A solar system is built to last decades. Your roof may not last as long. If you own your home long enough, there is a good chance you will need a new roof while the panels are still producing. That is normal, and it is not a big problem. It just takes a little planning.
Will you need a new roof while you have solar?
Probably. The solar we install is expected to last at least 30 years. Panels degrade slowly and typically don't just stop working, so they could keep producing for 40 or even 50 years. Our financial modeling uses a 30-year useful life.
Over a span that long, there is a good chance your roof will need to be replaced during the life of the panels. So it is worth knowing ahead of time what happens when it does.
How removing and reinstalling solar panels works
The process is straightforward:
- Call your installer before the roofer starts. Nobody should be pulling panels off your roof except a solar contractor.
- We remove the panels. Our crew comes out and takes the system off the roof so the roofer has clear access.
- Your roofer replaces the roof. The roofing work happens with the panels safely out of the way.
- We reinstall the system. Once the new roof is on, we come back and put the system back up.
The key is timing. Loop us in as soon as you have a roofer and a date, so the removal and reinstall line up with their schedule. While the panels are off the roof, they aren't producing power. The shorter that gap, the less production you give up.
What it costs, and who pays
Remove-and-reinstall is a paid service. The cost comes from two things:
- Parts that can't be reused. Some components have to be replaced when a system comes off the roof and goes back on.
- Labor. It takes a crew to take the system down and another visit to put it back up.
This work is not covered under warranty. Warranties cover defects and installation problems, and a roof reaching the end of its life is neither. Call us for a quote on your system. To see what the warranties do cover, read solar panel warranty vs. production guarantee.
Roof damage from the installation is a different story
A roof that is simply wearing out is one thing. A leak caused by the solar installation is another.
Sunward offers a 10-year leak guarantee along with a 10-year workmanship warranty. If a leak is caused by the installation, we are the responsible party, and we get it fixed.
Damage from other causes, like a tree coming down on the house, is not covered by either one. That is why we recommend adding your solar system to your homeowners insurance policy. That way, insurance pays to replace the system after a major event, not you.
Is your roof near the end of its life? Replace it first
If you are thinking about going solar and your roof is already getting old, it usually makes sense to deal with the roof first. Putting panels on a roof you will need to replace soon means paying for a removal and reinstall that you could have avoided.
You don't need to guess. During a free site evaluation, we assess your roof, shading, and electrical panel. If the roof looks like it will need work soon, we will tell you plainly. Then you can decide on timing with the full picture. Learn more about how we design residential solar systems.
Who to call when your roof needs work
If we installed your system, call us first. We handle the removal and reinstall around your roofing schedule. After the system is back up, our production monitoring helps confirm it is producing as expected.
When you call, have a few things ready:
- Your address and who installed your system
- Whether you need a full replacement or a repair
- Your roofer's name and planned start date
If another company installed your system, you can still call us. Our solar service team supports a growing number of systems we didn't install.
Have more questions? Check our solar FAQ or contact us to talk through your roof and your system.
Chris founded Sunward Power to bring straight answers and local crews to Oregon solar.
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