Haven’t seen much difference from shingle brand alone, either. I swapped my old 3-tabs for “cool roof” rated shingles (GAF, not Malarkey) hoping for a drop in attic temps, but honestly, it was barely noticeable until I sealed some air leaks and added R-38 insulation. The vents made the biggest difference for me. Shingle color and reflectivity can help a bit—lighter is usually better—but if there’s not enough airflow or insulation underneath, the attic still bakes. If you’re in a super hot area, maybe solar-reflective shingles would help a little more, but it’s really all about what’s below the roof deck.
The vents made the biggest difference for me.
I’ve seen the same thing on inspections—ventilation and insulation always matter more than shingle brand. Had a client swap to “cool” shingles but left old, blocked soffit vents. No real temp drop until those got cleared out. Shingle color helps, but it’s not a magic fix.
Shingle color helps, but it’s not a magic fix.
I get what you're saying about vents and insulation being more important, but I’m not totally convinced shingle type is just a minor thing. I’ve been on roofs in July where the “cool” shingles did seem to make a difference—at least compared to the old dark three-tabs. Not saying it solves everything, but in my experience, it’s not just a marketing gimmick either. Maybe it’s a combo of everything working together, but I wouldn’t write off shingle choice completely.
Maybe it’s a combo of everything working together, but I wouldn’t write off shingle choice completely.
Yeah, I’m with you there. I swapped out old dark shingles for lighter “cool” ones a few years back and the attic temp dropped a bit—not night and day, but noticeable. Still needed to beef up the vents though... otherwise it felt like a sauna up there regardless. Shingle color/type helps, just not the whole story.
Shingle color/type helps, just not the whole story.
That lines up with what I’ve seen—lighter shingles made a dent, but attic ventilation was still the bigger factor for me. Did you notice any difference in your cooling bills after swapping shingles, or was it mostly just the attic temp?
