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

Can’t tell you how many times I’ve seen folks drop cash on “cool” shingles, only to end up with the same roasting attic. Had a neighbor swap to light-colored Malarkeys, but his insulation was a mess and the soffits were basically sealed up with old paint and spiderwebs. No surprise - his upstairs stayed just as stuffy. Once he finally cleared out the vents and added baffles, temps dropped way more than any shingle swap ever did. Shingles help, but airflow and insulation are where the real gains are.

- Malarkey’s a decent shingle, but honestly, the color or brand won’t do much if your attic’s got bad airflow or poor insulation.
- I’ve seen plenty of folks spend extra on “cool” shingles and still have sauna attics because their vents are blocked or their insulation’s patchy.
- If you haven’t checked your soffit and ridge vents lately, start there. Even the best shingle can’t make up for zero ventilation.
- Shingles might cut a couple degrees, but fixing airflow usually drops attic temps way more.
- Not saying don’t upgrade your shingles - just don’t expect miracles unless the rest of the setup’s right.

I’ve seen the same thing - neighbors shell out for “cool” shingles, but their attics are still roasting because the vents are clogged with insulation or bird nests. I do think Malarkey’s solar reflectance is a plus, but like you said, it’s not a magic fix. Has anyone here tried adding a radiant barrier or upgrading attic insulation along with new shingles? Curious if that combo made a noticeable difference in summer temps.

Yeah, I’ve noticed the same thing - just swapping out shingles doesn’t do much if the attic’s not set up right. I put Malarkey on my place last year (Pacific Northwest, so we get a mix of sun and rain), and while the attic didn’t get quite as hot, it wasn’t a night-and-day difference. What really helped was adding a radiant barrier stapled to the rafters and blowing in more cellulose insulation. That combo dropped my upstairs temps by maybe 5-7 degrees during peak heat, which made a bigger difference than the shingles alone.

One thing I’d watch for: if your vents are blocked or undersized, nothing else matters much. I had to clear out a squirrel nest from one of mine - didn’t even realize it was there until I crawled up to check. After that, airflow improved and the whole system worked better.

If you’re already re-roofing, it’s worth tackling insulation and venting at the same time. The “cool” shingles help some, but they’re just one piece of the puzzle.

I had a similar situation - put on “cool” shingles (not Malarkey, but another brand) thinking it’d solve my attic heat. Didn’t really move the needle until I tackled the venting. Ended up adding a couple more soffit vents and a solar attic fan, which made a bigger difference than the shingle swap. Did you notice any impact on your energy bills after the insulation upgrade? I’m debating if it’s worth blowing in more cellulose or just sticking with what I’ve got.

Funny enough, I thought “cool” shingles would be a game changer too, but my attic still felt like a sauna until I beefed up the insulation. Energy bills dropped a bit after blowing in more cellulose - nothing dramatic, but enough to notice. Venting helped more than the shingle swap for me, honestly.

That’s interesting - my experience was kinda similar. I put on “cool” shingles (not Malarkey, but another brand) thinking it’d make a huge difference, but honestly, the attic temp barely budged until I added more insulation and fixed up the soffit vents. Did you notice any difference in how your house felt overall, or was it just the bills? I’m curious if anyone’s actually seen a big drop from just swapping shingles alone...

I put on “cool” shingles (not Malarkey, but another brand) thinking it’d make a huge difference, but honestly, the attic temp barely budged until I added more insulation and fixed up the soffit vents.

Yeah, I hear this all the time - folks expect the “cool” shingles to work like magic. Truth is, unless you’re living under a black tar roof in Arizona, just swapping shingles rarely makes your attic feel like a walk-in fridge. I’ve seen more impact from fixing up ventilation and adding insulation than any shingle swap. Not saying Malarkey’s bad, but if your vents are clogged with 20 years of dust bunnies, even the fanciest shingle won’t save you.

- Totally agree, the “cool” shingles thing gets hyped up way more than it should.
- I swapped to a lighter color shingle (not Malarkey, but similar “cool roof” rating) last year. Maybe a couple degrees difference in attic temp, but nothing dramatic.
- What actually made a dent for me:
- Blew in another 8” of insulation (R-49 now).
- Cleared out soffit vents - found a bird’s nest and a ton of old insulation blocking airflow.
- Added a ridge vent since my old box vents were barely moving air.
- If you’re on a budget, I’d put money toward insulation and making sure your vents are clear before paying extra for “cool” shingles.
- Not saying Malarkey isn’t solid - heard good things about their durability - but if your attic’s already roasting, just changing shingles won’t fix it by itself.
- Only exception I’ve seen is in places with brutal sun (like Phoenix), where every little bit helps. For most climates, ventilation + insulation is the real game changer.
- Honestly, I wish I’d known this before spending extra on “cool” shingles... live and learn, I guess.

I get where you’re coming from, but I’ve actually seen “cool” shingles make a noticeable difference after storm repairs, especially on homes with older plywood decking. Not a miracle fix, but on some steep south-facing roofs, the attic temps dropped enough to keep the AC from running nonstop during peak heat. It’s true, though - ventilation and insulation are king. Still, if you’re already re-roofing from wind or hail damage, might be worth considering the upgrade if it fits your budget.

Not saying Malarkey isn’t solid - heard good things about their durability - but if your attic’s already roasting, just changing shingles won’t fix it by itself.

That part’s spot on. Shingles alone aren’t magic, but sometimes every little tweak helps - especially after a rough storm season.

- Had to re-roof after hail last year - went with “cool” shingles, not Malarkey but similar.
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“Shingles alone aren’t magic, but sometimes every little tweak helps”

“Shingles alone aren’t magic, but sometimes every little tweak helps”

That’s pretty much how I see it too. I’ve put on a few different “cool” shingles now - Malarkey, GAF, and one of the Owens Corning lines. None of them are going to turn your attic into a fridge, but you do notice it’s not quite as oven-like up there in July. The biggest difference I’ve seen is when folks combine new shingles with better insulation and actually working vents. If you’re just swapping out shingles and leaving old insulation or blocked soffits, you’re not going to get much bang for your buck.

One thing I’d add: color matters more than people think. Even with the “cool” label, a dark shingle will still soak up more heat than a lighter one. I’ve seen some folks go from black to light gray or tan and swear the attic feels 10 degrees cooler, even before touching insulation.

I get what you mean about not seeing a massive temp drop. Sometimes people expect miracles from these products because of marketing, but it’s really about stacking small improvements. Like you said, if you’re already tearing off the old roof after hail or whatever, it makes sense to upgrade if you can swing it. But if money’s tight, I’d put it toward attic insulation or making sure your ridge/soffit vents are actually doing their job first.

Had one customer who did everything at once - new “cool” shingles (Malarkey Highlander), R-49 blown-in insulation, and added two more roof vents. He said his upstairs AC finally kept up for the first time in years. But he also admitted he couldn’t say which part made the biggest difference.

Long story short: Malarkey’s good stuff, but don’t expect miracles from any shingle by itself. It’s all about the combo - shingles, insulation, ventilation...the whole package.

I get what you’re saying about the combo being key, but I actually noticed a bigger difference than I expected just from swapping to lighter “cool” shingles. Our house is a 70s ranch with barely any attic insulation (we’re working on that), and after we replaced the old dark shingles with Malarkey in a light gray, the upstairs bedrooms weren’t nearly as stuffy last August. Maybe it’s different in hotter climates, but for us in the Midwest, even that one change was noticeable. Not life-changing, but enough that my partner stopped complaining about the heat every night... so I’ll call that a win.

Interesting - my experience was pretty similar after switching to lighter shingles, though I was honestly skeptical at first. We’re in central Illinois, and just going from charcoal to a pale gray made the upstairs way less sauna-like. Still think attic insulation is the real game-changer, but every bit helps... especially when it means fewer arguments about the thermostat.

I get the appeal of lighter shingles for heat, but honestly, I’ve seen plenty of attics still roasting even after a color switch. In my experience, the real culprit is usually poor ventilation - ridge vents, soffit vents, that kind of thing. Insulation helps, sure, but if the hot air’s got nowhere to go, it just builds up no matter what color’s on top. Ever checked your venting setup? Sometimes folks overlook that and blame the shingles when it’s really airflow causing the problem.

Yeah, I hear you on the venting. I’ve seen folks drop a ton of cash on “cool” shingles and still end up with an attic that feels like a sauna. Sometimes it’s just a couple blocked soffits or not enough ridge vent, and suddenly nothing else matters. Malarkey’s got some good stuff, but if your airflow’s off, even the fanciest shingle won’t save you from that heat. Worth double-checking before you commit to a new roof - could save you some headaches (and money) down the line.

Couldn’t agree more about the venting. I’ve seen folks get really hung up on shingle brands and colors, but if the attic can’t breathe, you’re just trapping heat no matter what’s up there. Malarkey does make a solid shingle - good durability, and their “cool” lines do reflect more sunlight than standard ones. But honestly, I’ve been on jobs where we swapped out old shingles for “cool” ones and the attic temp barely budged because the soffits were clogged with insulation or the ridge vent was undersized.

One thing I’d add: sometimes people forget about gable vents or even powered fans. Not always necessary, but in certain roof shapes or older homes, they can help move air when the passive stuff isn’t cutting it. And if you’re in a humid area, watch out for moisture buildup too - venting helps with that as much as heat.

If you haven’t already, poke your head up there and check for airflow before you pick your shingle. It’s not the most glamorous part of roofing, but it makes a bigger difference than most folks think.

- I’m with you on venting being way more important than the shingle hype. I got sucked into the “cool roof” marketing a few years ago - spent extra on reflective shingles, figured my attic would feel like a fridge. Nope. Still felt like a sauna in July. Turns out, my soffit vents were basically blocked with insulation dust... live and learn.

- Malarkey looks good on paper, but those prices make my wallet sweat more than my attic. I did get a quote and almost spit out my coffee. Ended up going with a cheaper brand (IKO), but only after I paid a guy to clean up the vents and add a couple of gable vents. That actually dropped my attic temp more than the new shingles did.

- If you’re in a humid spot (I’m in the Carolinas), venting is double important. Had some gnarly mold before I got the airflow sorted. Shingles alone won’t fix that.

- Not trying to knock Malarkey - they do seem to last longer and the warranty is solid, but if your roof’s not breathing, you’re just baking money up there.

- If you’re on a budget like me, maybe spend less on “premium” shingles and more on making sure the air can actually move around up top. My neighbor did the fancy shingle thing and still complains about his AC bill.

- Only thing I’d add: If you’re in a spot with brutal sun, lighter shingle colors help a little, but again, venting is king. Shingles are just the cherry on top.

- TL;DR: Don’t get too distracted by brands and colors until you know your attic isn’t basically a pizza oven. Learned that one the hard way...

Interesting to hear how much difference venting made for you. I’ve seen folks spend a fortune on “eco” shingles and still end up with hot attics because their airflow’s a mess. Did you look into ridge vents at all, or just stick with gables and soffits? Sometimes the combo works better, but it depends on roof shape...

Did you look into ridge vents at all, or just stick with gables and soffits?

I’ve worked on a lot of roofs where folks just added “eco” shingles and called it a day, but honestly, venting’s made more difference than shingle brand in my experience. I did a project last summer - 1950s ranch, low pitch - and we swapped out old box vents for a continuous ridge vent plus new soffit vents. The attic temp dropped by almost 20 degrees. Gable-only setups can work, but ridge+soffit usually gets better airflow if your roofline allows for it. Just gotta be careful not to mix systems that fight each other. Roof shape really does matter... some hip roofs don’t have enough ridge to make it worthwhile.