Should I Replace My Roof Before Installing Solar Panels?
Energy-saving consciousness has led to a transition towards solar energy, making people upgrade to solar power as a way to save energy costs over the decades. Homeowners have begun installing solar panels over their homes to offer them an alternate energy source. If you’re looking to join this league of homeowners with a residential roof installation, one thing you should consider in advance is whether or not you need to replace your roof before you proceed.
Tips to consider concerning roof replacement before solar panel installation
When trying to decide on replacing your roof, the first thing to think about is the lifespan of your roof compared to that of solar panels.
Solar panels have an average lifespan of 25 years, and they often need little to no maintenance while they are up there. However, if you have any reason to replace or repair your roof, you’ll have to remove the panel and reinstall it. This process is an expensive one, and will take an average of two days; one day for removal, and another for reinstallation.
Getting experts to remove and replace your solar panel after your roof has been changed, as well as the roof replacement can run into thousands of dollars, which can be avoided if you simply ensure that your roof is in good condition before installing solar.
How to judge your roof’s health to decide on replacement before solar panel installation?
How can you tell whether or not your roof is due for replacement? A simple calculation can help you. Do an estimate while considering how long your roof has been in use and the average lifespan of that roof.
For instance, Asphalt shingle roofs have an average lifespan of 30 years. So, calculate how many years are left of that lifespan, compared to the average 25 years your solar panel is expected to last.
If your roof still has 20 years or more left, and there are no visible issues, you can install your solar panels without worrying about replacement.
However, it is quite tricky if your roof has between 5 and 20 years of usage left because anything can happen. It is therefore important to have an expert inspect the roof and give you professional advice, bearing in mind your solar panel cost, payback duration, and installation cost before deciding whether or not to change your roof.
However, if your room has less than 5 years of life, you certainly need to replace your roof before a solar panel installation.
Can you get a free roof replacement with solar panels?
People often talk about a free roof replacement with solar panels, but can you get that?
You can get something really close, which is a service that Evergreen Solar offers to customers in Rhode Island, Connecticut, and Massachusetts. The company offers its clients a roof and solar bundle, which means that they handle both the roof replacement and solar project from beginning to end, saving you the stress of handling them separately. Customers can get this service for no out-of-pocket cost. So if you live in the area and are looking to make the switch to solar, this could be a really great way for you to save money by combining both projects.
