Shingle color definitely matters more than some folks say, at least in my experience. I swapped from old dark 3-tabs to a lighter Malarkey shingle last year (Pacific NW, mild summers) and saw a noticeable drop in attic temps—about 7-8 degrees on average, measured with a cheap sensor. Ventilation helped too, but the shingle change wasn’t nothing. Haven’t bothered with powered fans though. I’ve heard they can pull conditioned air from the house if your attic isn’t sealed tight, which seems like it’d just run up your AC bill.
Malarkey’s a solid choice, and lighter colors definitely help more than folks think. I’ve seen plenty of attics where just swapping to a paler shingle dropped temps more than any fancy vent system. Powered fans are kind of a mixed bag—if your attic’s not sealed tight, they’ll just suck your cold air right out and make your AC work overtime. Sometimes less is more with attic airflow. If you’re in the PNW with mild summers, you probably don’t need to overthink it unless your house is a real heat trap.
Powered fans are kind of a mixed bag—if your attic’s not sealed tight, they’ll just suck your cold air right out and make your AC work overtime.
That’s been my experience too. I’ve managed a few properties where folks insisted on those big powered attic fans, but unless the house was really well-sealed, it just made the HVAC run harder. Sometimes people forget that air’s gotta come from somewhere.
I’m curious—has anyone actually measured the temp drop after switching to lighter shingles? I’ve seen some numbers thrown around (like 10-15 degrees cooler in the attic), but I always wonder how much is just anecdotal vs. real data. Also, for anyone in the PNW, do you notice much algae growth with lighter colors? I know darker roofs can hide it better, but not sure if it’s a real issue or just cosmetic.
And for those who’ve used Malarkey, how’s the granule loss over time? I’ve seen some brands shed a ton in the first year, which always makes me nervous about lifespan.
- I swapped to lighter shingles (GAF, not Malarkey) last year—attic temp dropped maybe 8 degrees on a hot day, but not as much as I hoped. Could be my insulation isn’t great though.
- Haven’t noticed much algae here in western WA, but I do see more dirt streaks on the lighter color. Not sure it’s worse, just more visible.
- Granule loss freaks me out too. My neighbor did Malarkey and said the first rain washed a bunch off, but after that it seemed to settle down.
- Anyone tried those “cool roof” rated shingles? Wondering if they’re worth the extra cost or just marketing...
Tried “cool roof” shingles on a job after a hailstorm wiped out half a neighborhood. Honestly, the temp drop inside wasn’t dramatic—maybe 5-10 degrees, kind of like what you saw with lighter GAF. Biggest difference I noticed was less heat radiating off the roof when I was up there in July. As for Malarkey, I’ve seen that granule wash-off too, but it’s usually just the loose stuff from shipping. If your attic’s still roasting, check your vents and insulation before spending extra on fancy shingles... sometimes that’s where the real gains are hiding.
