnacle Pristine or StormMaster Shake, with 3M Scotchgard Protector against black algae streaks.
- Atlas synthetic underlayment and Atlas ice and water barrier at the eaves, valleys and penetrations.
- Atlas starter shingles and Atlas hip and ridge shingles.
- Atlas ridge vent or other Atlas ventilation sized for the attic.
The enhanced warranty is a manufacturer warranty, issued by Atlas and registered after the job. It covers manufacturing defects in the materials for the full period, is transferable to the next owner of the home, and on the system level it includes the labor to tear off and replace defective material, which the basic shingle warranty does not. Ask any contractor who quotes you a "50 year roof" to show you the exact warranty document and the registration confirmation. If the roofer cannot register the warranty, the number on the sales sheet is just a number.
Two honest limits. First, no manufacturer warranty covers poor installation, which is why the installer's status matters more than the brochure. Second, the enhanced warranty requires the whole system to be Atlas. Mixing in a different brand of underlayment or ridge vent to save a few dollars can disqualify the roof. We spell out every component in our written estimate so there is no surprise at registration time.
Why a manufacturer certification matters more in Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh roofs take freeze and thaw cycles from November through March, heavy spring rain, and summer sun on dark slopes. Most of the housing stock in the North Hills and the city neighborhoods is 60 to 120 years old, with steep pitches, box gutters, multiple dormers and chimneys that need proper flashing. A roof that fails here usually fails at the details: ice dams at the eaves, valleys, pipe boots and chimney flashing.
A certified installer is trained to the manufacturer's specifications for exactly those details, and the manufacturer has a financial reason to make sure the roof is done right, because it is backing the roof for decades. We pair the Atlas system with our MuleHide certification for the low slope sections many city homes have, so the EPDM porch roof and the shingle main roof are both installed to spec.
Our asphalt shingle guide covers Atlas and the other lines we install.
Our other credentials and what they mean
Certification from one manufacturer is one signal. Here is the rest of what we hold and why each one matters to a homeowner.
| Credential | Who issues it | What it tells you |
|---|---|---|
| AtlasPro+ Platinum Select | Atlas Roofing | High annual volume of complete Atlas systems; eligible to register the 50 year system warranty |
| MuleHide certified | MuleHide Products | Trained and approved to install .060 EPDM, 2 ply low slope systems and silicone coatings with manufacturer warranties |
| PA Home Improvement Contractor PA174918 | Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General | Registered under the state Home Improvement Consumer Protection Act and subject to its contract rules |
| BBB Accredited, A+ rating | Better Business Bureau | Accredited since November 2022 with a public complaint record you can read |
| ABC Supply Platinum Level Customer Appreciation Award | ABC Supply Co. | Awarded for 2023 and again for 2024 by the roofing distributor we buy most of our material from |
ABC Supply is the largest wholesale distributor of roofing products in North America, and its Platinum Level Customer Appreciation Award recognizes the volume and consistency of a contractor's purchasing. It is not a quality certification the way the Atlas and MuleHide programs are, and we would not want anyone to confuse the two. It does tell you that we have bought material locally and steadily since we opened, which is a fair sign of a busy, stable company.
How to verify any roofing contractor's credentials in Pennsylvania
Do not take any badge, including ours, on faith. Every claim a Pittsburgh roofer makes can be checked in about ten minutes.
1. Look up the PA HIC registration
Pennsylvania's Home Improvement Consumer Protection Act requires contractors who do more than a small amount of home improvement work per year to register with the Office of Attorney General and to print their registration number on contracts and advertising. Search the Attorney General's HIC contractor search by registration number or business name. Ours is PA174918. The search shows only active registrations, so an expired number will not appear. Registration is not an endorsement, but a contractor who is not registered is breaking the law before they ever climb your ladder.
2. Check the written contract against the Act
The same law sets rules for the contract itself. A home improvement contract in Pennsylvania must be in writing, must include the contractor's registration number, a start and completion date, a description of the work and materials, and the total price, and it must give you a three business day right to cancel. The law also limits the deposit a contractor can take up front on larger jobs. If a quote arrives as a text message with a number and nothing else, that is a warning sign.
3. Confirm the manufacturer certification with the manufacturer
Atlas has a find a contractor tool on its website where homeowners can search by ZIP code. The same is true of most shingle manufacturers. If a roofer claims a status you cannot find, ask them for their program certificate. We keep ours in the office and will show it to anyone who asks.
4. Read the BBB profile and the Google reviews
The BBB profile shows accreditation date, rating and every complaint filed in the last three years, along with how the company responded. Google reviews show the pattern over time. Read the owner's replies to the critical ones.
5. Ask for proof of insurance
Ask for a current certificate of insurance showing general liability and workers compensation, issued by the insurer. A contractor without workers compensation leaves you exposed if a worker is hurt on your property.
What this means when you get a roofing estimate
Two roofing estimates in Pittsburgh are rarely for the same roof. One may list a complete manufacturer system with a registered 50 year warranty and a contract that follows state law. The other may list shingles, "felt" and a handshake. What drives the price on any roof is the square footage and pitch, the number of layers to tear off, the condition of the decking, the complexity of the flashing, and the system you choose. We put all of that in a free written estimate, and we offer financing for homeowners who want to spread the cost.
If you are not ready for a replacement, start with a roof inspection. We will tell you honestly whether a repair will get you a few more years.
Frequently asked questions
What is a Platinum preferred or Platinum Select contractor?
It is the manufacturer's label for a roofing contractor in the top tier of its installer program. For Atlas, Platinum Select contractors have installed enough complete Atlas systems in a year to qualify, have completed the program training, and can register the enhanced 50 year Atlas system warranty for their customers. Other manufacturers use similar names, such as Platinum Preferred, for their own top tiers.
Does the Atlas 50 year warranty cover workmanship?
The enhanced Atlas system warranty is a manufacturer warranty on the materials, and at the system level it includes labor to replace defective material. It does not cover installation errors by the contractor. Workmanship is covered by the contractor's own warranty, so ask for both documents in writing and keep them with the warranty registration.
Is the warranty transferable if I sell my house?
Yes. The enhanced Atlas system warranty can be transferred to the next owner of the home, which is a selling point for buyers of older Pittsburgh houses who worry about the roof. Keep the registration confirmation with your closing documents so the transfer can be made within the manufacturer's time limit.
How do I check if a roofer is licensed in Pennsylvania?
Pennsylvania registers home improvement contractors rather than licensing them. Search the Office of Attorney General's HIC contractor search by name or registration number. The number must appear on the contractor's contracts and advertising. Separately, ask for a current certificate of insurance and check the BBB profile for complaints.
Are Atlas shingles a good choice for Pittsburgh weather?
We install Atlas Pinnacle Pristine and StormMaster Shake on most of our residential roofs because they carry Scotchgard algae protection, which matters on shaded, humid Pittsburgh lots, and because the complete system qualifies for the 50 year warranty. We also install Owens Corning on request and metal, slate repair and EPDM where the roof calls for it.
What is the ABC Supply Platinum Level Customer Appreciation Award?
It is a distributor award from ABC Supply Co. recognizing a contractor's purchasing volume and loyalty over the year. Malick Brothers Exteriors received it for 2023 and again for 2024. It is a sign of a busy, stable company, but it is not an installation certification, so weigh it alongside manufacturer status, registration and reviews rather than on its own.
Talk to a certified Pittsburgh roofer
If you want a roof backed by a registered 50 year manufacturer warranty, installed by a crew that lives in the neighborhoods it works in, we would like to look at your house. Request a free written estimate at malickbrothersexteriors.com/contact or stop by the shop at 500 Perry Highway in West View.
