Solar Roof Systems

Solar panels are warrantied for 25 years and are likely to produce electricity for longer so it’s important that your roof is in good shape before installing solar.  It can cost several thousand dollars to remove solar panels and reinstall them so that you can replace your roof. Make sure that your contractor carefully evaluates your roof structure and roof system to ensure that it will last as long as your solar panels. 

It’s not an insignificant cost to replace your roof before installing solar panels, but the upside is that the savings from solar will help pay for your roof.  

Mounting solar panels to your roof can easily require dozens of attachment points that penetrate your roof. Your warranty for any areas of the roof without solar and for roofing manufacturing defects not related to a solar installation will remain intact, but you’ll still be at risk for any parts of the roof that the solar contractor modified. 

Ideally it is best to have a new roof and solar installed at the same time, using the same contractor. If that’s not an option, you should at least have your roof inspected prior to the solar installation to know and document its current condition.

According to a study by Zillow, home solar increased property values by an average of 4.1%. Even better, the study found that homes in Pennsylvania increased by 4.9%! 

It makes sense that having a home that generates its own electricity becomes more valuable as energy costs rise and as homebuyers become more energy conscious. 

Yet it’s important to understand that the premium that you’ll get for selling a home with solar will vary depending on the type of solar, the performance of the system, how old it is, what warranties it has that can be transferred, and whether you own the system or lease it from a third-party. 

A typical solar panel system is required to shut down when the utility grid power goes out in order to protect service technicians who are working on restoring power. If solar systems were still operating, they could create a shock hazard by powering wires and other equipment that technicians are in contact with.

In order to power your home during a power outage, a home solar system needs to be able to disconnect itself from the grid – similar to a transfer switch in a backup generator system. In addition, the inverter or inverters need to be able to form their own “grid”. 

It’s possible to design a home solar system with the necessary equipment to operate during a power outage, but because solar panels produce power proportional to the amount of sunlight they receive, you won’t be able to predict how much solar power will be available during a power outage. In order to properly power your home during a power outage, you’ll want to consider adding home batteries. 

It’s natural to value the curb appeal of our homes. And that the aesthetics of solar panels would be more important when they’re located on the front of a home. 

There are many things that can be done to minimize the aesthetic impact of solar panels on your roof including unobtrusive installation, proper balance, all-black systems, planned wiring/conduit runs, and options for no visible conduits. Additionally, matching your solar system to other quality exterior finishes also contributes to visual appeal, which is why we offer our roofing and siding services in conjunction with a solar installation.