You nailed it—attic insulation and sealing are way more important than most folks realize. I’ve seen people drop a small fortune on “cool” shingles, but if your attic’s got gaps or barely any insulation, you’re just letting that Texas sun roast your house anyway. I’d put money into attic work first, then pick a shingle that fits your budget and looks good. The CertainTeed warranty is nice, but yeah, the eco label definitely bumps the price. Seen it too many times... folks expect miracles from shingle color alone, but it’s really about the whole system working together.
I’ve crawled through so many attics where the “fancy” shingles looked spotless, but you could feel the heat pouring in from gaps and thin insulation. One house had brand new CertainTeed, but their AC was running non-stop—turned out they barely had any attic insulation at all. It’s wild how much difference a few inches of insulation and some careful sealing can make, especially in Texas. Shingle color helps a bit, but it’s not magic.
Shingle color helps a bit, but it’s not magic.
That’s spot on. I used to think picking the right shingle would solve most of my cooling issues, but after crawling around up there with a temp gun, it was clear insulation and air sealing mattered way more. If you’re budgeting for CertainTeed, I’d definitely factor in the cost of adding or topping up attic insulation. Even just rolling out some R-30 batts made a noticeable difference for us—AC cycles dropped and the house felt less stuffy. It’s not the flashiest upgrade, but it pays off fast, especially in Texas heat.
Even just rolling out some R-30 batts made a noticeable difference for us—AC cycles dropped and the house felt less stuffy.
Funny, I had the same experience after adding insulation—didn’t expect it to help that much. Did you notice any issues with humidity after? My attic got less hot, but I swear the upstairs still feels muggy sometimes. Maybe I need to check my vents...
Did you notice any issues with humidity after? My attic got less hot, but I swear the upstairs still feels muggy sometimes.
Same here—after adding insulation, the temp dropped but humidity upstairs is still kinda weird. I’m starting to think my bathroom vent just dumps into the attic instead of outside, which probably isn’t helping. You might want to check if your soffit vents are clear...mine were totally blocked by old insulation.
