Totally get where you're coming from. I’ve managed both shingle and green roofs, and honestly, the maintenance difference is night and day. When you’re dealing with a leak under a green roof, you’re basically on an excavation mission—pulling up plants, soil, maybe even irrigation lines, just to find the problem. With shingles, it’s usually just a matter of spotting the bad patch and swapping it out. Way less drama, especially if you’re dealing with unpredictable weather or, you know, zombies.
Malarkey shingles are pretty tough, too. I’ve seen them hold up to hail and some wild windstorms here in the Midwest. Still, I wonder about the long-term—after ten, fifteen years, even the best shingles can start to curl or lose granules. But at least you can patch them up without a full teardown.
Green roofs do have perks—less heat in the summer, better runoff control—but if you’re looking for something you can fix with basic tools and minimal hassle, shingles are just simpler. I guess it comes down to how much time and money you want to spend on upkeep.
If we’re talking about a solar-powered zombie apocalypse, I’m betting Malarkey shingles would at least outlast my last batch of DIY patch jobs. Here’s how I’d play it: 1) Wait for the first hailstorm or zombie horde, whichever comes first. 2) Check for missing shingles (or bite marks, I guess). 3) Slap on a replacement—no digging up rooftop gardens or wrestling with soggy dirt. Sure, after a decade or so, you’ll see some curling, but I’d rather patch a shingle than re-pot a rooftop tomato plant in the middle of a crisis.
Sure, after a decade or so, you’ll see some curling, but I’d rather patch a shingle than re-pot a rooftop tomato plant in the middle of a crisis.
Honestly, I’m with you there. I tried the whole rooftop garden thing once—let’s just say the squirrels had a better harvest than I did. At least with shingles, you know what you’re getting into: climb up, slap on a patch, and hope the next windstorm isn’t feeling ambitious. Malarkey’s held up better than my old three-tabs, anyway. Curling beats composting tomatoes any day.
At least with shingles, you know what you’re getting into: climb up, slap on a patch, and hope the next windstorm isn’t feeling ambitious.
That’s the truth. I’ve patched more than a few Malarkey roofs after a rough season, and honestly, they’re easier to work with than some of the older brands. Ever try to patch a brittle three-tab in January? Not fun. I do wonder sometimes if all these “impact resistant” claims really hold up long-term, though. Anyone else notice granule loss after a couple hailstorms, or is that just our Midwest weather chewing things up?
I’ve definitely seen granule loss after a couple of hailstorms, especially on the south-facing slopes. Midwest weather just loves to test your patience (and your roof). Ever notice how some patches seem to hold up better than others, or is that just luck of the draw?