In 2021, according to the International Energy Agency (IEA), 36.3 billion metric tonnes of carbon was released into the atmosphere. The construction industry contributes 40% of all yearly global greenhouse gas emissions, and a substantial part of those emissions directly result from energy generation. As a professional contractor and roofer, I’m here to tell you that replacing a roof with solar panels is an effective and economical way to help decrease greenhouse gas emissions. It can also reduce your utility bills and, ultimately, help you move toward a new, self-sustained, environmentally conscious model of housing.
In this article, I’ll talk about the benefits of solar panels and solar energy, what considerations you need to make as a homeowner, what the advantages are, and what strategies are utilized to make the transition seamless and cost-effective.
If you’re ready for a new roof right now, contact my highest-rated roofing industries to get started:
Should You Replace Your Roof Before Installing Solar Panels?
First, I’ll begin with the easy part: Now is the best time to install solar panels if you need a new roof. It simplifies the whole process. The entire roof and panel installation can be accomplished all at once. It minimizes the aggravation of having to undertake multiple projects, including navigating equipment and material on your property, loud noises early in the morning, debris and dumpsters, and having your entire day-to-day rhythm thrown off.
A dual installation also allows the roofing company(check out our leading roof installation companies) and solar panel installation company to work together to ensure that all parts of both systems fit seamlessly together and in accordance with any warranty on the roofing material or solar panels. With both companies working simultaneously, any technical problems can be quickly worked out directly by them without the homeowner needing to play the middleman. According to the Office of Efficiency & Renewable Energy, a dual installation will reduce the overall cost of both installations (as opposed to installing them separately at different times.)
If you have an existing roof, and depending on its age, it can be a more difficult question. Even with solar panels, roofs must still be replaced after a certain period. If you want solar panels, the questions to ask yourself are:
- Does replacing the roof now make the most financial sense, even though it isn’t at the end of its service life?
- Should I install the solar panels and bear the cost of having to uninstall and reinstall the solar panels when the roof needs to be replaced?
There’s no absolute answer to those questions. However, I wouldn’t replace a roof under 12 years old. With current average 25-year warranties on most roofing materials, replacing a roof that early loses you more than half the value of the roof. It may not be ideal to hold off on installing a solar array, but I think the long-term cost benefits of waiting until you can do a dual replacement win the argument. The advantages of a dual installation (which I’ll elaborate on below) are worth the wait.
For roofs over 20 years old, doing a dual replacement is sensible. It’s still a small loss, but for most homeowners, it’s a tolerable one. If you have an average size roof, the cost of installing a new roof five years early will lose you about $2,500 on the total value of the old roof. That loss is more than offset by the cost discount of a dual installation and all the available rebates and tax credits for residential solar arrays.
If you want to know more about solar power generation and photovoltaic technology, watch the video below from the U.S. Office of Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy:
What Are the Advantages of Installing Solar Panels During Your Roof Replacement?
The advantages of a dual installation warrant strong consideration, and here are a few of them:
Correctness
The roofers and installers can better coordinate and ensure a proper fit for both systems. It simplifies the situation for the homeowner and provides a single point of contact to eliminate hassle.
Single Project Installation
The service life of roofing materials and solar panels is nearly the same. When the roof needs to be replaced, the solar panels must be replaced. This convenient alignment of each system’s service life allows for regular dual replacement that saves on total work and cost. As such, money is saved every time the roof and solar panels are replaced, and all replacement hassles are minimized.
Discounts and Financing
It’s common for solar panel installers and roofing companies to work together, which means they can provide discounts and financing on the entire project. It also provides a single point of contact for the whole project. From the outset, the homeowner can decide on all components, colors, styles, and requirements in one place.
Less Paperwork
A partnered solar company and roofing contractor will handle all relevant building permits. Both companies take care of the tedium of filling out forms and working with local officials and inspectors so that the homeowner can focus on more important things.
There are a variety of solar panel installation certifications. The most desirable certification is the Photovoltaic Installation Professional (PVIP) certification. Ensure that any panel installer you hire is certified and meets your state’s correct insurance and licensing requirements.
How Much Does It Cost To Install a New Roof and Solar Panels at the Same Time?
The cost of a dual installation of solar panels and a roof is a large purchase for most homeowners. According to the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), the average installation cost for a residential rooftop solar array alone is $19,000. If the solar array is installed simultaneously with a new roof, the average is $25,000.
These costs can be mitigated, too. Until 2032, the U.S. government is offering a federal tax credit for homeowners who install a solar array on their roofs. The credit is for 30% of the total cost of installation (that includes all aspects: labor, material, and equipment.) At the average cost of a solar array installation ($19,000), that’s a $5,700 tax credit, effectively bringing down the total cost of installation to $13,300.
There are other programs that incentivize a roof replacement with solar panels. While I can’t detail all of them here, nearly two dozen states have various incentives and programs to help homeowners reduce the cost of solar panels. In addition, some electric companies offer rebates. These rebates and incentives aren’t affected by whether or not you replace your roof and install solar panels at the same time or just install solar panels, so the benefits are always available.
Read also: Repairing Vs Replacing your Roof
How Can You Replace a Roof That Already Has Solar Panels Installed?
Though you can install a new roof while panels are installed, the process of installing a new roof on a roof that already has solar panels is straightforward:
- Contact the roofing company. It’ll assess the solar panel installation, do a roof inspection, and provide options for what type of roofing will work with your specific solar panel system.
- Contact the solar panel installers to remove the solar panels. Roofing companies don’t do removal. The installers will know how to disconnect solar panels. The panels, hardware, and mounts needed to attach them to the roof will be removed; then, roofing can proceed.
- Contact the roofing company and inform them that they can begin re-roofing.
- Once the re-roofing is done, contact the solar panel installers to reinstall the panels
Read also: Tips for Hiring a Professional Roofer
If you’re going to replace your roof and keep your existing solar panels, give the roofing company the solar panel installer’s contact information in case it has any technical questions about the panel mounting or mounting hardware.
Cost of Removing Solar Panels for a Roof Replacement
Solar panel removal is a straightforward process and relatively cheap by itself. Reinstalling solar panels accounts for the larger share of costs.
On average, the cost to uninstall and reinstall is between $3,000–$5,000. The price is subject to factors like roof pitch and roof accessibility, as well as the number of panels installed, so it could fall outside of that range for large panel systems or systems on difficult roofs. If a panel is found to be damaged, it’ll need to be replaced, which will further increase the cost.
Is Going Solar Worth It if You Need a Roof Replacement?
Absolutely.
Installing the solar panels and roof together is the best time to do it. It gives you a single point of contact to coordinate all aspects of the solar panel and roof installation, providing a simpler and more seamless process. It saves money and ensures that both systems are properly fitted together to maximize longevity, protection, and energy generation. And it eliminates so much of the aggravation of large construction projects.
Solar panels have a good return on investment over the long term. They generate money for the homeowner every month in the form of a reduced electric bill and reduce a home’s greenhouse gas emissions, contributing to a cleaner and brighter world. It’s a win for everyone.
If you’re ready for a new roof and to start your journey to a solar roof, call my recommended roofing professionals, and you can be on your way today.
FAQs: Roof Replacement with Solar Panels
What happens to shingles under solar panels?
Nothing out of the ordinary. Solar panels can help preserve a shingle by shielding it from the sun and rain. This doesn’t necessarily mean your roof will last longer, but the shingles under the panel will maintain their integrity longer (check out the price of architectural shingles).
Does a solar roof require electricity?
No, but it uses solar power to generate electricity that can be used, stored in a battery bank, or sold back to the house’s electricity provider.
What is the biggest disadvantage of a solar roof?
Unless you can find a company that will install solar panels with no money down, solar panels can carry a substantial up-front cost (equipment, installation, etc.) The total cost can be mitigated by various state and federal rebates and incentive programs, but the reduced price can still be beyond a homeowner’s budget.
