Makes sense to wonder about shingle color—I've seen a lot of folks surprised that the change isn't as dramatic as they'd hoped. Did you check out attic insulation and airflow too? Sometimes even a small vent tweak can make a bigger difference than shingle shade alone. Malarkey's lighter colors are solid, though. If you're already due for new shingles, it's not a bad move at all.
I swapped out my old dark shingles for a lighter Malarkey last summer, hoping it would cool down the attic. It did help a little, but honestly, I noticed a bigger difference after I added a ridge vent and sealed up some gaps around the soffits. The color change was subtle—nothing dramatic—but the combo with better airflow made the upstairs way less stuffy. If you’re already re-roofing, going lighter makes sense, but don’t skip tweaking your vents or insulation. That’s where I saw the real payoff.
Funny, I thought swapping to lighter shingles would be a game-changer too, but honestly, the attic still felt like a sauna until I messed with the vents. I did Malarkey Highlander in a light gray, and yeah, it helped a bit—maybe a couple degrees cooler? But after adding a ridge vent and beefing up insulation, that’s when things actually got comfortable upstairs. Shingle color helps some, but airflow is where it’s at. If you’re already tearing off the old roof, might as well go lighter... just don’t expect miracles from color alone.
Yeah, lighter shingles are a step in the right direction, but I’ve seen the same thing—ventilation and insulation make a way bigger difference. I put on a pale shingle (not Malarkey, but similar color) and honestly, it was only a small drop in attic temps. Once I added soffit vents and more blown-in insulation, the upstairs finally stopped feeling like a toaster. If you’re already re-roofing, lighter is good, but airflow’s where you’ll really notice the change.
- Totally agree, lighter shingles barely moved the needle for me too.
- When I upgraded attic insulation and added a ridge vent, THAT’s when the upstairs finally stopped roasting every summer.
- I do wonder if Malarkey’s “cool roof” claims are mostly marketing—hasn’t seemed much different from the GAF ones I used.
- If you’ve got decent airflow up there, shingle color’s more of a bonus than a fix, at least in my experience.
- One thing though: lighter colors do hide sun-fade and algae stains better in my area (humid summers). Small plus, but worth mentioning.
