Malarkey Roofing Lawsuit Explained | What Homeowners Need to Know

I know this sounds scary when you read the headlines. Malarkey Roofing Hit with $2.1 Million Fine. Your first thought: should I still use these shingles? Is my roof toxic?

Let me break down what actually happened and what it means for you.

What Was the 2022 Malarkey Fine About?

In 2022, the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) fined Malarkey Manufacturing $2.1 million for violating air quality regulations. Specifically, formaldehyde emissions at their manufacturing facility exceeded Oregon limits.

This is important: it was a manufacturing facility problem, not a product quality issue.

Formaldehyde is a chemical used in roofing manufacturing (binders, adhesives, etc.). Virtually every asphalt shingle manufacturer uses it. The issue was that Malarkey facility in Portland, Oregon had ventilation or containment systems that were not controlling emissions properly. Workers were potentially exposed.

It was a facility and process issue. Not a we put poison in shingles issue.

How Did Malarkey Respond?

Malarkey did not fight it. They admitted wrongdoing, paid the fine, and immediately implemented corrective measures:

• Upgraded ventilation systems
• Improved process containment
• Implemented additional air quality monitoring
• Brought in third-party auditors

The company clarified that the fine related to occupational and community air quality, not product defects. Their shingles are not unsafe; their manufacturing process needed better controls.

This is how the system is supposed to work. Violation found. Fine levied. Company fixes it. Life goes on.

Context: Every Shingle Manufacturer Deals with This

Here is something most homeowners do not know: asphalt roofing manufacturing is regulated tightly because formaldehyde is involved. Every manufacturer Malarkey, CertainTeed, Atlas, Owens Corning operates under EPA and state air quality rules.

Violations happen. Mostly, they are minor and corrected. Sometimes they are big enough to make headlines. Malarkey was public because it was a large fine in a state with strict environmental enforcement.

I have been roofing 20+ years. I have seen competitor manufacturers have bigger environmental violations and quieter settlements. Malarkey situation got press, so now homeowners wonder if they should avoid the brand.

Honestly? The transparency is better than the alternative.

Your Shingles Are Safe

If you have got a Malarkey roof on your home, it is fine. The shingles themselves undergo testing. They do not off-gas formaldehyde into your attic. The binders and adhesives are stable once cured.

If formaldehyde were leaching into homes from roofing, we would see that in indoor air quality studies. We do not. Roofing is not a residential formaldehyde source. Plywood, MDF, particle board in cabinets and furniture are the real culprits.

Your Malarkey roof will not make you sick. Period.

Why I Still Recommend Malarkey

I have installed Malarkey shingles since the early 2000s. I have inspected 20-year-old roofs still performing. I have recommended them to family and friends. That did not change in 2022 when the fine happened, and it does not change now.

Polymer-modified asphalt. Malarkey uses it across their product lines. It flexes in Minnesota freeze-thaw cycles better than straight asphalt. That is real, measurable durability.

Consistent manufacturing. I have seen manufacturing inconsistency ruin brands. Malarkey roofs are predictable. That matters when you are betting $20K on a product.

Solid warranty support. Warranty claims are rare. When they do happen, Malarkey handles them fairly.

Environmental responsibility. Yeah, they had a violation. But they fixed it. The company is accountable. That is the kind of manufacturer I want to work with.

The Bigger Picture

One violation does not erase a 100-year track record. Malarkey has been in business since the early 1900s. They have survived wars, economic crashes, and industry upheaval. A 2022 fine for manufacturing practices is a blip.

Look at their safety record overall. Look at their product recalls (virtually none for residential roofing). Look at real-world performance in the field. All of it supports what I know from 20 years of installing: Malarkey makes a solid product.

Comparison: Other Recent Roofing Issues

If we are talking environmental and manufacturing issues, Malarkey is not alone:

CertainTeed has had facility violations in different states. Settlements, improvements, life goes on. Atlas has had product-related issues in some markets. They have addressed them. Owens Corning has weathered various environmental and product issues over decades.

The point: manufacturing roofing is complicated. Violations happen across the industry. What matters is how companies respond. Malarkey responded well.

What This Means for Your Home

If you are considering a Malarkey roof: go ahead. The shingles are safe and durable. If you already have one: you are fine. No action needed.

If you are concerned about formaldehyde: your risk from roofing material is functionally zero. Indoor air quality issues come from flooring, insulation, and furnishings not the roof above them.

The regulatory fine was about protecting workers and surrounding communities during manufacturing. It was not about product safety. These are different things.

FAQ

Are Malarkey shingles off-gassing formaldehyde into my home? No. Formaldehyde is bound into the cured asphalt. It does not off-gas into living spaces at measurable levels.

Did Malarkey knowingly violate environmental rules? They admitted to the violation and paid the fine without legal battle. That suggests a process issue rather than intentional malfeasance.

Should I replace my Malarkey roof because of the fine? No. One manufacturing facility violation does not make your roof unsafe. If your roof is performing, keep it.

Is CertainTeed or Atlas safer than Malarkey? No. All manufacturers operate under similar regulations. Pick based on product performance, not a single fine.

Should I ask my contractor about the Malarkey fine? Only if you want a conversation about how the industry works. A good contractor will explain it: manufacturing facility issue, now corrected, shingles are safe.