If you are redoing your roof at home, finding the best shingles available is a big deal. After all, the shingles are what protect the wood underneath, and protect you from the weather above. That said, there are many different shingles brands to choose from, and today we are here to help you narrow it down a little bit.
Let’s take a look at two of the most popular shingles manufacturers out there, TAMKO and Malarkey. Continue reading to find out which – if either – is the better one for you.
TAMKO Overview
First, we have TAMKO, which is not a super old company, as it was founded in 1994 in Missouri, USA. They are an American manufacturer of roofing products and shingles. This brand has a large selection of shingles to choose from, with both asphalt and metal options.
These are the number one products that this brand has. The most popular product line from this brand name is the Heritage shingle, which is known for being both affordable and relatively durable.
In the grand scheme of things, however, TAMKO is usually considered to be more of a budget brand, not a super high-quality brand. However, most regular homeowners are relatively pleased with TAMKO shingles, especially with the Heritage, as they feature a good mix of decent durability and affordability.
Malarkey Overview
We then have Malarkey, which is a leading name in the shingles and roofing world. It was first founded in 1956 in the USA, and it’s been around for over 65 years. It’s one of the most popular options as far as professional builders are concerned.
Malarkey as a brand name is considered to be extremely premium and high-quality. These shingles are very expensive, but they also have some of the best fire, wind, algae, and impact ratings in the world. When it comes down to it, you get what you pay for, and here you get a whole lot of quality.
An interesting note here however is that a regular person cannot buy Malarkey shingles, as they have to be purchased and installed by professional contractors. You have to buy them through a certified contractor, or else you will not have access to them.
TAMKO vs. Malarkey: How Do They Compare?
Now that you know the basics about both of these brands, let’s take a closer look at what makes them different from each other.
Product Lineup
TAMKO has a fairly decent selection of shingles to choose from. There are over six different types of asphalt shingles, as well as some metal shingles, with the TAMKO Heritage being one of the most popular.
On the other hand, Malarkey has just three main types of shingles to choose from, therefore making the TAMKO lineup about twice the size. If selection is what you are going for, TAMKO is your brand.
Overall Quality
Now, when it comes to overall quality, TAMKO shingles are known for being fairly decent, although not fantastic. They are viewed as being somewhat budget-friendly, whereas on the other hand, Malarkey shingles are the exact opposite.
Malarkey shingles are very expensive, but they’re also seen as being some of the very best in the world, and this goes for all categories possible.
Durability
In terms of overall durability, TAMKO shingles are just fine. They are not the best in the world, but they certainly stand up to the elements better than some other lower-end brands. TAMKO shingles have just a little bit of granular loss, and they resist the weather fairly decently, although very high winds will eventually take their toll.
On the other hand, if we are talking about Malarkey shingles, these are all some of the best in the world. They have top-class impact, weather, fire, and algae resistance. Yes, they cost a lot, but they’re also really good.
Wind Rating
All of the shingles from the Malarkey brand name have a 130 mph wind rating, as does the Heritage shingle from TAMKO. That said, more Malarkey shingles have higher wind ratings than TAMKO products.
Algae Resistance
When it comes to algae resistance, Malarkey is the better brand. Now, both brand names use special tools that help prevent the buildup of algae. That said, Malarkey uses better technologies that are better utilized as well. Because of this, Malarkey shingles are much less likely to suffer from algae buildup than TAMKO shingles.
Energy Efficiency
All of the shingles from Malarkey are Energy Star certified, as is the Heritage shingle from TAMKO. That said, not all of the shingles from TAMKO are Energy Star certified, so this is something to look out for.
Fire Rating
The vast majority of the shingles from both of these brand names feature Class A fire ratings, which is the highest possible rating in the industry.
Warranty
On most of their products, TAMKO features 50-year warranties, whereas Malarkey has limited lifetime warranties on most products.
Price
With TAMKO shingles, expect to spend up to $4 per square foot, and up to $6 or even more, per square foot, for Malarkey shingles.
TAMKO vs. Malarkey: Which Offers Better Roof Shingles?
The bottom line here is that Malarkey just has better roofing shingles than TAMKO. The latter is a perfectly fine budget brand to consider, one that allows you to buy decent shingles for decent prices. None of them are super high-quality, at least most of them aren’t. The ones that are high-quality also cost a whole lot more.
On the other hand, with Malarkey, you won’t find any cost-effective or budget-friendly options. Everything from this brand name is expensive, but also top-of-the-line.
At the end of the day, if what you need are the very best shingles in the world, then Malarkey is the way to go. If you just need something decent that won’t empty your bank account, then TAMKO is perfectly fine.
How Do TAMKO and Malarkey Compare with Other Shingles Brands?
See how TAMKO compares with: Atlas | CertainTeed | GAF | IKO | Owens Corning
See how Malarkey compares with: Atlas | CertainTeed | GAF | IKO | Owens Corning