Malarkey vs Owens Corning shingles: which performs better in Minneapolis?
Malarkey and Owens Corning take fundamentally different approaches to shingle design. Modern Exterior Systems (Modex) installs Malarkey (Emerald Pro certified). Malarkey Legacy uses SBS-modified rubber polymer for superior cold-weather flex and hail resistance. Owens Corning Duration uses standard asphalt with SureNail technology. Typical Twin Cities installs run $16K–$28K for Malarkey and $14K–$26K for Owens Corning. For Minneapolis's freeze-thaw climate and hail exposure, Modex recommends Malarkey.
Comparison
Malarkey or Owens Corning?
I install Malarkey—I'm Emerald Pro certified. I install Owens Corning on request, but I don't promote it. Both make solid shingles, and here's the honest comparison so you can decide what fits your home and budget.
Comparison
Product lines compared
Malarkey offers Vista, Highlander NEX, Legacy, and Windsor. Owens Corning offers TruDefinition Duration, Duration FLEX, Duration STORM, and Berkshire Collection.
Malarkey
Malarkey shingle options
Vista architectural · Highlander NEX with SBS-modified rubberized asphalt · Legacy premium SBS · Windsor cool roof technology
Owens Corning
Owens Corning shingle options
TruDefinition Duration architectural · Duration FLEX with SBS modification · Duration STORM impact-resistant · Berkshire Collection premium tier
The numbers
Malarkey vs Owens Corning: full spec comparison
Where do the two lines actually pull apart? Everything below comes from what I quote and see on Twin Cities roofs — not brochure language.
| Malarkey | Owens Corning | |
|---|---|---|
| Asphalt base | SBS-modified rubberized asphalt, standard on most lines | Standard asphalt; SBS reserved for Duration FLEX, an upgrade |
| Product lines | Vista · Highlander NEX · Legacy · Windsor | TruDefinition Duration · Duration FLEX · Duration STORM · Berkshire |
| Typical Twin Cities install | $16K–$28K | $14K–$26K (Duration) |
| Realistic Minneapolis lifespan | 25–30 years installed properly | 25–30 years installed properly |
| Hail resistance | Built in across the line — NEX and Legacy handle hail without an impact-resistant upgrade | Duration STORM is the impact-resistant option — solid, but it's the upgrade |
| Cold-weather flex | Rubberized — stays flexible in Minnesota winters, resists cracking | Standard asphalt; Duration FLEX adds SBS at a higher price |
| Wind warranty | 130 MPH (Legacy) | 130 MPH (Duration) |
| Algae resistance | Scotchgard granules | StreakGuard |
| Smog-reducing granules | Available on Highlander NEX | — |
| Material warranty | Lifetime limited · 20–30 year non-prorated · transferable | Lifetime limited · 20–30 year non-prorated · transferable |
| Who installs it at Modex | I do — Emerald Pro certified, extended warranty registration | On request — we install OC when homeowners ask, we just don't promote it |
| Our take for Minnesota | Hail resistance and cold-weather flex as the default, not the upgrade | A quality shingle — just budget for FLEX or STORM to match what Malarkey builds in |
Costs reflect typical Twin Cities installed pricing, 2026. Your quote is line-itemed against your actual roof — call 952-206-6339.
Technical
How they differ
Both manufacturers offer SBS-modified options, but Malarkey builds it into most product lines while Owens Corning positions it as an upgrade. For Minnesota weather, that distinction matters.
Malarkey approach
SBS-modified rubberized asphalt
Malarkey builds SBS modification into Highlander NEX, Legacy, and Windsor as standard. This means better flexibility in Minnesota winters and hail resistance without upgrading.
Cost
What's the price difference?
Full roof installation costs for a typical Twin Cities home
Basic plan
Malarkey Vista
$16K–$28K
Includes
Architectural shingle profile
130 MPH wind warranty
Scotchgard algae resistance
20-year non-prorated coverage
Emerald Pro installation guarantee
Coverage
Warranty breakdown
Both offer lifetime limited material coverage and 20–30 year non-prorated terms. Malarkey adds Emerald Pro extended registration; Owens Corning offers Preferred Contractor extended coverage.
Malarkey
Malarkey warranty terms
Lifetime limited material · 20–30 year non-prorated · Emerald Pro extended registration · transferable coverage
Owens Corning
Owens Corning warranty terms
System Protection limited lifetime · 20–30 year non-prorated · Preferred Contractor extended coverage · transferable coverage
Personal
Why I chose Malarkey
Both make solid shingles. I went Malarkey Emerald Pro because the product line, contractor program, and Minnesota weather fit aligned better with how I run Modex.
Reason one
SBS-modified rubberized asphalt
Malarkey builds SBS modification into most of the line, which means hail resistance is the default, not the upgrade. That fits Minnesota weather better than positioning it as a premium option.
The verdict
So which shingle should you actually pick?
For most Minneapolis roofs, Malarkey. SBS-modified rubberized asphalt is standard across the line, so cold-weather flex and hail resistance aren't upgrades you pay extra for. Owens Corning makes a quality shingle, and I'll install any OC line on request — I just lead with Malarkey because it's where my certification and extended-warranty registration live.
Hail exposure and freeze-thaw lead the decision
Malarkey Highlander NEX or Legacy
SBS-modified rubberized asphalt is standard across the line, so the shingle flexes in the cold and shrugs hail without an impact-resistant upgrade. That's the default Minneapolis weather demands.
Tree-shaded lot, worried about streaking
Malarkey with Scotchgard
Scotchgard algae-resistant granules are a real differentiator on tree-shaded Twin Cities lots, and the Highlander NEX adds the smog-reducing granule option on top.
You specifically want Owens Corning
OC Duration FLEX or STORM
OC makes quality shingles — FLEX is where their SBS lives and STORM is their impact-resistant line. We'll install OC on request; we just don't promote it or register its top warranty tier.
Free estimate · honest comparison either way · GAF and Owens Corning lines installed upon request
"Joe and the Modex team installed Malarkey Legacy on our Eden Prairie home after a hailstorm. We liked the rubberized shingle and lifetime warranty. Roof looks great."
Sarah M.
Eden Prairie, Minnesota
Ready to move forward with Malarkey?
Call 952-206-6339 for a free estimate. We install all GAF and Owens Corning lines upon request. More on the line we lead with: Malarkey shingles.
About this page
Reviewed by Joe Dvorak
Joe Dvorak, owner of Modern Exterior Systems, is Malarkey Emerald Pro Pro certified and has installed Malarkey shingles across the Twin Cities for over a decade. This comparison reflects his honest assessment of both manufacturers. Updated May 2026.
