Yeah, I hear you on the venting. I’ve seen folks drop a ton of cash on “cool” shingles and still end up with an attic that feels like a sauna. Sometimes it’s just a couple blocked soffits or not enough ridge vent, and suddenly nothing else matters. Malarkey’s got some good stuff, but if your airflow’s off, even the fanciest shingle won’t save you from that heat. Worth double-checking before you commit to a new roof—could save you some headaches (and money) down the line.
Couldn’t agree more about the venting. I’ve seen folks get really hung up on shingle brands and colors, but if the attic can’t breathe, you’re just trapping heat no matter what’s up there. Malarkey does make a solid shingle—good durability, and their “cool” lines do reflect more sunlight than standard ones. But honestly, I’ve been on jobs where we swapped out old shingles for “cool” ones and the attic temp barely budged because the soffits were clogged with insulation or the ridge vent was undersized.
One thing I’d add: sometimes people forget about gable vents or even powered fans. Not always necessary, but in certain roof shapes or older homes, they can help move air when the passive stuff isn’t cutting it. And if you’re in a humid area, watch out for moisture buildup too—venting helps with that as much as heat.
If you haven’t already, poke your head up there and check for airflow before you pick your shingle. It’s not the most glamorous part of roofing, but it makes a bigger difference than most folks think.
- I’m with you on venting being way more important than the shingle hype. I got sucked into the “cool roof” marketing a few years ago—spent extra on reflective shingles, figured my attic would feel like a fridge. Nope. Still felt like a sauna in July. Turns out, my soffit vents were basically blocked with insulation dust... live and learn.
- Malarkey looks good on paper, but those prices make my wallet sweat more than my attic. I did get a quote and almost spit out my coffee. Ended up going with a cheaper brand (IKO), but only after I paid a guy to clean up the vents and add a couple of gable vents. That actually dropped my attic temp more than the new shingles did.
- If you’re in a humid spot (I’m in the Carolinas), venting is double important. Had some gnarly mold before I got the airflow sorted. Shingles alone won’t fix that.
- Not trying to knock Malarkey—they do seem to last longer and the warranty is solid, but if your roof’s not breathing, you’re just baking money up there.
- If you’re on a budget like me, maybe spend less on “premium” shingles and more on making sure the air can actually move around up top. My neighbor did the fancy shingle thing and still complains about his AC bill.
- Only thing I’d add: If you’re in a spot with brutal sun, lighter shingle colors help a little, but again, venting is king. Shingles are just the cherry on top.
- TL;DR: Don’t get too distracted by brands and colors until you know your attic isn’t basically a pizza oven. Learned that one the hard way...
Interesting to hear how much difference venting made for you. I’ve seen folks spend a fortune on “eco” shingles and still end up with hot attics because their airflow’s a mess. Did you look into ridge vents at all, or just stick with gables and soffits? Sometimes the combo works better, but it depends on roof shape...
Did you look into ridge vents at all, or just stick with gables and soffits?
I’ve worked on a lot of roofs where folks just added “eco” shingles and called it a day, but honestly, venting’s made more difference than shingle brand in my experience. I did a project last summer—1950s ranch, low pitch—and we swapped out old box vents for a continuous ridge vent plus new soffit vents. The attic temp dropped by almost 20 degrees. Gable-only setups can work, but ridge+soffit usually gets better airflow if your roofline allows for it. Just gotta be careful not to mix systems that fight each other. Roof shape really does matter... some hip roofs don’t have enough ridge to make it worthwhile.
