A bigger target for better roof performance

By Jesse Sanchez. 

Malarkey Roofing Products® developed The Zone® to support precise nail placement, stronger shingle attachment and effective leak prevention. 

A durable roof depends on details that homeowners may never see. Malarkey Roofing Products® recognizes that one of the most important is nail placement, where a difference of less than an inch can affect how securely a shingle remains attached to the roof. Standard laminate shingles often feature narrow nailing lines that installers must hit to secure both shingle layers to the roof deck. Achieving that precision thousands of times can be challenging while working quickly on steep slopes and in intense heat. 

Nails placed too high can miss the shingle’s underlayer, increasing the possibility of premature blow-offs. Nails installed too low can leave the nail head exposed to the elements. These exposed nails, known as “shiners,” can eventually contribute to leaks. 

Malarkey developed The Zone as a direct response to those installation challenges. The patented nailing area is up to twice as large as the area found on a typical shingle, giving installers a wider target for accurate placement. When nails land within The Zone, they penetrate the common bond nailing area, securing the shingle layers together while attaching them to the roof. This overlap forms a unified barrier designed to withstand exposure to the elements. 

The wider area also supports wind resistance by helping nails reach the shingle’s strongest attachment point. At the same time, easier placement reduces the risk of exposed nails and allows contractors to install shingles efficiently without relying on an impractically narrow target. 

The Zone works alongside Malarkey’s proprietary NEX® styrene-butadiene-styrene (SBS) rubberized polymer-modified asphalt formula. Together, these technologies are designed to create a flexible, durable roofing system built around real-world installation conditions. 

For homeowners, the result is a greater margin for accurate installation and added confidence that the roof protecting their investment has been securely attached. 

Learn more about The Zone and Malarkey’s approach to high-performance roofing systems!