Quick answer
If you want a Malarkey shingle roof, the exact product, the date it went on and the warranty paper that fits it decide what is covered. Malarkey's standard shingle warranty says signing up is recommended, not required, for its stated product coverage, so keep your invoice. The lifetime term is for a qualifying single-family detached primary residence, with other owner and use rules. Extra coverage and workmanship coverage follow their own rules. This site is not tied to Malarkey and does not claim any maker badge.
Start with the exact shingle
Malarkey makes more than one kind of shingle. Each one has its own name, look and test results. So the first step is simple. Find out which one is on your roof, or which one a bidder wants to use.
Look at your invoice or contract. A good one names the product line and the color, not just the brand. If you still have a bundle wrapper, it may list the product too. Write the name down. Every other question on this page depends on it.
If a bid just says "Malarkey shingles," ask for the full product name. Two bids that both say Malarkey can be for very different roofs.
The purchase date picks the paper
Makers update their warranties from time to time. The paper that applies to your roof is the one that was in force when the roof went on. A newer copy online may not match your roof. An older one may not match a new roof.
Ask your roofer for the warranty that applies on your install date. Save it with your invoice. If you are buying a home that already has a Malarkey roof, ask the seller for the install date and the papers.
Signing up: recommended, not required
Malarkey's standard shingle warranty says signing up is recommended. It also says it is not required to get the product coverage it describes. That surprises some people, because other makers handle this in a different way.
Even so, signing up can still help. It puts your roof on record with the maker. The bigger job is to keep proof of what you bought and when. Keep the invoice. A claim can stall if you can't show the product and date.
Enhanced warranties work in a different way. They are often issued only after the roof is signed up by a qualifying contractor. Don't assume the standard rule applies to them.
| Your question | Where the answer lives | What to keep |
|---|---|---|
| Which shingle is on my roof? | Invoice, bundle wrapper, contract | Product name, color and date on paper |
| How long is the product covered? | The standard shingle warranty in force when it was installed | That warranty copy plus proof of purchase |
| Does the long term apply to me? | Owner and home-use terms in the same warranty | Proof of who owned it and how it was used |
| Is there extra coverage? | An enhanced warranty, if one was issued | The issued certificate, not a sales page |
| Who fixes install mistakes? | Your contractor's written workmanship terms | The contract and any workmanship letter |
| Was it put on the right way? | Malarkey install guide for that product | Photos of hidden layers, if the crew took them |
Who gets the longest term
Many shoppers see the word "lifetime" and stop reading. That is a mistake. In Malarkey's standard warranty, the longest term is tied to who owns the home and how it is used. It is written for a single-family detached home that is the owner's primary residence, plus the other ownership and use terms in the paper.
Other owners or uses can get a shorter term. That may include some rental homes, business buildings or buildings owned by a company. The paper also covers what happens when the home is sold.
So read the parts about owners, use and transfer. Then ask the roofer to show you which term fits your building. Don't rely on a sales page or a sign in a yard.
Standard, enhanced and workmanship coverage
It helps to keep three kinds of coverage apart. Mixing them up is how people end up with the wrong idea of what they have.
The standard warranty covers the product against certain defects for a set time, under set terms. An enhanced warranty, if one is issued, can add more. It may need a certain kind of contractor, certain parts and sign-up. A workmanship promise covers the crew's install work. It usually comes from the contractor, not the maker, unless an enhanced warranty says otherwise.
Ask each bidder which of these you will get. Ask to see a sample of each paper. Ask who you would call for each kind of problem.
How to check a contractor's status
Malarkey has a contractor finder on its site. If a roofer says they hold a Malarkey title, check it there. Look at the name, the program and the area.
A logo on a truck or a website is not proof. Titles can lapse. This site does not claim any Malarkey title or link. We list the finder so you can check for yourself.
Even a certified roofer still has to install the roof well. A title tells you about a program. It doesn't tell you how a crew will handle your valleys, flashing and vents.
The install guide matters
Malarkey posts install guides for its products. They show how to nail, where to start, what goes under the shingles and how to handle hips, ridges and valleys.
Coverage can depend on a roof being put on the way the guide says. So ask your bidder which guide they follow. Ask how they will handle nailing, starter strips and edges. Ask to see photos of the underlayment and flashing before it is covered.
Some products have their own rules. Steep slopes, low slopes and cold weather can each change the steps. The guide for your exact shingle is the one that counts.
Ratings belong to a product
You may hear that a brand is "hail proof" or "good to 130 mph." Be careful. Impact and wind ratings are tested on named products. Wind results also depend on how the shingles were nailed and sealed.
No shingle is hail proof. An impact rating tells you how a product did in a lab test. Real storms vary. Ask which product has which rating, and ask for the paper that shows it.
Vents, attics and the roof deck
A shingle roof is more than shingles. It sits on a deck and over an attic. If your home has a vented attic, the vents in the soffits and near the ridge help keep heat and damp in check. The maker's papers may speak to this.
Some homes have attics built to be unvented on purpose. Those are designed in a different way and should stay that way. A roofer should not add or block vents without knowing which kind you have. Ask them to look at it and explain.
The deck under the shingles also matters. Soft or rotted boards may need to be replaced. A good bid explains how that will be found and priced.
What to keep in your roof file
Make one folder for your roof. Keep the signed contract, the invoice, the product name and color, and the install date. Add the warranty paper that applies on that date.
If an enhanced warranty was issued, keep the certificate. Keep the contractor's workmanship terms. Add any photos the crew took of hidden layers. If you have repairs later, add those notes too.
This folder helps if you file a claim. It also helps if you sell the home, because a buyer will want to know what is on the roof.
Questions to ask a bidder
Which exact Malarkey shingle do you plan to use, and why that one? Which warranty paper applies, and which term would fit my home and use? Will you register the roof, and is that needed for what you are offering?
Will there be an enhanced warranty? What do I need to do to keep it? What does your own workmanship promise cover, and for how long? Which install guide will your crew follow? Will you send photos of the layers before they are covered?
Get the answers in writing. If two bids differ, these answers often explain why.
Filing a claim
If you think a shingle has a defect, start with the paper. It explains how to give notice, what proof to send and what the maker may do. Some claims need samples or photos.
Don't tear off shingles or make big changes before you read the steps. Ask a roofer to look at the roof from safe ground or with proper safety gear. Damage from storms, foot traffic or poor install is often treated differently from a product defect.
Reading the paper without getting lost
Warranty papers can be long. Start with four parts. Find what is covered and for how long. Find who it covers and how it can move to a new owner. Find what is left out. Then find the steps for a claim.
Mark anything you don't understand. Ask the roofer, and if needed, ask Malarkey. A short call before you sign is easier than a long fight after a leak.
Repairs on an existing Malarkey roof
If your Malarkey roof needs a repair, try to match the product and color. Ask the roofer if the repair could affect any coverage. Some papers have rules about mixing products or about who may do repairs.
Keep the repair invoice in your roof file. Note what was fixed and with what. If you later file a claim, this record helps show what has been done.
How we serve Malarkey roof owners
We are serving homeowners and building owners across the Omaha area who have, or want, a Malarkey roof. Use the form on this page to ask for a roof check or a bid. Tell us the product name if you know it.
We can help you sort out the papers and questions above. For any certificate or exact term, the maker's current paper is the final word.
Common questions
Do I have to register a Malarkey roof?
For the standard shingle warranty, Malarkey says signing up is recommended but not required for its stated product coverage. That can change, and enhanced warranties have their own rules. Read the paper for your install date and keep your invoice either way.
Does a rental or business building get the lifetime term?
Not by default. The lifetime term is written for a qualifying single-family detached primary residence and its owner, under the paper's other terms. Other owners and uses can get a shorter term. Read the exact wording for your building.
Is this site a Malarkey contractor?
No. We are not linked to Malarkey and do not claim any badge from them. If you want a certified installer, check the person's status on Malarkey's own contractor finder.
Does the shingle warranty cover a bad install?
The standard product warranty is about the product. Install mistakes are usually up to the contractor's own written promise. Some enhanced warranties add some workmanship coverage, but only as their paper says.
Are all Malarkey shingles rated the same for hail or wind?
No. Ratings belong to a named product and, for wind, to how it was put on. Look up the exact product and its install guide instead of taking one rating for the whole brand.
Related help
Sources we checked
Official and standards pages we used to check facts on this page. Rules can change, so confirm with the source.