Posted Monday, June 1, 2020

Roof Repair and Solar Panels: What You Need to Know

We’ve been getting a particular question a lot lately from new Urban Solar customers, so we thought we’d spend some time talking about it here on our blog.

The question is this:

“If I install solar panels onto my roof, won’t they need to be removed when my roof needs repair in the future?”

The question is a valid one. After all, if you’re going to make the leap and go solar, you want to be sure you know what you’re signing up for. And, if you’re signing up for a costlier roof repair job if and when it’s needed in the future, it would help to know that before making the buying decision.

To address this, let’s talk about what goes into removing and replacing solar panels.

Bolt-on, Bolt-off Panel Mounting

Most modern solar panels are installed using simple, straightforward mounting systems that require basic hand tools to affix the panel to the roof.

This makes removing them from the roof a lot faster and easier than you might think. Granted, it’s going to take a little more time to complete the panel removal process before your roof undergoes repair, but for most roofing professionals and solar installers, this is a minor extra step that doesn’t add a significant amount of delay to the roof repair timeline.

Furthermore, the two-wire cabling that runs from the panel to the inverter or junction box is easily detached from the panel using a waterproof termination connector. This further reduces the amount of time required to remove the panel, store it safely during repair, and replace it after the repairs are complete.

The Cost Comparison

Let’s compare the panel removal cost that might be added to a traditional roof repair with the cost of having the panels installed in the first place.

Even with liberal cost estimates, we quickly find that the amount of money that is saved on reduced electricity bills (20% or more, in most cases) more than compensates for the marginal fee that might be charged by the roofer.

All of this being considered, if you do have the chance to get your roof repaired before having solar panels installed, it’s advisable to do so.

As always, if you have questions about how much money you could be saving every month by going solar, contact the solar power professionals at Urban Solar, today.