Funny enough, I thought “cool” shingles would be a game changer too, but my attic still felt like a sauna until I beefed up the insulation. Energy bills dropped a bit after blowing in more cellulose—nothing dramatic, but enough to notice. Venting helped more than the shingle swap for me, honestly.
That’s interesting—my experience was kinda similar. I put on “cool” shingles (not Malarkey, but another brand) thinking it’d make a huge difference, but honestly, the attic temp barely budged until I added more insulation and fixed up the soffit vents. Did you notice any difference in how your house felt overall, or was it just the bills? I’m curious if anyone’s actually seen a big drop from just swapping shingles alone...
I put on “cool” shingles (not Malarkey, but another brand) thinking it’d make a huge difference, but honestly, the attic temp barely budged until I added more insulation and fixed up the soffit vents.
Yeah, I hear this all the time—folks expect the “cool” shingles to work like magic. Truth is, unless you’re living under a black tar roof in Arizona, just swapping shingles rarely makes your attic feel like a walk-in fridge. I’ve seen more impact from fixing up ventilation and adding insulation than any shingle swap. Not saying Malarkey’s bad, but if your vents are clogged with 20 years of dust bunnies, even the fanciest shingle won’t save you.
- Totally agree, the “cool” shingles thing gets hyped up way more than it should.
- I swapped to a lighter color shingle (not Malarkey, but similar “cool roof” rating) last year. Maybe a couple degrees difference in attic temp, but nothing dramatic.
- What actually made a dent for me:
- Blew in another 8” of insulation (R-49 now).
- Cleared out soffit vents—found a bird’s nest and a ton of old insulation blocking airflow.
- Added a ridge vent since my old box vents were barely moving air.
- If you’re on a budget, I’d put money toward insulation and making sure your vents are clear before paying extra for “cool” shingles.
- Not saying Malarkey isn’t solid—heard good things about their durability—but if your attic’s already roasting, just changing shingles won’t fix it by itself.
- Only exception I’ve seen is in places with brutal sun (like Phoenix), where every little bit helps. For most climates, ventilation + insulation is the real game changer.
- Honestly, I wish I’d known this before spending extra on “cool” shingles... live and learn, I guess.
I get where you’re coming from, but I’ve actually seen “cool” shingles make a noticeable difference after storm repairs, especially on homes with older plywood decking. Not a miracle fix, but on some steep south-facing roofs, the attic temps dropped enough to keep the AC from running nonstop during peak heat. It’s true, though—ventilation and insulation are king. Still, if you’re already re-roofing from wind or hail damage, might be worth considering the upgrade if it fits your budget.
Not saying Malarkey isn’t solid—heard good things about their durability—but if your attic’s already roasting, just changing shingles won’t fix it by itself.
That part’s spot on. Shingles alone aren’t magic, but sometimes every little tweak helps—especially after a rough storm season.
