- Gotta push back a bit—cool shingles did help on my last job, but only by a few degrees. Not a miracle cure, but not useless either.
- Ventilation’s huge, yeah, but if your attic’s got zero insulation or you’re in the deep South, even the best vents won’t fix everything.
- Malarkey’s solid for hail and wind, but if you’re after a cold attic, it’s more about the whole system than just the shingle.
Malarkey’s solid for hail and wind, but if you’re after a cold attic, it’s more about the whole system than just the shingle.
That’s pretty much what I’ve been hearing from my boss too. We did a job last month with Malarkey Highlanders, and yeah, they held up great in a hailstorm a week later (customer was stoked), but inside the attic it was still roasting. They had decent vents but almost no insulation, so it didn’t really matter what shingle we used. I guess the “cool roof” thing helps a bit, but it’s not magic.
I’m curious—has anyone actually seen a big temp drop in their attic just from switching to cool shingles? Like, more than 5 degrees? Or is it always just a small difference unless you upgrade insulation and airflow too?
Also, for folks in the South or anywhere super humid—how do you keep your attic from turning into a sauna? We’re up in Missouri, so it gets hot but not like Texas or Florida. I’ve heard some people add radiant barriers or even spray foam the rafters, but that seems pricey.
One thing I noticed: on steeper roofs, the attic seemed to stay a little cooler, maybe because there’s more air space? Not sure if that’s just my imagination or what.
Anyway, if you’re set on Malarkey for the impact resistance, I’d say go for it—they’re tough. But if you’re mainly worried about attic temps, maybe look at the whole setup: vents, insulation, even shade from trees if you’ve got any.
Anyone tried those solar-powered attic fans? Worth the money or just another gadget?
I’ve seen maybe a 5-8 degree drop with “cool” shingles, but honestly, it’s never been dramatic unless the attic’s got solid insulation and airflow. The shingle color and type help a bit, but if the attic’s basically a pizza oven, it’s usually because of thin insulation or blocked soffits. Tried solar attic fans on a couple jobs—mixed results. They’re quiet and don’t suck power, but if the vents are undersized or the attic’s huge, they can’t keep up. Steep roofs do seem to breathe better, but I’m not sure if that’s just luck or what.
I get what you’re saying about insulation and airflow being the real MVPs, but I’ve actually seen a bigger difference with shingle color than I expected—at least here in Texas where the sun’s basically trying to roast us alive half the year. Swapped out some old dark shingles for lighter “cool” ones on a duplex I manage, and the tenants upstairs stopped complaining about their AC running nonstop. Not a miracle fix, but it definitely helped more than just adding another layer of insulation did.
Solar attic fans… eh, mixed bag for me too. One house with a low-pitch roof barely saw any change, but another with a steeper roof and decent venting actually cooled off noticeably. Maybe it’s just luck or maybe it’s that every attic is its own weird little ecosystem.
Honestly, if you’re already re-roofing, I’d say go for the lighter shingles and double-check your vents aren’t blocked by old insulation or bird nests (found that one out the hard way). It all adds up, even if none of it’s magic on its own.
“Maybe it’s just luck or maybe it’s that every attic is its own weird little ecosystem.”
That’s a pretty accurate way to put it. I’ve seen two houses on the same block react totally differently to the same shingle swap—sometimes the lighter color helps a ton, sometimes not as much. Did you notice any difference in how quickly the attic cooled off in the evenings after switching shingles? I’m curious if the “cool” shingles actually help with heat dissipation at night, or if it’s mostly about daytime absorption. Also, did you go with a Malarkey shingle specifically, or another brand? Some of them have those reflective granules but I haven’t seen a clear winner yet.