Atlas Pinnacle Pristine Tan Mist is a warm, light toned architectural asphalt shingle, and it is one of the colors we get asked about most when a Pittsburgh homeowner wants a roof that brightens the house instead of weighing it down. Tan Mist blends soft tan, cream and light gray granules so the roof reads as a gentle sandy tone from the street rather than a flat beige. In this post we cover what the color looks like on the brick and siding we see every day in the North Hills and across Pittsburgh, the Scotchgard algae protection built into the shingle, the wind rating, and the Atlas warranty you get when we install it as a complete system.
See every Atlas color we install on our asphalt shingle roofing page.
Color: Tan Mist
Type: Asphalt Shingle
Grade: Architectural
Warranty: Limited Lifetime, 10 years non prorated, 15 year wind warranty up to 130 MPH with 4 nails, Lifetime Scotchgard Protector
Top Features: 3M Scotchgard algae protection, 130 MPH wind resistance
What Tan Mist Looks Like on Pittsburgh Homes
Most of the houses we roof were built between the 1920s and the 1990s, and the exteriors fall into a few groups: red or orange brick, yellow and buff brick, white or cream vinyl siding, and newer homes with gray or taupe fiber cement siding. Tan Mist works with more of those than a dark shingle does, which is why we suggest it so often.
On red and orange brick
Red brick rowhouses and colonials in neighborhoods like Bellevue, Brookline and Dormont usually carry a dark roof today because that is what was available when the roof was last done. Tan Mist lightens the whole facade. The warm granules pick up the warmth in the brick without competing with it, and the cream flecks keep the roof from looking muddy against the mortar lines. If the trim is white, the combination looks clean and traditional.
On yellow and buff brick
The North Hills has a lot of yellow brick ranches and split levels from the 1950s and 1960s. Tan Mist is close enough in tone to blend with buff brick, so the house reads as one warm color from the curb. Homeowners who want more contrast on yellow brick usually look at Atlas Weathered Wood or Pewter instead, and we are happy to bring both sample boards so you can hold them up against the wall.
On white, cream and gray siding
On white vinyl or cream siding Tan Mist gives a soft, coastal look that is becoming popular in newer developments around Cranberry, Mars and Wexford. On gray or taupe James Hardie siding it adds warmth so the house does not feel cold. Tan Mist also pairs well with brown or bronze gutters and downspouts, and with the white soffit and fascia we install on most jobs.
How to judge the color before you commit
Shingle colors shift with the light. Tan Mist looks lighter on a south facing slope at noon and warmer in the evening. We recommend looking at a full sample board outside, in both sun and shade, and checking it against your brick, siding, trim and gutters at the same time. If you would like to see the color on an actual roof, ask us and we will point you to a nearby home we have done in that color when we have one close to you.
Scotchgard Protection Against the Black Streaks
Those dark streaks you see running down older roofs around Pittsburgh are not dirt. They are a blue green algae called Gloeocapsa magma that feeds on the limestone filler in asphalt shingles. Our humid summers, shaded lots and tree cover give it everything it needs, and light colored shingles show the streaks first.
That is why we like Pinnacle Pristine for a light color like Tan Mist. The shingle carries 3M Scotchgard Protector, which uses copper granules blended across the surface to stop algae from taking hold. Atlas backs it with a Lifetime Scotchgard Protector algae resistance warranty, so a Tan Mist roof is designed to stay the color you picked instead of turning streaky after a few seasons. Keeping the roof light also helps reflect summer heat compared with a black shingle.
Built for Pittsburgh Wind and Weather
Pinnacle Pristine is an architectural shingle, which means two layers of fiberglass mat and asphalt laminated together. The extra thickness gives the roof the dimensional shadow lines you see from the street and makes it heavier and stiffer than a basic three tab shingle.
The wind rating matters here. Pittsburgh does not get hurricanes, but spring and summer thunderstorms, and the straight line winds that come across the ridges in the North Hills and along the rivers, are hard on roofs. Installed with four nails per shingle in the manufacturer nailing zone, Pinnacle Pristine carries a 130 MPH wind warranty for 15 years. We nail every shingle to that specification because the warranty depends on it and because a blown off shingle in February is the kind of call nobody wants to make.
The shingle also holds up to the freeze and thaw cycles we get from November through March. Combined with ice and water shield at the eaves and valleys and proper ventilation, it gives a Tan Mist roof a long service life in our climate.
The Atlas Warranty When We Install the Complete System
Every Pinnacle Pristine shingle comes with an Atlas Limited Lifetime warranty with a 10 year non prorated period. There is a bigger benefit available, and it comes from how the roof is built, not just which shingle you choose.
We are an AtlasPro+ Platinum Select contractor. When we install a complete Atlas roof system, meaning Atlas shingles, Atlas underlayment and Atlas ventilation together, we can register the roof for the Atlas 50 year warranty on the full system. That coverage is only available through contractors at our level and only when the whole system is Atlas. It is one of the main reasons we recommend staying with Atlas components from the deck up rather than mixing brands to save a little on the underlayment.
On a typical Tan Mist job in Pittsburgh, our crew tears the old roof down to the wood deck, replaces any soft or rotted sheathing, installs ice and water shield along the eaves and in the valleys, covers the rest of the deck with synthetic underlayment, sets new drip edge and flashing, installs the shingles with four nails each, and finishes with ridge vent and matching hip and ridge caps. We document the process with photos so you can see what went on under the shingles.
What Affects the Cost of a Tan Mist Roof
Tan Mist is priced the same as every other Pinnacle Pristine color, so the color choice does not change your estimate. What does change it is the size and pitch of the roof, how many layers of old shingles have to come off, how much decking needs to be replaced, the number of chimneys, skylights and valleys that need flashing, and whether gutters, soffit or fascia are being replaced at the same time. We give every homeowner a free written estimate that lists each of those items so there are no surprises on the day the crew shows up.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Tan Mist a light or a dark shingle?
Tan Mist is on the lighter end of the Atlas Pinnacle Pristine range. It is a soft tan with cream and light gray granules, not a stark white and not a dark brown.
Will a light colored roof show dirt and algae faster?
Light shingles show streaking more than dark ones, which is exactly why Pinnacle Pristine includes Scotchgard algae protection with a lifetime algae resistance warranty. We would not recommend a light shingle without it in Pittsburgh.
Does Tan Mist work with brown gutters and trim?
Yes. Tan Mist pairs well with brown, bronze, almond and white gutters. We install 5 and 6 inch seamless gutters in a range of colors and can match them to the roof and trim on the same job.
Do I need the whole Atlas system to get the 50 year warranty?
Yes. The 50 year warranty applies to complete Atlas systems installed by a qualifying AtlasPro+ contractor. Shingles alone carry the standard Limited Lifetime warranty.
Can I see Tan Mist in person before I decide?
Yes. We bring full size sample boards to every estimate, and we will leave one with you so you can check it in morning and evening light against your house.
Ready to See Tan Mist on Your Home?
If you are thinking about Atlas Pinnacle Pristine Tan Mist for your Pittsburgh home, we would be glad to bring samples, measure the roof and give you a free written estimate for a complete Atlas system with the 50 year warranty. Contact Malick Brothers Exteriors to schedule a visit.
