Do you need a new Roof to install Solar Panels?

Many homeowners are fully prepared to install new roofs in conjunction with their solar projects, because they need or want to. If you’re putting a new roof on your property, it makes sense to go ahead and add a solar energy system at the same time because of the solar savings. Both the roof, and the panels last for decades, so installing them together aligns the life cycles, ensuring worry-free performance from both the solar panels and roof for years to come. But installing both products together doesn’t make sense for everyone. Let’s dig into this.

If your roof can support the weight of a new solar energy system and has a significant number of years left in it, there is absolutely no need to install a new roof at the time that you install a solar energy system. Homeowners who put solar energy systems on roofs that have less than 15 years of life in them usually end up calling a roofing company to remove the solar energy system so that the roof can be replaced. Then, of course, the system must be reinstalled. This takes time and money. We’ve installed hundreds of solar energy systems and have found that in most roofs on older homes are fine for solar. We’ve also found that going ahead and installing solar during a roof repair or replacement can save you money. Most installation companies can offer you discounted pricing because there are no customer acquisition costs, and other factors. Do you notice any of these signs?

These issues may clearly suggest that your roof needs repair or replacement:

·????????Cracked, Broken, Or Loose Tiles

·????????Broken, Loose, or Curling Shingles

·????????Buckling, Warping, or Pooling Water on a Flat Roof

Further, if you spot any of these related problems, your roof may need replacement or repair:

·????????Tree Debris Accumulating on the Roof

·????????Tree Limbs Resting on the Roof

·????????Wood Rot in the Eaves or Overhangs

·????????Gutters that don’t work properly

If you have the original documentation of your roof’s installation, you can check its life expectancy against its current age to determine how many more years it should last. However, wear and tear on roofs can vary with locations and regional weather conditions, if you have tree branches nearby that brush against the shingles or land on the roof often, sun, wind, rain, and snow exposure, all of which can compromise your roof’s integrity over time. Visual inspection is the ultimate way to determine your roof’s condition. Fortunately, Solar Titan USA does a comprehensive inspection of your roof before installation, so you don’t have to worry about climbing a ladder. After our roof inspection, we can suggest if it would be more cost effective to replace your roof before installation. ?

References:

Becca Jones; Energy.Gov https://www.energy.gov/eere/solar/articles/replacing-your-roof-its-great-time-add-solar. Energy Sage; https://news.energysage.com/solar-panel-roof-replacement/