- Honestly, I’m not convinced the “cool” shingles make a huge difference at night. My neighbor switched to a light gray (not Malarkey, but similar) and his attic still felt like an oven after sunset.
- I think attic ventilation matters more than shingle color for cooling off in the evenings.
- We went with CertainTeed because it was cheaper—didn’t notice much change in evening temps, but daytime heat seemed slightly less brutal.
- Sometimes I wonder if the marketing around these reflective granules is a bit overhyped...
I hear you on the “cool” shingles not making a huge impact after sunset. I’ve inspected a bunch of attics with those lighter colors and, honestly, they’re still roasting in the evening if the ventilation isn’t up to scratch. Did your neighbor have ridge vents or just the basic soffit vents? Sometimes folks swap shingles but don’t realize their attic airflow is bottlenecked somewhere. I do think the reflective granules help a bit during peak sun, but if the hot air has nowhere to go, it just lingers. Anyone ever try adding a solar attic fan or boosting insulation after shingle replacement? That seems to make more of a dent in actual attic temps from what I’ve seen.
- Had the same debate when I bought my place last year—Malarkey vs. other “cool” shingles.
- Ended up with a lighter color, but honestly, attic still hit 120°F+ in late afternoon.
- My house only had soffit vents, no ridge vent. Didn’t realize how much that bottlenecked things until I crawled up there.
- Added a solar attic fan after the fact. That actually dropped temps by about 10 degrees, which felt like a bigger deal than the shingle swap.
- Insulation was already decent, but if it wasn’t, I’d probably have started there instead of obsessing over shingle brands.
- If I could do it again, I’d focus more on airflow and less on shingle marketing claims... at least for my climate (hot summers, mild winters).
- Had the same debate when I bought my place last year—Malarkey vs. other “cool” shingles.
Not sure I’d write off shingle choice quite so fast. I get the point about airflow being a big deal, but in storm-prone areas or places with wild temp swings, shingle quality and color still matter.
- “If I could do it again, I’d focus more on airflow and less on shingle marketing claims...” — I hear you, but I’ve seen plenty of attics where a darker, low-quality shingle made things way worse, even with good vents.
- Malarkey’s “cool” line isn’t just a marketing gimmick—there’s actual solar reflectance data behind some of those products. Not miracle workers, but they do help a bit.
- Solar attic fans are great, but if you get a big hailstorm or wind event, shingle durability jumps to the top of my list. Malarkey holds up better than most basic brands in my experience.
- If you’re already re-roofing, might as well go with something that helps a little on heat and a lot on impact resistance. The extra cost isn’t that wild compared to the headaches of storm repairs.
Bottom line: airflow first, yeah, but don’t ignore the roof itself—especially if you’re in a rough climate.
If you’re like me and have spent way too many summer afternoons sweating in the attic, shingle color and quality definitely aren’t just hype. I went with Malarkey’s “cool” shingles last year—figured if I’m already dropping cash, might as well get something that helps a bit with the heat and doesn’t shred in hail. My vents are decent but honestly, the lighter shingles made a noticeable difference. Not magic, but my attic thermometer isn’t screaming at me anymore. If you’re in a stormy spot, durability’s huge too... nothing like chasing shingles across the yard after a windstorm.
