Malarkey Roofing Technology
What Are Smog-Reducing Roofing Granules?
Malarkey builds 3M™ Smog-Reducing Granules into its shingles — a sunlight-activated coating that helps convert nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) into a water-soluble salt that rinses away with rain. Here's how the technology works, what Malarkey actually claims, and what it doesn't.
Built Into Every Current Malarkey Shingle · Sunlight-Activated · Manufacturer-Estimated Benefit
Quick Answer
What are smog-reducing granules, and what do they actually do?
Malarkey currently includes 3M™ Smog-Reducing Granules across its shingle products. The granules contain a photocatalytic coating that is activated by sunlight. Malarkey says the resulting surface reaction helps convert nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) — one of the gases associated with smog — into a water-soluble nitrate salt that can wash from the roof with rainwater.
Malarkey estimates that a standard 30-square roof provides smog-reducing capacity approximately equivalent to planting two trees. That is a manufacturer approximation, not a measured result for a specific home and not a guarantee of improved health, indoor air quality, carbon reduction, or a particular community-wide environmental outcome.
Smog-reducing granules are a meaningful secondary sustainability feature. Homeowners should still choose a roofing system primarily based on roof condition, product performance, impact classification, algae protection, appearance, warranty path, installation, availability, and budget.
How It Works
How does the technology actually work?
Sunlight activates the coating
Ultraviolet light activates the photocatalytic coating on the granule surface.
Reactive radicals form
The activated surface helps form reactive hydroxyl radicals.
Radicals react with NO₂
Malarkey says those radicals react with nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) — one of the nitrogen-oxide gases associated with smog — near the roof surface.
NO₂ converts to a water-soluble salt
The reaction converts NO₂ into a water-soluble nitrate salt.
Rain washes it away
Malarkey says the converted nitrate salt is water-soluble and can wash from the roof with rainwater.
Scope Of The Technology
Which products include it, and how big is the effect?
Which Malarkey products use it?
Malarkey currently states that all Malarkey shingles include 3M™ Smog-Reducing Granules. Its core residential families include Highlander®, Vista®, Legacy®, and Windsor®, with variants and availability subject to change.
How large is the estimated effect?
Malarkey estimates that a standard 30-square roof provides smog-reducing capacity approximately equivalent to planting two trees. This is a manufacturer approximation based on work cited to Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory and 3M — not a site-specific measurement or guaranteed environmental outcome.
What This Doesn't Claim
What pollutants does this address — and what does it not do?
This is not a carbon-reduction or air-quality guarantee.
Malarkey and 3M primarily describe the technology in relation to nitrogen-oxide smog pollutants. Their current materials do not present it as a system for removing all outdoor pollutants, particulate matter, carbon dioxide, or indoor-air contaminants.
No carbon-neutral or carbon-offset claim should be made. The published technology focuses on nitrogen-oxide smog pollutants that contact the roof surface — it is not presented as carbon capture or a way to make the roof or home carbon-neutral.
Does this affect the shingle's appearance?
The granules are designed to blend inconspicuously into the shingle's color. Actual roof appearance still depends on the selected product, color blend, lighting, manufacturing variation, and installation.
Core Message
Should this be the main reason to choose a Malarkey roof?
No. It's a genuine secondary sustainability benefit — the primary decision should rest on product performance, impact classification, algae protection, the complete roofing system, installation, warranty path, appearance, availability, and budget.
Get Started
Ready to choose the right Malarkey shingle for your home?
A Mr. GoodRoof project manager can walk you through impact rating, algae protection, warranty path, and budget — with smog-reducing granules included as standard on every current Malarkey shingle.
- Free on-site roof evaluation
- Product and color availability for your home
- Malarkey Certified Premium Contractor installation
- Warranty registration handled for you
Ask About Malarkey Shingle Options
Smog-Reducing Granule FAQs
Frequently asked questions
Which Malarkey shingles include this technology?
Malarkey states all of its shingles do, with Highlander, Vista, Legacy, and Windsor as its core residential families.
Is the two-trees comparison guaranteed for my home?
No — it's a manufacturer approximation for a standard 30-square roof, not a site-specific measurement.
Does this reduce carbon dioxide or make my roof carbon-neutral?
No — the technology addresses nitrogen-oxide smog pollutants specifically, not carbon emissions.
Will this change how my roof looks?
The granules blend inconspicuously into the shingle's color; actual appearance depends on the product, color, and installation.
Should I choose Malarkey mainly for this feature?
No — prioritize impact rating, algae protection, warranty, and budget first.
Keep Reading
Related Malarkey & roofing resources
Sources
Where this information comes from
- Malarkey 3M™ Smog-Reducing Granules
- 3M™ Smog-Reducing Roofing Granules
- Malarkey Highlander, Vista, Legacy, and Windsor product pages
