“figured if I was gonna shell out for new shingles, might as well get the ones that sound like they could survive a meteor shower.”
I’ve seen folks spend a fortune on “indestructible” shingles, then ignore the basics like ventilation or flashing. Doesn’t matter how tough the brand is—if your attic’s sweating, you’re just asking for trouble. I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve found insulation stuffed right up against soffits. It’s like people think their roof’s a submarine or something. Give it some air and half your problems disappear... zombies or not.
Doesn’t matter how tough the brand is—if your attic’s sweating, you’re just asking for trouble.
That’s true to a point, but I wouldn’t write off the value of a high-end shingle either. I’ve seen Malarkey and similar brands take a beating in hail storms where cheaper shingles just shredded. Ventilation and flashing are critical, no argument there, but if you’re in a spot that gets regular wind or hail, the shingle itself can make a real difference.
Had a client last year—brand new roof, top-tier shingles, but the installer skipped proper flashing around a dormer. Guess what leaked first? Not the shingles. Still, after we fixed the flashing, those shingles held up through two nasty storms without a scratch.
I’d say it’s not either/or. You need both: solid materials and good install practices. Otherwise, you’re just rolling the dice, no matter how “zombie-proof” the marketing sounds.
I’ve inspected plenty of roofs where folks spent a fortune on premium shingles, but then cut corners on ventilation or flashing. Doesn’t matter if it’s Malarkey or any other “bulletproof” brand—if the attic’s trapping moisture, you’ll get rot and mold long before the shingles ever fail. That said, I’ve also seen those higher-end shingles shrug off hail that tore up the neighbor’s roof. It’s a package deal: quality materials, yes, but only if the install and airflow are dialed in. Otherwise, you’re just setting yourself up for headaches down the line.
- Malarkey shingles do hold up better than most, especially when it comes to hail and wind. That’s been my experience after a few Midwest storms.
- But yeah, if you don’t have proper attic venting or you skip on quality flashing, even the toughest shingle won’t save you from rot. Seen some “indestructible” roofs with moldy decking underneath.
- If we’re talking zombie-proof? Maybe… if the install is airtight and you keep moisture in check. Solar-powered zombies might be the least of your worries compared to trapped heat and condensation.
- For long-term survival (apocalypse or just regular life), it’s really about the whole system—shingles, airflow, underlayment, all of it working together.
I’ve managed a few properties with Malarkey shingles, and I’ll back up what’s been said—they’re tough as nails in wind and hail. But honestly, I’ve seen more roofs fail from poor ventilation or bad flashing than from the shingles themselves. People get so hung up on the brand or the “impact rating,” but if you’ve got hot, stagnant air in your attic or water sneaking in around a chimney, it’s game over for your decking, no matter how “zombie-proof” the shingles claim to be.
One thing I’d add: underlayment matters way more than most folks realize. I had a place where the shingles held up after a nasty storm, but cheap underlayment let water creep in and rot out the sheathing. That was a mess to fix. If you’re prepping for the apocalypse (or just Midwest weather), don’t cheap out on the stuff you can’t see.
And yeah, solar-powered zombies aside, trapped heat and moisture will eat your roof alive faster than any monster. It’s all about the system working together—shingles are just one piece of it.