Malarkey Shingle Racking: Layout and Fastening Risks
Bulletin edition: November 2019
Racking installs shingles in vertical columns rather than a stepped sequence. Malarkey describes risks including missed end nails, lifting damage and visible color bands
Malarkey technical bulletin: Shingle Racking Installation.
What this means for your roof
Racking installs shingles in vertical columns rather than a stepped sequence. Malarkey describes risks including missed end nails, lifting damage and visible color bands. Its bulletin does not recommend racking and limits its stated allowance to three-tab shingles. Installation-related damage remains separate from a manufacturing defect.
A useful question for your contractor
Ask the installer to identify the approved layout for your exact shingle instead of assuming one method works for every product.
Ask for the answer to be tied to the actual roof condition and the exact product being installed. Keep the agreed repair or installation detail with your estimate and project photos.
Bulletin edition: November 2019. The date shown identifies the manufacturer document used for this summary.
Read Malarkey: Shingle Racking Installation
This homeowner summary explains the cited bulletin. The complete manufacturer document and current product instructions govern the installation details. A requirement for one manufacturer or product should not be transferred to another without checking.
Discuss your roof with Barnes N’ Roofs
Cover illustration: manufacturer diagram from the technical bulletin linked above.