At Sunwest Roofing, we install Malarkey Legacy roofing systems using manufacturer-approved practices that prioritize durability, accuracy, and full warranty compliance.
We've served Calgary homeowners through every kind of weather event this region produces, and we approach every Malarkey project as a complete roofing system not a shingle swap. Underlayment, ventilation, flashing, and fastening details are all coordinated to ensure your roof performs exactly the way it was engineered to.
Malarkey Legacy shingles are high-performance architectural asphalt shingles built with polymer-modified asphalt and reinforced fiberglass mats. The polymer modification is what sets them apart from conventional asphalt shingles. It improves the flexibility and tensile strength of the asphalt itself, allowing shingles to absorb and distribute impact energy rather than crack or fracture under stress.
Malarkey Legacy comes with a Class 4 impact rating, (the highest available under UL 2218 testing standards) making them among the most hail resistant shingles available to Calgary homeowners. Their dimensional architectural profile delivers a clean, layered appearance with blended colour options engineered to resist fading and complement a wide range of exterior styles.
The Malarkey Legacy Emerald warranty provides residential homeowners with a limited lifetime warranty that includes a 50-year non-prorated coverage period, wind resistance up to 130 mph, and lifetime algae protection when installed with Scotchgard. To activate full warranty coverage, installation must be completed by a Malarkey Certified Contractor like Sunwest Roofing.
Standard asphalt shingles become brittle in cold temperatures, which makes them vulnerable to cracking during installation in winter and more susceptible to impact damage year-round.
Malarkey’s polymer-modified asphalt addresses this directly. By blending polymers into the asphalt matrix, Malarkey produces a shingle that remains flexible across a wider temperature range, resisting cracking in cold conditions and maintaining structural integrity under impact.
This flexibility also improves the shingle’s ability to handle the repeated expansion and contraction that comes with Calgary’s dramatic temperature swings. Over years of freeze-thaw cycling, conventional shingles can develop micro-cracks that accelerate granule loss and moisture infiltration. Polymer-modified shingles are significantly more resistant to this kind of fatigue.
Calgary sits in one of Canada’s most active hail corridors. Hailstorms in southern Alberta can produce stones large enough to cause significant damage to standard roofing products, and the cumulative effect of repeated smaller hail events over years can degrade a conventional roof well ahead of schedule.
Malarkey Legacy carry a Class 4 impact rating, able to withstand the impact of a 2-inch steel ball dropped from 20 feet without cracking or fracturing.
Beyond protecting your home, a Class 4 rated roof can also have financial benefits. Some insurance providers offer premium discounts for homes with impact-resistant roofing, and a certified Class 4 installation can be an attractive feature if you decide to sell.
Granule loss is one of the most common signs of shingle aging. As granules wash off over time, shingles lose their UV protection and begin to degrade more rapidly.
Malarkey uses proprietary bonding agents and ceramic-coated granules designed for superior adhesion, reducing the rate of granule loss and helping the shingle maintain both its protective properties and its appearance over the long term.
For Calgary homeowners, this means less visible aging on the roof surface, more consistent colour retention, and a longer period before granule depletion starts to affect shingle performance.
The differences between Malarkey Legacy shingles and other architectural shingles go beyond marketing. Malarkey Legacy products offer improved cold-weather flexibility, greater resistance to hail impact, better granule retention, and a longer expected service life, all of which translate to fewer repairs and a longer interval before replacement becomes necessary.
The upfront cost of Malarkey Legacy shingles is higher than standard alternatives. Over the life of the roof, however, the gap in total cost of ownership tends to narrow, particularly when you factor in reduced repair frequency, potential insurance savings, and the added resale value that comes with a documented Class 4 installation. For homeowners who plan to stay in their homes long-term, the performance advantage is usually well worth the initial investment.
Beyond weather performance, homeowners choose Legacy shingles for several practical reasons:
We begin with a thorough inspection of your existing roof structure, decking condition, ventilation balance, and drainage details. In Calgary, this includes assessing ice dam vulnerability along eaves and identifying any areas of existing moisture damage that need to be addressed before new materials go down.
Based on the inspection, we develop a complete system plan covering shingle colour and profile selection, compatible Malarkey components, underlayment specification, and ventilation requirements. Every material in the system is chosen to work together and meet Malarkey's installation requirements for full warranty eligibility.
Our crews install Malarkey Legacy shingles to manufacturer specifications: correct nail placement, proper spacing, and consistent alignment across the entire roof surface. Fastening accuracy directly affects wind uplift resistance and warranty validity, so we don't treat it as a detail to rush through.
Valleys, chimneys, pipe boots, skylights, and wall intersections are handled with compatible flashing materials and proven sealing methods. These transition points are where most roof leaks originate, and we give them the attention they deserve on every project.
We remove existing roofing materials and inspect the decking carefully for soft spots, rot, or fastener issues. Any damaged panels are repaired or replaced before installation begins. Skipping this step is one of the most common ways a new roof gets compromised before the first shingle goes down.
In Alberta's climate, ice-and-water protection along eaves, valleys, and penetrations is essential. We install self-adhering ice-and-water shield in all high-risk zones and cover the remaining field with synthetic underlayment for a durable secondary moisture barrier beneath the shingles.
Attic ventilation balance protects your shingles from heat and moisture buildup that shortens their lifespan prematurely. We assess your intake and exhaust ventilation as part of every installation and make corrections where needed.
Once the installation is complete, we walk the roof to verify fastening, flashing integrity, and overall workmanship. Your property is left clean, and we ensure you have your warranty documentation in hand before we close out the job.
Malarkey’s full warranty coverage is only activated when installation is completed by a Malarkey Certified Contractor. Beyond warranty eligibility, certified installers are trained on Malarkey’s specific requirements, which directly affects how the shingles perform over time.
Malarkey Legacy shingles are made with polymer modified asphalt, which gives them greater flexibility, impact resistance, and cold weather durability than standard asphalt shingles. Combined with enhanced granule adhesion and available Class 4 impact ratings, they’re built to a higher performance standard than most architectural shingles on the market.
Class 4 is the highest impact resistance rating under UL 2218 testing standards. To earn it, shingles must withstand the impact of a 2-inch steel ball dropped from 20 feet without cracking, simulating the effect of large hailstones.
Possibly. Some insurers offer discounts for homes with Class 4 impact-rated roofing. Coverage incentives vary by provider and policy, so we recommend reaching out to your insurance company directly to find out what you may qualify for.
Yes. The Malarkey Legacy Emerald warranty includes wind resistance coverage up to 130 mph, provided the shingles are installed by a Malarkey Certified Contractor in accordance with manufacturer specifications.
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