Can’t tell you how many times I’ve seen folks drop cash on “cool” shingles, only to end up with the same roasting attic. Had a neighbor swap to light-colored Malarkeys, but his insulation was a mess and the soffits were basically sealed up with old paint and spiderwebs. No surprise—his upstairs stayed just as stuffy. Once he finally cleared out the vents and added baffles, temps dropped way more than any shingle swap ever did. Shingles help, but airflow and insulation are where the real gains are.
- Malarkey’s a decent shingle, but honestly, the color or brand won’t do much if your attic’s got bad airflow or poor insulation.
- I’ve seen plenty of folks spend extra on “cool” shingles and still have sauna attics because their vents are blocked or their insulation’s patchy.
- If you haven’t checked your soffit and ridge vents lately, start there. Even the best shingle can’t make up for zero ventilation.
- Shingles might cut a couple degrees, but fixing airflow usually drops attic temps way more.
- Not saying don’t upgrade your shingles—just don’t expect miracles unless the rest of the setup’s right.
I’ve seen the same thing—neighbors shell out for “cool” shingles, but their attics are still roasting because the vents are clogged with insulation or bird nests. I do think Malarkey’s solar reflectance is a plus, but like you said, it’s not a magic fix. Has anyone here tried adding a radiant barrier or upgrading attic insulation along with new shingles? Curious if that combo made a noticeable difference in summer temps.
Yeah, I’ve noticed the same thing—just swapping out shingles doesn’t do much if the attic’s not set up right. I put Malarkey on my place last year (Pacific Northwest, so we get a mix of sun and rain), and while the attic didn’t get quite as hot, it wasn’t a night-and-day difference. What really helped was adding a radiant barrier stapled to the rafters and blowing in more cellulose insulation. That combo dropped my upstairs temps by maybe 5-7 degrees during peak heat, which made a bigger difference than the shingles alone.
One thing I’d watch for: if your vents are blocked or undersized, nothing else matters much. I had to clear out a squirrel nest from one of mine—didn’t even realize it was there until I crawled up to check. After that, airflow improved and the whole system worked better.
If you’re already re-roofing, it’s worth tackling insulation and venting at the same time. The “cool” shingles help some, but they’re just one piece of the puzzle.
I had a similar situation—put on “cool” shingles (not Malarkey, but another brand) thinking it’d solve my attic heat. Didn’t really move the needle until I tackled the venting. Ended up adding a couple more soffit vents and a solar attic fan, which made a bigger difference than the shingle swap. Did you notice any impact on your energy bills after the insulation upgrade? I’m debating if it’s worth blowing in more cellulose or just sticking with what I’ve got.
