Installing a new roof or replacing an old one is a difficult task, both financially and physically. Although you may have an easier time with roof replacement if you haven’t already installed solar panels, chances are that there’s still a lot to think about and plan. 

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In general, there are a minimum of two steps you’ll need to take when it comes to replacing your roof. This may be confusing for people that aren’t in the roofing or solar business so there are often a lot of questions. Some common questions include:

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• Do the solar panels need to be removed when replacing a roof?
• Who removes the solar panels - the roofers or the solar installers?
• Is it possible to build the solar mounting hardware into your new roof?
• What kind of roofing material should you use with solar panels?

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In this article, we’ll give you answers to all of these questions and help you understand the intricacies of replacing a roof with solar panels. However, it must be said that you shouldn’t replace the roof by yourself (unless you are qualified to do so). 

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With legal disclaimer aside, your input and thoughts are vital to how good of a job the roofers and solar installers will do. Let’s dive deeper into this process.

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The Four Steps for Roof Replacement with Solar Panels

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Keep in mind that your particular situation may be different from the one described in these steps which means certain steps can be ignored (for example, if you’ve already installed solar panels on your roof, step #4 is irrelevant). Nonetheless, you should be accustomed to the process of roof replacement. 

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#1 Replacing the roof requires the removal of solar panels

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Simply put, if you already have solar panels on the roof of your home, they’ll have to come off. The reason for this is that they’re mounted on the roof itself, so it’s impossible to begin the roof replacement process without taking them off. 

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And, when the solar panels come off, you’ll no longer be able to generate electricity until they’re put back on the new roof. This process generally lasts for a few days so be prepared to pay a higher utility bill for that month since you’ll have to use grid power only. 

Your power will also likely be turned off for a few minutes at a time so it’s a good idea to prepare for outages. 

On top of that, it’s important to know that your roofers may not actually be the ones who’ll remove the solar panels. In some cases, roofers do not have the necessary skills or training to handle removing solar panels so you’ll need to contact your solar installers for solar panel removal before the roof replacement project begins. 

Solar panel removal and reinstallation can take a minimum of two days but it’s usually more than that. It’s best to add a couple of extra days for leeway so the replacement project can move smoothly and so you can solve potential issues in the allotted time. 

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#2 Be mindful when picking your new roof material

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You may be thinking of getting new roofing material because of lower cost, higher durability, or better energy efficiency. Although these options are all viable, you shouldn’t go in head first without weighing all the options. 

Different types of roof materials require different forms of solar mounting brackets so switching the roof material may make it impossible to reinstall the panels that were removed prior to the roof replacement process. 

Getting new solar mounting brackets for your solar panels may cost an additional couple of thousand dollars so unless you’re willing to proceed with that investment, it’s best to contact your solar installers to see whether or not the new roof material can accept the existing mounting brackets. 

If you do proceed, make sure to get the new mounting brackets delivered before the roof replacement process is complete to avoid waiting on the delivery after the replacement is done. Your installer/roofer should know exactly what needs to be done, but be sure to ask the tough questions. 

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#3 Try to get roofers and your solar installers to work together on roof replacement

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In the future, we expect to see more roofers skilled in solar panel removal and reinstallation as well as roofing but for now - it just isn’t prevalent. Nonetheless, having two companies work on your roof replacement isn’t that big of a deal since they each do their job just fine. 

However, you can speed up the process and make it easier for both sides if you can get them to work together. For starters, you should first get in touch with your solar installers because the panels will have to come off first (plus, you’ve already done business with them). 

Ask them if they’re fine with working with the roofers you had in mind (in most cases the answer will be yes) and then check in with the roofers. If everything goes well, you’ll connect the two companies and they’ll be able to collaborate on the project. 

Establishing such a relationship contributes to less stress and faster work because most issues or questions will be resolved between them. Still, you are the ‘overseer’ of the project so it’s up to you to dictate what needs to be done, how it needs to be done, and when it needs to be done. 

This step isn’t necessary but will make your job - as well as the roofers’ and solar installers’ jobs - much easier. And it generally doesn’t cost anything extra so why not take the opportunity?

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#4 Replace your roof before installing new solar panels

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It goes without saying that before the roof replacement project can begin, the solar panels need to come off. If you’re just now thinking about installing solar panels on your roof (that may also need replacing in the near future), it’s best first to replace the roof and then install new solar panels.

Additionally, most solar installers will ask you if your roof was recently inspected and if not, they’ll seek to determine its quality and health before beginning the project. 

There’s a simple reason behind this - if your roof has around 5 years of life left in it or less, the solar installers will likely tell you that you’ll be better off replacing your roof first. And we agree. Solar panels have a reported life up to 25-30 years! Make sure your new roof and panels have a similar lifespan to keep from needing to bite off another big project a few years down the road. 

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Remember that removing the solar panels even for a short while can cost you a lot more than simply replacing the roof first and installing the solar panels later. 

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