3 Things To Discuss With Your Roofer Before Having Solar Panels Installed
If you're thinking about putting solar panels on your roof, you'll want a roofer to check the condition of the shingles and roof deck first. Once the panels go on, you want them to stay in place for years. If your roof develops a leak, the panels have to come off to get your roof repaired. For that reason, your roof should be in good shape. Here are some things you may want to discuss with your roofer.
If Roof Repairs Need To Be Done
You want a roof inspection before you have solar panels put on even if your roof is fairly new. The roofer can look for damaged areas so they can be repaired before the roof is covered with solar panels.
The roofer might want to put on a few new shingles, test the deck for wet spots, and make sure there are no leaky or vulnerable areas on the roof that might start leaking in the near future.
Once all the repairs are done if they're needed, your roof is ready for solar panels. Once the panels are installed, they provide a little protection from the sun, rain, and wind. This might slow down the aging process a small bit so you can put off having to replace the shingles for several years.
If Putting On A New Roof Is Recommended
Even if your roof is in good shape, your roofer and solar power installer might recommend replacing it once it reaches a certain age. If there's a good chance your roof will need to be replaced within a few years, then replacing it now would probably be the best choice.
However, your roofer might give you an estimate of how long your roof will last based on the condition of the shingles and the age of the roof. You may even want to discuss having a partial roof replacement if you need to save money.
Since solar panels are normally put on the part of the roof that faces the south, your roofer might agree to put new shingles on the south side of your roof and then wait to replace the rest of your roof once the shingles are at the end of their lives.
If you decide to replace your roof before getting solar panels put on, you might consider putting on something other than asphalt shingles. An asphalt shingle roof is suitable for solar panels, so it isn't necessary to switch to something else. However, solar panels can also go on metal roofs.
Metal roofs last longer than asphalt shingles, so you can reduce the worry over having to take the panels off for a roof replacement or repairs in several years. Also, solar panels clamp on metal roofs while they are screwed to the roof deck when you have asphalt shingles. Drilling holes in the roof potentially increases the risk of a roof leak, although the risk is small when solar panels are installed properly.
