Solar and Your Roof

What we evaluate on your roof

• Roof age and remaining roof life
• Shingle condition
• Existing leaks or water stains
• Decking integrity
• Roof orientation (which direction it faces)
• Roof pitch (steepness)
• Available roof area
• Shading from trees or nearby structures
• Existing roof penetrations (vents, chimneys, skylights)

Should I replace my roof before solar?

It depends on remaining roof life. If your roof is near the end of its useful life — for standard asphalt shingles, that's often around 20+ years — replacing it before solar usually makes sense. Removing and reinstalling solar later to access an aging roof is expensive, and you don't want to do it twice.

If your roof still has plenty of life left, there's no reason to replace it just to add solar. The right call comes from an honest roof inspection — not a blanket rule.

What happens if my roof needs replacement after solar?

If you need a roof replacement after solar is installed, the panels, racking, and wiring have to be removed first and then reinstalled after the new roof is on. That process — sometimes called "decom and reinstall" — is labor-intensive and adds cost on top of the roof replacement itself. Planning ahead by matching your solar system's life expectancy to your roof's remaining life is the smarter move.

Roofing + solar under one company

When roof replacement and solar design are handled by the same company, the timing, sequencing, and warranty responsibilities line up cleanly. The roof is evaluated before the solar is designed; the roof is replaced (if needed) before the panels go up; and there's a single accountable party if anything goes wrong with either.