Should You Replace Your Roof Before Going Solar?
One of the most common questions people ask when they consider having solar panels installed is whether their roof is fit for the job. You wouldn’t build a home on loose sand, so it stands to reason that you wouldn’t install solar panels on a roof that can’t handle it. This article will assist in helping you decide whether you should replace your roof before going solar.
How To Identify Whether Your Roof Is Ready To Go Solar
A lot goes into identifying whether your roof is suitable for solar panels, and the material and its quality are factors that play a large role. The most ideal material for solar panels is asphalt roof shingles, with one of the rooves angled towards the south (for those living in the Northern Hemisphere.) If your roof is flat and made of tar or gravel, your roof likely isn’t suitable for solar panels. Additionally, if your roof is over ten years old, you may want to call an inspector to see if it’s still in a suitable condition. However, there are a few ways you can identify damage and age on your own.
How To Identify Roof Damage and Age
To identify the age of your roof, you’ll want to determine the material of your tiles, know the life span of the material, and check when the roof was installed. If you moved into your home as it was finished being built, checking the age of your roof is easy. If not, you’ll have to check with the previous owner about the date of installation. Damage to your roof will often look like broken tiles, shifting, standing water, cracks, worn-out sealant, or damaged underlayment. The last thing you want is to install expensive solar panels on a roof that’s ready to fall apart.
Should You Replace Your Roof?
In truth, solar panels are an investment, and not everyone is ready to spend even more money on a roof replacement project. However, if you install solar panels and your roof falls apart, that’s even more money wasted. If your roof is old, falling apart, or isn’t structurally sound, you need to replace your roof before going solar. If you can’t replace your roof, you may want to hold off on going solar until you can do, in order to avoid wasting time and money.
It also depends on how much time you want to get out of your solar panels. If you don’t want to have to deal with repairs in the next ten to 15 years, and your roof only has 5 to 8 years left, you may want to consider a replacement. But if your roof is solid, stable, and has enough lifespan, you can forgo replacing your roof and work on smaller spot treatments as the years pass.
Being able to tell whether you should replace your roof before going solar will go far in saving you time, money, and overall peace of mind. If you’ve already installed your solar panels and have found that your roof needs repair, don’t rely on just anyone to remove your solar panels! Solar Restore is a solar company based in Phoenix, Arizona, and we can remove your solar panels for you without voiding their warranty.