If you have a traditional asphalt-shingle roof that is older than 10 years old, you may want to consider reroofing before going solar.

Most asphalt shingle roofs are designed to last up to 30 years, while our rooftop solar arrays are designed to produce renewable energy for at least 30 to 40 years. While it may seem that reroofing at least once in the lifespan of a solar array is likely, there is good news. Most of the deterioration from asphalt shingle roofs occurs due to UV radiation, but since our solar arrays are mounted close to the roof’s surface, the shingles are shaded. The rooftop solar array significantly slows down the deterioration process, making it possible for homeowners to avoid reroofing under their solar array if they plan ahead.

In general, we recommend that homeowners with roofs over 10 years old consider reroofing before installing a rooftop solar array, since some shingle deterioration has already occurred. When the roof doesn’t need to be replaced in full, many solar customers simply reroof the area where the solar panels will be installed and leave the other roof planes to be replaced years down the road when needed.

Is it possible to reroof during the lifetime of the solar array if it’s needed? Absolutely. But in order to reroof, the panels, racking system, and wiring all need to be removed and then reinstalled once the new roof is put on. To make sure the system gets reinstalled properly, a qualified solar installation team should do the work. We currently charge $250 to $300 per panel to cover the cost of labor to remove and reinstall an array for reroofing. By reroofing before going solar, homeowners can avoid the removal and reinstallation process.

Not all asphalt shingles are created equal, so some roofs fall outside of these general recommendations. For homeowners who are unsure if they should reroof before going solar, we are happy to assess the roof shingles at a site visit and give a personalized recommendation based on the condition of their roof.