Should You Replace Your Roof Before Going Solar?

Replace your roof before going solar if it has less than about 10 to 15 years of life left. Solar panels last 25 years or more. Taking them off and putting them back to replace a roof partway through costs far more than doing the roof first.

How to tell if your roof is ready

• Age: asphalt shingles typically last 20 to 30 years. A roof past about 15 years is worth a close look before solar.
• Curling, cracked or missing shingles: a sign the roof is near the end of its life.
• Granules in the gutters: shingles shed their granules as they wear out.
• Soft spots or sagging: can mean damaged decking underneath, which has to be fixed before anything is mounted.
• Leaks or stains in the attic: any active leak has to be repaired first.
• Two or more layers of shingles: common on older homes; most roofers will tear off to the deck when replacing.

We ask about roof age and condition on the first call and confirm it with satellite imagery and the site survey. If the roof is not ready, we say so before anything is designed.

Roof first, then solar: how it works

1. Check the roof: age, condition and what material you want.
2. Replace it: the roof is replaced before the solar install is scheduled.
3. Install solar on the new roof: the array goes on a roof that will last as long as the panels.

Doing both together means one round of permits, one crew schedule and one point of contact for the whole project. Our roofing services

Roofs that work well with solar

• Architectural asphalt shingles: the most common roof we install on.
• Standing-seam metal: the panels clamp to the seams with no holes through the roof. Solar on a metal roof
• Flat or low-slope roofs: use tilted racking; common on rowhomes and additions.
• Slate and tile: possible, but the install is more involved and the roof condition matters even more.

What if my roof is fine but shaded?

Shade matters more than roof age. If your roof is in good shape but shaded most of the day, a garage, a barn or a ground-mounted array in an open part of the yard may work better. We check sun hours on every surface before quoting.