That’s interesting to hear about the insulation making the biggest difference. I kept expecting shingle color to be a game-changer too, but after helping my uncle put on new light gray shingles (he had dark brown before), his attic temp didn’t really drop all that much either. Made me wonder if all those “energy efficient” claims are a little overhyped unless you live somewhere that’s just brutally hot year-round.
The thing that really surprised us was how much air was leaking around the attic pull-down stairs. We put some weatherstripping and an insulated cover over it—honestly, felt like a bigger improvement than the new roof did, at least for the upstairs. I guess all those little gaps add up.
On shingle color, I’m kind of torn. I like the look of the darker ones, but I’ve seen that weird fading you’re talking about, especially on the south slope. My neighbor actually called the shingle company about it, but they said it was “normal weathering.” Not sure what you can really do about it. The lighter shingles do show dirt and algae streaks more, but a quick rinse with the hose in spring helps a bit. Not perfect, but better than the patchy look.
About the ridge vent thing—man, I’ve seen so many houses where the vent’s basically blocked by insulation or just installed wrong. Makes you wonder how many people think their attic’s vented when it’s barely moving air. We put in those foam baffles last time, which seemed to help, but I’m still not sure if it’s working as well as it could.
Did you notice if the Class 4 shingles seem any thicker or stiffer than regular ones? I was looking at Malarkey Highlander and Vista, and the rep said the impact rating makes them a bit heavier. I’m in tornado country, so hail is a big deal here too, but I keep second-guessing the price jump. Still, if it saves on insurance and holds up better, maybe it’s worth it in the long run.
- I had the same debate about shingle color vs. insulation. Ended up spending more on attic sealing and blown-in cellulose, and honestly, that made a bigger dent in upstairs temps than replacing my old black shingles with lighter ones.
- Class 4s (I looked at Malarkey Vista too) definitely felt heavier and stiffer when I handled samples at the supply place. Not a huge difference, but noticeable compared to standard 3-tabs or even some architectural ones.
- For me, the price jump was tough to swallow, but my insurance agent said they’d discount premiums if I went Class 4. Ran the numbers—basically pays for itself in about 6-7 years with our hail risk.
- Ridge vents are only as good as the install. Saw the same thing with baffles—if they’re not in right or get blocked, you’re just wasting money. I had to crawl up there myself and fix what the crew missed.
- Shingle fading: darker colors look great at first but seem to bleach out fastest where the sun hits hard. Lighter ones hide it better, but yeah, dirt shows up more.
If you’re in tornado/hail country, I’d lean toward impact-rated. Peace of mind counts for something... especially when storms roll through every spring.
I get where you’re coming from on insulation making a bigger difference than shingle color, but I’ve seen some attics still roast even after sealing and cellulose, especially under dark shingles. Sometimes it’s a combo—if you’ve got lousy ventilation, even the best insulation can’t keep up.
Ridge vents are only as good as the install.
Couldn’t agree more. I’ve lost count of how many “vented” roofs I’ve opened up to find blocked baffles or insulation stuffed right up to the ridge. Folks pay for airflow and get none.
On the Class 4s—yeah, they’re stiffer, but I’ve had a few customers complain about how tough they are to cut and nail in cold weather. Not a dealbreaker, just something to keep in mind if you’re DIYing in the fall.
Malarkey’s a solid shingle, but I’ve seen even their lighter colors get toasty in a south-facing roof if the attic’s not breathing right. Had a customer last summer with brand new Malarkeys—still hit 130° up there until we sorted out his soffit vents. Shingle color helps, but airflow’s king. And yeah, those Class 4s are like wrestling a frozen pizza box when it’s below 40... not my favorite job.
I’ll take a good attic vent system over any shingle color, every time. I’ve managed a few buildings with Malarkey shingles, and honestly, even the lighter ones didn’t make a huge dent in attic temps until we fixed up the airflow. People get hung up on the brand or shade, but if your soffit and ridge vents aren’t dialed in, you’re just baking whatever’s underneath. I don’t mind Malarkey’s durability, but I’d budget for ventilation upgrades before splurging on “cool” shingles. Had one place where we swapped out just a couple vents—attic dropped 15 degrees easy.
