The United States government estimates that we get an extra 73.62 billion kWh of energy from residential solar supplies. There’s no denying that solar energy can provide a lot of benefits to your home, from lower electricity bills to increased home value.
However, there are also some blindspots that homeowners fail to consider when choosing to invest in solar power. One of these areas is how solar panels can affect future professional roof work.
So do solar panels harm your roof? And how might panels affect future roof repairs or replacements? In this guide, we’ll answer these questions so you can decide whether or not a solar system is right for your home’s roof.
Will Solar Panels Harm Your Roof?
Most of the time, if solar panels are installed correctly, they will not harm your roof. Unfortunately, there are some new contractors out there who might not know what they’re doing during installation.
These cases can lead to serious problems. If the mounting for the solar panels is done incorrectly, it can harm the very structure of your roof. Improper drilling can also lead to holes, which cause leaks during rain and snow.
As any homeowner knows, water damage can lead to mold, which can lead to a whole host of other problems. Aside from the potential contractor harm, there’s also the weight problem.
Depending on the specific types of panels and the size of your system, it’s likely that your solar set-up will be quite heavy.
Now, as long as a roof is designed to withstand the weight, you should be fine. However, if you’re installing the panels on an old roof this could compromise the integrity of the structure.
Solar Panels Can Help Your Roof
We described some situations where solar panels can harm your roof. However, it’s important to remember that when they’re done correctly they can prolong their life.
One of the main ways they do this is by acting as a barrier between your roof and inclement weather. Snow, rain, and debris build-up can slowly take years off your roof’s life. With solar panels, that’s not an issue.
Since the panels are absorbing all the sunlight they can also prevent sun bleaching from occurring on your roof tiles. The space between the panels and the roof allows for both shade and airflow. As such, your home will stay a bit cooler during the hot summer months.
How Do Solar Panels Affect Professional Roof Work?
Solar panels can indeed last decades. However, what about the roof that they’re installed on? Often your roof will need maintenance every ten years or so. In some cases, like during a storm or fire, they might need to be replaced entirely.
So how do solar panels affect their type of professional roof work? Unfortunately, whenever your roof requires maintenance, your solar panels will likely need to be removed.
This isn’t always the case, like if the damage occurred at a part of the roof that’s away from the panels. However, if the problem lies under the panels, then the system needs to be disconnected and the panels uninstalled.
Sadly, this isn’t something you or the roofing company should attempt yourself. Otherwise, you could hurt yourself or harm the solar components. As such, you’ll likely need to pay extra money to hire a professional to both uninstall the repairs and then reinstall them afterward.
Considering the expensive nature of roof repair and replacement, this additional cost is an expense that many homeowners can’t face.
Factors to Consider Before Investing in Solar
Before you invest in solar, you need to consider the current state of your roof. If you don’t you could be left in an expensive situation when repair time comes around.
As such, we always recommend getting your roof checked out by a roofing company before you install. Ask them realistically how many years of life they have left them.
If the answer is fifteen or more years, then you’re fine installing solar panels. If the roof has less than five years of life left in it, you shouldn’t install the system. Instead, you should either wait until you have to replace it with a new roof or replace it right away.
The issue gets more complicated if your roof has between five to ten years of life left. In these cases, you’ll need to factor in all of the costs, including the price of the solar system, future repairs, and uninstalling the system.
If your budget allows, you can save money with your solar system. But you need to be prepared for the costs when they come.
How to Find a Good Solar Panel Installer
As we mentioned, a good solar installer can mean the difference between an efficient system and horrible roof problems. If you try to save money on your installer, it can end up costing you big down the line.
Not only will you need to fix their mistakes, but you’ll also need to repair or replace your roof. That’s why it’s smart to invest in premier solar panel installation services. While these options can be a little more expensive, they ensure the job is done right the first time.
To find a good one, make sure to pay close attention to online reviews. Once you find some good options, give them a call. Ask if they’d be willing to work with another roofing professional to make sure that your home is a good candidate.
Their response will tell you a lot about what they’d like to do business with. Remember, you want an installer who’s collaborative so they can find the best solar solution for your specific set-up.
Appreciate Learning About Solar Panels and Roof Work? Keep Exploring
We hope this guide helped you learn more about how solar panels affect professional roof work. As you can see, solar panels can make routine roof work a lot more complicated.
That’s why we recommend getting your roof inspected before installing a solar system.
That way, you can address any problems before solar panels get in the way. Want more solar content? Keep exploring to find plenty of similar topics.
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