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

That’s interesting about the insulation making the bigger difference. I’ve been reading up on the “cool roof” shingles, but it seems like unless you’re in a super sunny spot, attic insulation and ventilation matter more. Did you notice any change in your electric bill after the new shingles, or was it mostly just the attic feeling less like a sauna? I’m curious if the lighter color actually helped with cooling costs, or if it’s more about comfort up there.

I’ve been reading up on the “cool roof” shingles, but it seems like unless you’re in a super sunny spot, attic insulation and ventilation matter more.

That lines up with what I found too. We swapped to lighter shingles last year - honestly, the attic felt less brutal, but the electric bill didn’t budge much. The insulation upgrade made a bigger dent in cooling costs. Still, the new shingles did help with comfort upstairs, especially on those hot afternoons. If your attic’s roasting, I’d say focus on insulation first, then maybe look at shingle color as a bonus.

the insulation upgrade made a bigger dent in cooling costs

Totally agree there - insulation’s the real MVP for attic temps. Out of curiosity, did you check your attic ventilation too? Sometimes folks overlook that, but I’ve seen it make a surprising difference, especially with lighter shingles. Ever notice any musty smells or uneven temps upstairs?

Ventilation’s one of those things folks forget until the attic smells like a gym bag in July. I’ve seen people throw fancy shingles on, but if the air’s not moving up there, it’s like baking cookies - except you’re the cookie. Lighter shingles help, but if your vents are blocked or undersized, you’ll still get hot spots and weird smells. Had a customer once who swore his insulation was magic, but his upstairs felt like a sauna until we added a ridge vent. Sometimes it’s the simple stuff that saves your AC bill.

Malarkey’s got a good rep, but I’ll echo what’s been said - ventilation is way more important than shingle color or brand for attic temps. I swapped to lighter shingles a few years back, but until I fixed my soffit vents, it barely made a dent. Insulation helps, sure, but if the air’s trapped, you’re just marinating in heat. Ridge vents and clear soffit vents made a bigger difference for me than any shingle switch. Shingles matter some, but airflow’s the real game changer.