Malarkey’s impact rating is great for hail, but that’s not what ruins most roofs up here. It’s the slow, sneaky stuff—moss, pooling water, rot.
Totally agree on that. I’ve seen Malarkey hold up against some gnarly hail, but moss and needles? Doesn’t matter what brand you’ve got—if you let stuff pile up, it’ll eat through any shingle over time.
Quick bullet points from what I’ve noticed on the job:
- Premium shingles don’t mean zero maintenance. They just buy you a little more time.
- If you’re in the PNW like me, moss is just a given unless you’re out there with a broom or blower every few months.
- Zinc strips are hit or miss. Folks think they’re a cure-all, but you need a lot of coverage and even then, not magic.
- Gutters are the big one. Clogged gutters = water under your shingles, and that’s where leaks start.
Had a client with “lifetime” shingles—looked great from the street, but the north side was green and spongy. No shingle stops that if you ignore it.
Solar-powered zombies might not care, but your insurance company sure will. Maintenance is boring, but it’s the only way to keep your roof out of the apocalypse.
Premium shingles don’t mean zero maintenance. They just buy you a little more time.
That’s the truth. I’ve seen folks drop serious cash on “bulletproof” shingles, then act surprised when moss turns their roof into a chia pet. Up here in the PNW, it’s like fighting a losing battle unless you’re on top of it. Curious—has anyone actually had luck with those copper strips instead of zinc? I’ve only seen mixed results, but maybe I’m missing something.
- Tried zinc strips on my last place—didn’t really see much difference. Moss still crept back after a couple wet seasons.
- Heard copper’s supposed to work better, but it’s pricier and honestly, I’m not convinced it’s a magic fix.
- PNW rain just seems relentless. Even with regular cleaning, it’s a constant chore.
- If anyone has a roof that actually stayed moss-free with copper, I’d love to know what brand or setup you used... otherwise, I’m sticking with the brush and hose for now.
I get where you’re coming from—
—but I’ve actually had better luck with copper strips, though it wasn’t overnight. I used 2-inch wide copper, installed just under the ridge cap, and it seemed to slow the moss way down after about a year. Still needed to brush trouble spots, but way less often. Maybe it’s the roof pitch or how much tree cover you’ve got? Not a total fix, but it did help more than zinc for me.“Moss still crept back after a couple wet seasons.”
Copper strips can definitely make a difference, especially if you’ve got a lot of shade or tree debris. I’ve seen similar results—less moss, but not zero. Sometimes it’s just the microclimate around your roof that tips the scale. Ridge placement helps, but if you’re in a really damp spot, even copper needs backup. Sounds like you’re on the right track though.