Choosing between CertainTeed vs Malarkey shingles usually comes down to whether you value a massive brand legacy or high-performance rubberized technology. It's a tough call because both companies make some of the best roofing products on the market, but they take very different approaches to how a shingle should actually work. If you're staring at a bunch of samples and wondering why one feels like sandpaper and the other feels like a heavy-duty rubber mat, you're already noticing the fundamental differences between these two industry giants.
Most homeowners just want a roof that doesn't leak and looks good for twenty years, but the climate you live in and your budget will probably make the decision for you. Let's break down what actually matters when you're comparing these two.
The Industry Giant vs. The Performance Specialist
CertainTeed is basically the Goliath of the roofing world. They've been around since the early 1900s and are owned by Saint-Gobain, a massive global building materials company. When you walk into a local hardware store or talk to a random contractor, CertainTeed is likely the first name they'll mention. They have a massive distribution network, meaning you can get their shingles almost anywhere, and they offer a range of colors that can be honestly a bit overwhelming.
Malarkey, on the other hand, is a family-owned company based out of Portland, Oregon. While they aren't as big as CertainTeed, they have a cult following among roofing contractors who care about durability. They've built their reputation on "SBS polymer modified" asphalt. In plain English, that means they mix rubber and plastic into the asphalt to make it more flexible and resilient. While CertainTeed also has rubberized lines, Malarkey makes it their entire identity.
Why CertainTeed is the Standard Choice
There's a reason you see CertainTeed Landmark shingles on every other house in the suburbs. They are reliable, look great, and have a track record that spans decades. If you're looking for a "safe" bet, CertainTeed is it.
Their Landmark series is the bread and butter of the industry. It's a high-quality architectural shingle that comes in different "weights." The heavier the shingle, the more dimension it has and the longer it's likely to last. One of the biggest perks of going with CertainTeed is their aesthetic variety. They have "Max Def" color palettes that use a high-contrast blend of granules to give the roof a really deep, textured look. If you're trying to match a very specific historical color or want your house to pop from the street, CertainTeed usually wins on the visual front.
Another point for CertainTeed is their NorthGate line. This is their answer to the rubberized shingle trend. It's an SBS-modified shingle that handles cold weather beautifully. If you live in a place where it's freezing one day and sunny the next, the NorthGate won't crack as easily as standard shingles.
The Malarkey Edge: It's All About the Rubber
If you ask a roofer who lives in a "hail alley" or a place with brutal wind, they might steer you toward Malarkey. Their shingles, specifically the Vista and Legacy lines, are built differently.
Think about a standard asphalt shingle like a chocolate bar. If it's cold and you bend it, it snaps. Malarkey shingles are more like a fruit leather or a rubber mat. Because of that SBS polymer modification, they can take a beating from hail stones that would shatter a standard shingle. In fact, many of their products carry a Class 4 impact rating, which is the highest you can get. In some states, having a Class 4 roof can actually lower your homeowners insurance premiums.
Malarkey also does something cool with the way the shingles are built. They have a wider "nailing zone" called the The Zone. It sounds like marketing fluff, but it's actually a big deal. If a roofer is moving fast and misses the narrow nail line on a standard shingle, that shingle can eventually blow off. Malarkey's zone is much larger, making it way harder for a contractor to mess up the installation.
Sustainability and "Smog-Eaters"
This is an area where Malarkey has really carved out a niche. They use upcycled materials, like old tires and plastic bags, in their shingle mix. It's a nice "feel-good" bonus, but they also use 3M Smog-Reducing Granules. These granules act like a catalytic converter for your roof; when the sun hits them, they help turn smog into a salt that just washes away in the rain.
CertainTeed is also moving toward more sustainable practices, but they haven't marketed it as heavily as Malarkey. CertainTeed focuses more on energy-efficient "Cool Roof" shingles (like their Solaris line) which reflect sunlight to keep your attic cooler. Both brands are doing their part, but Malarkey's approach feels a bit more integrated into their standard product line.
Comparing the Cost: CertainTeed vs Malarkey
Price is always the elephant in the room. Generally speaking, you're going to pay a bit more for Malarkey. Because they use that high-end SBS asphalt in almost all their products, their "entry-level" shingle is often more expensive than CertainTeed's basic Landmark shingle.
However, the gap closes when you look at high-end products. If you compare CertainTeed NorthGate to Malarkey Legacy, the prices are usually pretty competitive. You also have to consider availability. Since CertainTeed is everywhere, shipping costs are usually lower for the supplier, which can keep prices down. Malarkey is more concentrated in the West and Midwest, so if you're on the East Coast, you might pay a premium just to get the materials to your job site.
Installation and Warranty Considerations
A roof is only as good as the person who installs it. CertainTeed has one of the most robust contractor certification programs in the business. If you hire a "CertainTeed Select ShingleMaster," you can get an extended 50-year non-prorated warranty that covers both materials and labor. That's a massive peace of mind for a homeowner.
Malarkey also has a great warranty, and they're known for being very fair if a claim actually arises. Their "Emerald Pro" and "Emerald Premium" warranties are excellent, but because they have fewer certified installers than CertainTeed, you might have to look a little harder to find a contractor who can offer those top-tier protections.
One thing roofers love about Malarkey is how they handle in cold weather. Standard shingles get brittle and "glue" together in the bundle when it's freezing, making them a nightmare to install. Malarkey's rubberized shingles stay flexible even when it's frosty, which means your roofers will probably be in a better mood—and a happy roofer usually does a better job.
Which One Should You Choose?
So, who wins the CertainTeed vs Malarkey battle?
Choose CertainTeed if: * You want the widest selection of colors and styles. * You want a brand with a massive local presence and plenty of certified installers. * You're looking for a solid, reliable mid-range shingle (Landmark) that won't break the bank. * You want the security of a massive corporation backing your warranty.
Choose Malarkey if: * You live in an area prone to hail or high winds. * You care about eco-friendly building materials and smog reduction. * You want a shingle that stays flexible and won't crack over time. * You're willing to pay a little extra for high-performance "rubberized" tech.
At the end of the day, you really can't go wrong with either. Both of these brands are miles ahead of the cheap 3-tab shingles of the past. If I were putting a roof on my own house in a stormy climate, I'd probably lean toward Malarkey Legacy for the impact resistance. But if I were selling a house and wanted it to have incredible curb appeal with a brand name every buyer recognizes, CertainTeed would be my go-to.
Talk to your local roofer and see which one they prefer working with. Often, a contractor's familiarity with a specific product is the best guarantee that your roof will be installed correctly the first time.