Trying to pick a shingle that won’t cook my attic - Malarkey worth it?

That lines up with what I’ve seen - ventilation makes a much bigger difference than shingle color alone. I’d add that radiant barriers in the attic can help too, especially in hotter climates. Malarkey’s cool roof options are decent, but without proper airflow, you’re just not going to see dramatic results.

I’ve noticed the same thing - my uncle’s house had these fancy “cool” shingles, but his attic was still roasting until he added a ridge vent and some soffit vents. After that, the temp dropped way more than just swapping shingle color ever did. I’m in Texas, so we also tried a radiant barrier last summer. It helped, but honestly, nothing beat just getting the airflow right. Malarkey’s cool roof stuff is nice, but if your attic can’t breathe, it’s like putting a band-aid on a broken leg.

Malarkey’s cool roof stuff is nice, but if your attic can’t breathe, it’s like putting a band-aid on a broken leg.

Couldn’t agree more with this. I see folks spend a lot on “cool” shingles hoping for a miracle, but if the attic’s not vented well, you’re still baking up there. I’m in Oklahoma, so we get those brutal summers too - ridge vents and soffit vents made a bigger difference for me than any shingle ever did.

Radiant barriers are decent, but honestly, they’re just one piece of the puzzle. Last year after a hailstorm I had to replace my roof and looked at Malarkey myself. Their stuff is solid, but I wouldn’t expect magic unless the rest of the system’s dialed in.

If you’ve already got good airflow and insulation, then yeah, cool shingles might give you that last little edge. But if not, it’s kind of like putting fancy rims on a car with flat tires… looks nice, doesn’t solve the real problem. Just my two cents from seeing a lot of storm damage repairs where ventilation was the real culprit.

- Had the same debate after a hailstorm here in Texas. Looked at Malarkey, but price was a bit much for me.
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“if the attic’s not vented well, you’re still baking up there.”

100% true. I added a ridge vent and more insulation before even thinking about new shingles.
- My old roof was basic 3-tab, but after fixing airflow, upstairs temps dropped way more than I expected. Shingle type felt less important after that.
- Cool shingles might help a little, but if your attic’s a sauna, you’re just wasting money. I’d fix the venting first, then upgrade if you’ve got budget left.

I’ve inspected a lot of attics where folks threw money at “premium” shingles, but you’d never know it standing up there in July. Venting is just way more bang for your buck, especially in Texas. I’ve seen Malarkey hold up well in hail, but if your airflow is bad, even the fanciest shingle won’t save you from oven-like temps. Insulation and ridge vents can make a night-and-day difference - sometimes I wonder if marketing “cool” shingles is just a distraction. Not saying shingle choice doesn’t matter, but I’d always start with the basics.