Malarkey’s an interesting one. I’ve put them on a handful of houses over the years—mostly for folks who wanted to try something “greener” or were really focused on heat. They do cost a bit more, like you said, but they’re not just marketing fluff. The shingles have some legit reflectivity built in, especially their lighter colors. I’ve had customers tell me their upstairs felt noticeably cooler after switching, but it’s not like flipping a switch from sauna to icebox.
One job that sticks out: older two-story, attic insulation was probably original from the ‘70s (looked like a mouse nest with some pink mixed in). We swapped out old dark brown shingles for Malarkey Highlander in a light gray. Homeowner called me back mid-summer just to say he could finally walk upstairs without feeling like he was stepping into a pizza oven. He still had to run his AC, but it didn’t kick on as much, and his electric bill dropped a bit. Not magic, but definitely an improvement.
I’ll echo what you said about vents and insulation—shingle color helps, but if your attic’s basically a sealed Tupperware with no airflow, you’re fighting an uphill battle. I’ve seen folks spend big on fancy “cool” shingles and still end up sweating because their ridge vents were clogged or soffits were blocked by insulation.
If you’re already thinking about upgrading your roof and are on the fence about spending a little more for Malarkey or another cool-rated shingle, it’s worth considering if you live somewhere that bakes in the summer. Just don’t expect miracles if the rest of your setup is lacking. Sometimes even just going from black to medium gray makes more difference than people expect.
And yeah, I’ve heard the “my wife wants to move into the basement” line more times than I can count... usually means it’s time for either new shingles or a serious look at what’s going on in the attic.
- Totally agree, shingle color and reflectivity can make a real difference, but it’s only one piece of the puzzle.
- I’ve seen folks swap to “cool” shingles and still have roasting attics because their vents were blocked or insulation was ancient.
- Lighter colors like you mentioned do help, especially in places with brutal summers.
- If you’re already re-roofing, spending a bit more for something like Malarkey makes sense, but only if you’ve got your attic airflow and insulation sorted out too.
- I always tell people: think of it as a team effort—shingles, vents, insulation. One weak link and you’re still sweating.
- That “basement living” joke is way too real... seen it more times than I can count.
Yeah, I’ve seen that mistake a bunch—folks spend big bucks on “cool” shingles, then wonder why their attic’s still a sauna. One time I was up in an attic in July, thought I was gonna melt, and turns out the soffit vents were stuffed with insulation from a previous job. Shingle color helps, but if your airflow’s all jammed up, it’s like wearing a winter coat in the desert. Malarkey’s solid, but it won’t save you if the rest isn’t dialed in.
