Many people want to install solar, but they need to replace their roofs while doing that. Therefore, if you’re considering putting a new roof on your home, consider giving solar a try. This way, you can power your home for 20 years or more. Plus, your roof will be more protected from future damage or maintenance needs.
The Advantages
Improved Home Value:
Adding solar panels on top of replacing your roof may seem costly, but it will prove better for you since a brand-new roof can increase your home's resale value by over $17k on average at the national level. Financially speaking, it is a better choice.
Roof Compatibility:
You must ensure that the solar installation is compatible with roofing materials and design. This means ensuring the correct pairing of shingles, having the correct tilt, and securing appropriate rooftop materials. Even if just one shingle layer is incompatible, this increases water damage chances. If the tilt is not right, then extra materials will be needed to achieve that optimum tilt.
Lower Long-Term Costs:
If the roof and solar system are installed simultaneously, there will be a lower chance of re-roofing during the solar power system's lifespan. This way, you’ll avoid the painstakingly time-consuming process of solar panel removal, replacing, and re-installing the system if you decide to go solar without replacing an ageing roof first.
Higher Roof Durability:
The roof’s lifespan is dependent on its material. However, a roof can’t last forever. Here solar panels prove useful since they can have a longer lifespan than most roofing materials. Some can often last 25 years or more. Therefore, it would be wise to switch to solar immediately after replacing your roof. Thanks to solar panels, your new roof will have extended durability.
Merged Permitting:
Since you’re installing your roof and solar panels at the same time, it will be a big help if you combine their permitting into a single point-of-contact so that all your problems can be addressed easily while streamlining the permitting process. This approach will keep all the hassles of navigating through your installation away from you and in the hands of an expert.
Combined Financing:
It can be expensive to install a solar power system and replace your roof at the same time. This undertaking will need extensive financial projections. Hiring a single company to sort out both processes will make the process easier by helping you to pay for it through a single loan instead of going to multiple banks or vendors.
The Benefits of Solar Energy
After installing solar panels with a new roof, you’ll be able to enjoy:
- Solar tax credits.
- Reduced utility bills.
- Lowered carbon footprint.
- Higher home value.
- Decreased energy costs.
Roof Replacement
Normally, roof replacement takes 2-3 weeks, but this timeline can change depending on your:
- Home layout.
- Weather.
- Seasonality.
- Roof characteristics.
To understand the process completely, you must go through the steps. An example is the replacement of shingles:
Contract:
You will sign a contract with the roofing company which outlines the work that will be performed.
Home Preparation:
Before starting anything, your home will be covered by a tarp or something similar to protect the landscaping and siding of your roof.
Removing Old Shingles:
The roofing contractor will remove every shingle to examine the roof's base.
Plywood Inspection:
A thorough examination of the plywood of your roof's base will locate any insecure attachments or damage.
Shingle Preparation:
Roof protection varies from company to company, and things like roofing felt, water and ice protection, or a drip edge might be installed.
Shingle Application:
New roof material will go into the home.
Ridge Vent and Flashing:
Ridge vents or flashing might be applied to allow air escape without the entrance of water or for redirecting water from specific places.
Inspection and Cleanup:
After completing the work, the roofers will clean up the site and inspect it for a final time to ensure everything is alright.
Delaying Roof Replacement
It is unwise to delay a roof replacement, especially if your roof is damaged. Instead, you should hire a licensed, vetted, and insured roofing company to repair your roof as soon as possible. There are several reasons for this:
Decreased Home Value:
It is a no-brainer that no one would buy a home with a damaged roof, as this is a hazard for many buyers. Plus, why would anyone pay a high amount of money for damaged property?
Personal Safety:
A damaged roof is a major liability. It can fall or cave in at any moment, especially in the case of bad weather and heavy storms, ultimately risking your well-being.
Element Exposure:
Due to weather conditions or harsh seasons, your roof may be rife with pests, moisture, heat, or mold. These can make their way into your home through degraded roof shingles to cause further damage.
The Need For A New Roof
An estimate says that 2.8 million homes in the US need a new roof every year. A roof usually lasts 20 years or more if you maintain it carefully. However, you can spot some warning signs to know that your roof might need replacing:
Structural Damage:
If you don’t find a timely solution to repair your roof, it could endanger your life with additional damage. Your loved ones will be in danger too.
Stagnant Water:
Damaged gutters and the flashing of your roof may cause water removal to prove difficult.
Punctures and Cracks:
Anything can damage your roof, like tree branches falling on it. However, if your roof already needs repairing, the pressure on the roof could cause punctures and cracks in underlayment and tiles, which can ultimately cause the roof to break down or cave in.
Water Damage:
Check your roof for broken tiles, torn underlayment, worn-out sealants or other similar problems, as these can cause water to enter your home in rainstorms.
Worn-Out Materials:
Ageing is a natural process that will show signs on your roof. If your roof has aged considerably, you’ll find bare shingles, worn tiles, shingle granules, and rusting.
Loose or Broken Shingles/Tiles:
These things are usually easily spotted without any problems. So look out for misplaced or broken materials.
It’s advisable to replace your roof first and install solar panels since the latter is a more complicated process than the former. Plus, if your roof has already aged significantly, it makes no sense to put it under more burden when installing new solar panels.
Solar Panel Installation
This whole process includes a lot of smaller processes like inspection, grid connections, installation, permitting, design, estimates, and more. This can take anywhere from 4 to 12 weeks. However, installing solar panels only takes two days. These are the steps of solar panel installation:
Initial Estimate:
Contact your solar company to get a quote on how much you can save.
Site Assessment:
After getting your estimated savings, the solar company will visit your home to take measurements, check roof direction, and review shading. This will typically take 1-2 weeks.
Design:
Your solar company will create a detailed plan of your solar panels according to your roof’s complexity and the assessment details. All of this will be adjusted to an affordable quote to ensure your solar power system is compatible with your home.
Permitting:
Your solar company will take care of the permitting process, which is time-consuming. This will take anywhere from 2-8 weeks to be completed. The long time span is due to the approvals being given by governmental officials. This process is not in the hands of the solar company but rather the government.
Installation:
Solar installation includes installing the mounting hardware, wiring the system and connecting it to your home, and placing solar panels on the roof. This whole process will take around 5 days.
Inspection:
This is the final inspection of the quality of your installation by your city or county. After inspection, the utility grid will review the system and connect to your home. This process will take 1-4 weeks.
Utility Interconnection:
Your solar company will send the utility company the documents needed. After 1-6 weeks, approval from the utility will grant you a connection to the grid. A bi-directional meter will also be installed to track your energy production. After the official “Permission To Operate” documents are submitted and approved, you can turn your new solar power system on and generate electricity.
One Company For Everything
The best way to have a seamless and enjoyable experience of replacing your roof and installing solar panels simultaneously is to hire one company to manage everything from your roof to your panels. Some companies may have questionable solar capabilities with remarkable roofing knowledge, while others would be the opposite. Therefore, finding a balanced company that can handle both tasks is important. A single point of contact will help you save time and money in the long run.