I get the whole “ventilation is king” argument, but I’m not totally convinced it’s the only thing that matters. I’ve got a 1960s ranch in central Texas, and after a few summers of sweating through insane attic temps, I went down the shingle rabbit hole. Ended up picking a lighter color, and yeah, I did notice a drop in attic temp—maybe not a miracle, but definitely a few degrees cooler. That’s not nothing when your AC’s already running overtime.
I do agree, if your soffits are blocked or you’ve got zero airflow, you’re fighting a losing battle. But shingle color and type aren’t just cosmetic, especially in hotter places. Some of these newer “cool roof” shingles are supposed to reflect a lot more heat, too. I looked at Malarkey and a couple others, and the price bump was hard to swallow, but if it means my AC isn’t dying every August, it might pay off over time.
Just saying, it’s not all-or-nothing. Ventilation’s huge, but decent shingles can help, too—especially if you’re stuck with a roof that bakes in the sun all day.
- Gotta say, I’ve seen plenty of attics where folks spent big on “cool” shingles but still had crazy temps because the airflow just wasn’t there.
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Couldn’t agree more. Even the best shingle can’t make up for poor ventilation.“if your soffits are blocked or you’ve got zero airflow, you’re fighting a losing battle.”
- Lighter shingles help a bit, but in my experience, the real game-changer is making sure your vents and soffits are clear and actually moving air.
- I get the appeal of Malarkey and similar brands, but sometimes just adding a ridge vent or fixing blocked soffits makes a bigger difference for less money.
- Not saying shingle color/type doesn’t matter—just that it’s usually the second step after fixing airflow. Seen too many folks surprised by that.
Had a customer last summer who was convinced Malarkey shingles would solve their roasting attic. Spent a small fortune on the upgrade, but didn’t want to touch the ventilation. Fast forward to July, and their attic was still hotter than a sauna. Cleared out the soffit chokes and added a ridge vent—suddenly, temps dropped by 20 degrees. Shingle choice helps, but if your attic can’t breathe, it’s like wearing a fancy jacket in the desert... not much relief.
I get where you’re coming from about ventilation being the real game-changer, but I’m not totally convinced shingle choice is just a minor factor. I’ve seen a few jobs where folks went with a lighter-colored or “cool roof” rated shingle—Malarkey included—and it did make a noticeable difference, especially in direct sun. Not saying it’ll fix a suffocating attic on its own, but I wouldn’t write it off as just a cosmetic upgrade either.
That said, I’ve also run into homeowners who think slapping on a “premium” shingle is some kind of magic bullet. It’s not. If the attic’s basically sealed up, you’re just trapping all that heat no matter what’s on top. I remember one install where the customer insisted on these fancy reflective shingles, but their attic vents were basically blocked by insulation. Ended up with the same oven effect until we sorted out the airflow.
Still, I’d argue there’s a middle ground. If you’re already re-roofing and you’ve got the budget, going for a shingle with higher solar reflectance can help take the edge off—especially in places with brutal summers. But yeah, if you ignore ventilation, you’re just putting lipstick on a pig. The two really have to work together.
One thing I’m still not sure about is how much of a difference the “cool roof” label actually makes in real-world conditions versus what’s advertised. Some of those ratings seem optimistic compared to what I’ve seen on the job. Anyone else notice that? Maybe it’s just our local climate (humid and hot most of the year), but sometimes the numbers don’t add up.
Anyway, I’d say don’t skip ventilation, but don’t totally discount shingle choice either—especially if you’re already investing in a new roof. Just don’t expect miracles from one without the other.
“if you ignore ventilation, you’re just putting lipstick on a pig. The two really have to work together.”
Couldn’t agree more with this. I’ve seen the same thing—folks get their hopes up on “cool” shingles, but if the attic’s basically a sauna, it barely matters. That said, I’ve noticed a little less heat radiating down when we’ve used Malarkey’s lighter colors, especially in direct sun. It’s not night and day, but every bit helps in our climate. You’re spot on about the numbers sometimes not matching up to real life, though. Paper ratings are one thing... living under it for a few summers is another.
