That’s a good point about ridge vents not always being practical—hip roofs can be tricky. I’ve seen people try to combine gable and ridge venting, thinking more is better, but it can actually mess with airflow and make things worse. Did you notice any difference in humidity or moisture after switching to ridge+soffit? Sometimes better airflow helps with that too, not just temp. Curious if you ran into any insulation issues along the way...
I’ve seen people try to combine gable and ridge venting, thinking more is better, but it can actually mess with airflow and make things worse.
Yeah, that’s spot on. Mixing vent types can actually short-circuit the airflow—air just takes the path of least resistance and you end up with dead spots. I’ve seen a few attics where adding gable vents after ridge+soffit actually made condensation worse in winter.
About the humidity, I did notice a drop after switching to ridge and soffit vents only. Before, with just gables, the attic felt damp in spring—insulation was a bit clumpy in spots. Once I sealed up the gables and relied on continuous soffit/ridge, the insulation dried out and stayed fluffy. No more musty smell either.
Insulation-wise, the only hiccup was making sure baffles were installed right at the eaves so the soffit vents weren’t blocked. Miss that step and you’re back to square one. If you’re in a humid area or get ice dams, it’s worth double-checking that airflow path from soffit to ridge is totally clear. It’s not always about more vents—just the right ones working together.
- You nailed it with the baffles—people skip those and wonder why their attic’s still roasting or dripping.
- Ridge and soffit is a solid combo, especially if you’re aiming for consistent airflow.
- I’ve seen Malarkey shingles hold up pretty well against heat when paired with proper venting, but the vent setup honestly matters more than shingle brand for attic temps.
- If you’re keeping things green, Malarkey’s recycled content is a nice perk, but don’t expect miracles if the airflow isn’t dialed in.
- Sounds like you’re already on the right track. Sometimes less (but smarter) really is more.
I’ve actually been down this road—spent way too much time obsessing over shingle brands, but in the end, venting made the biggest difference for me. I went with Malarkey mostly because of the recycled content and the algae resistance, but honestly, my attic temps didn’t really drop until I fixed some airflow issues. Had baffles, but they were blocked by insulation in a few spots... once I cleared those out and added a couple more soffit vents, it was like night and day.
Malarkey’s cool roof options are decent if you’re in a hot climate, but if your venting isn’t dialed in, even the fanciest shingle won’t save you from a sauna attic. I do like that they’re trying to be greener—feels better than just tossing more plastic into the world—but yeah, it’s not magic.
Curious if you’ve looked at lighter shingle colors? Sometimes just going a shade or two lighter can help with heat, especially if you’re in the sunbelt. My neighbor did that and swears his AC runs less now.
“Had baffles, but they were blocked by insulation in a few spots... once I cleared those out and added a couple more soffit vents, it was like night and day.”
Funny you mention that—when I poked my head up in the attic last summer, I found a squirrel’s worth of insulation clogging my baffles too. Cleared it out, and suddenly it wasn’t a sweat lodge up there. Did you notice any difference in shingle wear after fixing your airflow? I keep hearing that poor venting can kill shingles early, but not sure how much is marketing hype.
