I’ve managed a handful of properties with Malarkey Highlander and a few other “cool roof” shingles. Lighter colors definitely help, but like you said, insulation and airflow matter way more than most folks realize. Had one building where we swapped out dark shingles for a lighter, solar-reflective type—attic temps dropped maybe 5-7 degrees, but after adding R-38 insulation and clearing out old batts blocking soffits, the difference was night and day. Shingles are just one piece of the puzzle... sometimes I think people expect miracles from them.
I’ve seen the same thing—people get really focused on shingle color or brand, but honestly, attic insulation and proper ventilation make a way bigger difference than most folks expect. I’ve used Malarkey Highlander on a couple jobs and yeah, the lighter colors do help a bit, but it’s not some magic fix. Did you notice any issues with humidity after you cleared out those soffits? I had one property where we improved airflow and suddenly started seeing condensation in the winter, which was a headache to sort out.
One thing I’m still not sure about is how much those “cool roof” ratings actually matter once you factor in things like roof pitch and shade from trees. Sometimes I wonder if people are overpaying for the reflective shingles when they could just beef up their insulation and call it a day. Curious if anyone’s actually measured attic temps before and after making changes—seems like there’s a lot of hype around these products, but real-world results can be all over the place.
Curious if anyone’s actually measured attic temps before and after making changes—seems like there’s a lot of hype around these products, but real-world results can be all over the place.
I’ve been wondering about this too. I just bought my first place last year and the roof was due, so I got pretty deep into the shingle rabbit hole. Ended up going with a mid-tone Malarkey (not the lightest, not the darkest) because it was in stock and the warranty looked good. I almost went for the “cool roof” rated ones, but the price jump made me hesitate, especially since our house is pretty shaded most of the day.
Didn’t do any fancy temp measurements, but I did notice the attic was still roasting in July, even with the new shingles. What actually made a difference was when I added more insulation and made sure the soffit vents weren’t blocked. Before that, it was like a sauna up there. After, it felt noticeably less brutal, even on the hottest days. It’s not scientific, but my AC wasn’t running as much, so I’ll take it.
I get what you’re saying about humidity issues. I was paranoid about that too, especially after hearing stories about mold popping up after people improved their ventilation. I checked for condensation a few times this winter and didn’t see anything weird, but I guess it could depend on how sealed up the rest of your house is. Maybe older houses just breathe a bit more?
I agree, the hype around “cool” shingles seems a little overblown unless you live somewhere with no shade and brutal sun all day. For me, fixing the airflow and insulation was way more noticeable than the shingle color. Not saying the cool-rated stuff is useless, but it wasn’t a game changer for my setup.
It’s a lot to figure out for something you barely see once it’s done, huh?
For me, fixing the airflow and insulation was way more noticeable than the shingle color.
Same here. I almost got sucked into the “cool roof” marketing too, but honestly, just making sure my attic had enough insulation and the vents weren’t blocked made a bigger difference than I expected. The shingle color didn’t seem to matter much once I did that. You’re not alone in thinking it’s a lot of hype for not much payoff, especially if you’ve got decent shade already.
- Definitely seeing the same thing during inspections—attic ventilation and insulation almost always impact temps way more than shingle color.
- Malarkey’s “cool” shingles are fine, but unless you’re in full sun all day with zero shade, the difference is usually minor.
- Common issues I spot: blocked soffit vents, missing baffles, or insulation gaps. Those tend to drive attic heat up regardless of shingle type.
- If you’re already shaded and have good airflow, shingle color just doesn’t move the needle much. Maybe a couple degrees, tops...