Roof Replacement With Solar Panels: 5 Factors to Consider

We have gone from installing solar panels on the roof to replacing roofing materials with solar panels. Imagine having your entire roof with solar panels; that’s enough power to provide renewable energy for a long period. A solar panel system typically lasts up to 3 decades, if not more. Imagine the amount of money you’ll save with solar panels as your roof replacement.

We’ll discuss solar installation and how it works with a roof replacement. Before that, we should talk about the advantages of installing solar panels while replacing your roof.

5 Factors to Consider Before Installing Solar Shingles or Panels

#1. – Roof Compatibility

We understand the eagerness of the re-roofing process that entails replacing your roof with solar panels, but before you execute this project, you have to consider the following:

Roofing design
Roofing material

Not all roofing materials or designs are compatible with solar tiles, shingles, or panel installation. Roofing companies and solar companies will tell you the same thing. In fact, once the project lands on their hands, that’s one of the first things they will inspect.

#2. – Roof Condition

Despite the numerous benefits of having a solar roof, we don’t recommend replacing your roof when it’s obviously in good condition. That will be a waste of money. You should only replace your roof with solar panels if it’s an aging roof that a roof repair won’t do much to improve because it’s close to the end of its lifespan.

Besides, many solar installation companies will tell you that installing solar mounting brackets and a new solar panel system on an old roof is a failed project.

#3. – Roof Surface Are & Size

Before you contact a solar company to do solar panel installations to replace your roof, first answer, “do I have enough roof space to power my home?” If the answer is yes, then the project has a green light. If not, reconsider. The reason is that even the best solar energy systems will only give your home 85% of its actual power generation capacity because of changes in weather conditions.

If you don’t have enough roof surface area to add solar panels, your home will be underpowered. Don’t just stop at the overall roof surface area. Also, consider if you have enough surface area facing a good direction where your solar panels will get adequate sunlight for optimal energy efficiency.

#4. – Choosing Between Solar Panels and Solar Shingles

There’s no right or wrong decision. It all depends on your preference. Solar panels are the more popular option, but they are heavier than solar shingles and involve the installation of mounting hardware. This means installing solar panels will put more weight on your roof than solar shingles. However, they’re more energy-efficient. Aside from being lighter, solar shingles have more visual appeal and will look much better on your home than solar panels.

#5. – Area of Residence

Where you stay also determines if installing a solar system as your new roof is wise. Some areas get less direct sunlight than others. If you reside in a locality that has cloudy weather most of the time, there’s no need to install solar panels to replace a roof because you won’t enjoy its full potential.

The Process of Roof Replacement With Solar Panels

This process can be completed within 3 weeks, but there have been several cases where it took longer because of factors beyond the roofing companies’ control. We’re talking about the weather condition, the home layout, and the type of roof you’re replacing. To install a new roof, the process will entail the following steps:

Signing the Contract: Before work begins, the roofing firm will present a contract to you that will list all the work that’s to be done to put a new roof o your home. Once you sign, the project can commence.
Preparing your Home: Before the roofers touch the actual roof of your building, they will first prepare the home by using a tarpaulin to cover the landscape and siding of the home
Roof Removal: This is where the actual roof work begins. The company will remove the metal roof or roof shingles (both the good and bad ones) to inspect the foundation of the roof.
Inspection: Here, the roofers will examine the plywood network that forms the base of your roof. This will enable them to spot and rectify any damaged or loose attachments.
Roof Protection: The company uses any one among roofing felt, ice, or water protection for your roof before the new roofing material is installed
New Roof Installation: This is the stage where the solar installers add solar panels to your new roof.
Finishing Touches: After the new roof has been installed, the company will then install ridge and flashing vents. Their purpose is to let air escape out of the house without letting water inside and to channel water away from specific areas of the roof when rain falls.
Cleanup: The roofers will proceed to clean the area and get rid of the debris.
Inspection: The solar companies will then inspect the new roof and test the new solar system to ensure that it’s working fine and the homeowner is okay with the job.

FAQs

Why Should You Install Solar Panels As a Roof Replacement?

Saves Money

This is a no-brainer. Imagine hiring a roofing contractor or roofing company to install a new roof on your building and then hiring a solar installation company to install solar panels on your roof. That’s a lot of bucks, right? Now picture a homeowner combining solar panel installation and roof replacement as a single project and putting the job in the hands of a solar/roofing company. This will save you a significant amount of money on your roofing project.

Another way having a roof with solar panels saves you money is that you won’t have to re-roof your home throughout the lifespan of your industrial or residential solar panels. It’s a good thing there are some solar installation companies that offer roofing services as well.

On the flip side, if you’re budget-conscious or simply can’t afford to do both projects as one, you can easily get a loan to pay for everything from one company. Moreover, you’ll save money on electricity bills.

Saves Time

Installing solar panels as your roof replacement will save you more time than doing both activities separately. As a single project, deciding on the steps that should be implemented first is easier. Combining both projects gives you a better insight into the work and this significantly shortens the time for the project.

Streamlines the Permitting Process

Getting a permit to execute this project is one of the toughest aspects of the job. Still, with both projects combined as one, you have a single point of contact to help you cut through the bureaucracy and help get the permit you need to continue your new roofing project.

Makes Your Roof Last Longer

The lifespan of your roof depends on the roofing material. If you want your new roof to be more durable than the old roof, we recommend integrating roofing services with solar installation. This is because solar shingles and panels have a longer life cycle (over two decades) than most roofing materials. Now, you have a new solar roof that provides solar power for your home and serves you for much longer than the traditional roof.

Enhances the Value of Your Building

Interestingly, roof replacement with solar panels is a financially astute decision. Aside from the obvious benefits to enjoy from running your home on solar power thanks to the solar panel system on your roof, having a new roof on your home increases the worth of your home by an average of $17,000, according to Remodeling Magazine.

What’s the Cost of Solar Panel Removal to Replace a Roof?

The National Renewable Energy Laboratory stated that the average cost of solar panel installations is $19k, but combined with roof replacement, that figure jacks up to $30k. There are instances where there will be roofing issues after the installation of a new roof. This means you’ll need to remove the solar panels and reinstall them.

The cost will vary depending on the solar installer, the solar system size if the solar mounting frame needs to be removed, and how many solar panels you need to remove. Considering all these, the cost will range from $1,500 to $6.000.

Do I Need to Replace My Roof before Solar Panel Installations?

Well, we’ll say get an expert to assess the situation and offer professional advice, especially if your roof is 5-10 years away from being due for replacement. As we mentioned earlier, it makes sense to replace the roof before you install solar panels if the roof is not in great condition and can’t withstand the weight of the solar panels.