I’ve crawled through enough Texas attics in July to know “cool” shingles are only half the story. Had a client with fancy Malarkeys—looked great, but the attic was still a sauna because the soffit vents were blocked by insulation. Shingle choice helps, but airflow’s the real MVP.
Couldn’t agree more about ventilation being the bigger deal. I see a lot of folks focus on shingle brand or color, but if your soffit or ridge vents aren’t open and flowing, it honestly doesn’t matter what’s on the roof. I’ve inspected plenty of “cool roof” installs where the attic was still an oven—usually insulation stuffed right over the vents. If you’re in Texas, especially, you want to double-check the airflow before worrying too much about the shingle specs. Malarkey’s a solid product, but it won’t fix blocked vents.
Couldn’t have said it better. People get so caught up in shingle brands or those “cool” colors, but I’ve crawled through enough attics to know—if the air can’t move, you’re just baking everything under there. Malarkey’s good stuff, for sure, but like you mentioned, it can’t magically fix a blocked soffit or a ridge vent packed with insulation.
I’ve seen some beautiful new roofs here in Central Texas that still have warped decking or mold because the airflow just wasn’t there. Sometimes folks think more insulation is always better, but if it’s blocking vents, it’s a recipe for disaster. Honestly, I’d take a basic shingle with proper cross-ventilation over a fancy “cool” roof with stuffed vents any day.
If you’re sweating over shingle choice, that’s fine, but double-check that ventilation first. Your attic (and your AC bill) will thank you.
Yeah, I’ve noticed the same thing—people get fixated on shingle brands or colors, but if the attic’s not breathing, it’s just a sauna up there. I’ve seen Malarkey hold up well, but like you said, even the best shingle can’t save you from blocked soffits or a ridge vent buried in insulation. Ever checked how much daylight you can see through your soffits? If it’s pitch black, that’s usually a red flag. I’d rather have a basic shingle with good airflow than a “cool” roof that traps heat. Ventilation just gets overlooked way too often.
Ever checked your attic temp on a hot day? I’ve seen folks swap to “cool” shingles and still hit 130+ up there because the vents were choked with insulation or spider webs. What kind of vent setup are you running—ridge, gable, turbines? Sometimes the mix makes a bigger difference than the shingle brand.
