Improper nailing issues cause countless insurance claims to be denied each year. Pate Smith, a national business development director with Premier Claims in Omaha, NE, sees more than a dozen each week. So when he saw a presentation on Atlas Roofing’s HP42” shingles at a professional lunch and learn event in Atlanta, he was beyond impressed.

“The larger the nailing area, the less chance of a screw-up, which is super important when you deal with less-[experienced] labor,” Smith says. “Crews aren’t necessarily loyal to a particular roofing contractor and, because of that, they constantly have different specifications to follow. They see every single shingle manufacturer and they see every type of situation. Plus, depending on the area of the country, building codes change. And the increase in variables that they deal with over time decreases consistency in the install.”

Over the nearly three years he’s been with Premier, Smith has evaluated more than 500 structures and has seen many insurance claims result in denials because roofing installers failed to follow manufacturers’ instructions for properly nailing shingles.

Nailing A Claim

Atlas Roofing’s HP42” shingles are the biggest in America, measuring 42 inches by 14 inches, and include a 1½-inch Sweet Spot™ nailing area that helps roofers stay accurate. The double FASTAC® adhesive sealant line also sets HP42” format shingles apart from the competition. The combination may mean the difference between an insurance claim being approved or denied.

“If I’m playing darts and the goal is to hit the triple three inside the 20 every time, I would love to have that triple three inside the 20 be way bigger than smaller. I’d love to aim at the whole dartboard instead of the small space, and that’s what Atlas HP42” shingles allow.”

“What we tend to see is, as an install has more variables to it, the likelihood of incorrect nailing increases — high nails, incorrect pattern and so on,” Smith says. “Whenever this happens and there’s a wind claim — because shingles are torn off or loosened by wind, the mat gets lifted up or debris gets underneath — the carrier doesn’t want to cover the claim and will send an engineer out to deny it due to high nailing, low nailing, improper nailing or improper pattern. So the larger the nailing area, the less likely the appraiser will be to recommend denial of the claim.”

With their 1½-inch nailing area and double sealant line, Atlas shingles with HP42” technology offer a 130 mph wind protection guarantee. Most other shingles are rated for 110 mph winds.

The larger shingle size also produces less waste and offers a 6-inch exposure that provides homeowners with stunning curb appeal. Plus, Atlas HP42” shingles feature Scotchgard™ Protector, which helps to prevent ugly black streaks caused by algae.

HP42” shingles offer big savings on materials and labor too.

For instance, the average savings on a 40-square job include:

• 6,400 fewer nails
• 320 fewer shingles to install
• 2 to 4 hours less installation time

Use the HP42” Savings Calculator to see how much you can save on future roofing jobs.

For more information on Atlas Roofing’s HP42” format shingles, visit AtlasRoofing.com/HP42.