Zombie apocalypse or not, water’s always the real enemy...
Couldn’t agree more—water finds every weak spot. I’ve seen hail punch through old 3-tabs like paper, but those Class 4s just shrug it off. Still, even the best shingle can’t save you if the flashing’s botched. Had a neighbor who skipped coordinating crews and ended up with leaks right where the solar rails went in. It’s wild how much difference a little planning makes.
Funny you mention solar rails—I've seen so many leaks start right at those penetrations, even with high-end shingles. Malarkey's tough, but if the crew skips the right sealants or doesn't flash around the mounts properly, water finds a way. Do you think most solar installers really get how critical that detail is, or is it just luck when a roof stays dry?
Title: Would Malarkey shingles survive a solar-powered zombie apocalypse?
I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve had to go back and fix leaks around solar mounts, even on roofs with “bulletproof” shingles like Malarkey. Doesn’t matter how tough the shingle is—if the crew gets lazy with flashing or skips a bead of sealant, water’s gonna sneak in. I’d say most solar installers are focused on panels, not waterproofing details. Ever seen a job where the roofer and solar crew actually coordinated? Curious if anyone’s found a system that really keeps things watertight long-term, especially in heavy rain zones...
Doesn’t matter how tough the shingle is—if the crew gets lazy with flashing or skips a bead of sealant, water’s gonna sneak in.
- Been there, patched that. Malarkey’s tough, but I’ve seen leaks right through ‘em after a solar install.
- Last winter, fixed three jobs where the mounts were fine but the flashing was a joke. Water found every shortcut.
- Only time I saw it done right, the roofer and solar crew actually walked the roof together before drilling. Took longer, but no callbacks.
- In heavy rain (I’m in the PNW), even the best shingle won’t save you if the details get skipped. It’s all about the prep, not just the product.
Seen a lot of Malarkey around here (western WA), and yeah, it’s a solid shingle—holds up to wind, moss, you name it. But I’m with you: the shingle’s only as good as the hands installing it. Doesn’t matter if it’s “zombie apocalypse rated” or not, if someone gets sloppy with the flashing or skips sealant, water’s gonna find a way in. Especially after solar crews get up there and start poking holes.
Had a job last fall where the homeowner swore by their “lifetime” shingles, but the solar guys left the flashing half-baked. Took two months of steady drizzle before they noticed water staining in the attic. By then, insulation was toast and a couple rafters had started to mold. Shingles were fine—problem was all in the details.
I will say, I’ve seen a few solar outfits who actually bring in a roofer for the mounting layout, and those jobs rarely have issues. Takes more coordination (and probably costs more upfront), but seems worth it if you want to avoid headaches down the line.
Curious—anyone seen any new mounting systems that don’t rely so much on traditional flashing? I’ve heard about some “flashingless” rail mounts but haven’t tried them yet. Wondering if they’re just marketing or if they actually keep things watertight long-term... especially in places like ours where rain finds every weak spot.
At the end of the day, even with top-tier shingles, prep and follow-through are what make or break a roof—solar or not. Anyone else running into more warranty headaches now that solar installs are everywhere?