Would you put solar panels on a 12 year old roof?
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Anonymous
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We are planning on installing solar panels sometime in the next year but I am having a major dilemma about the roof. Our house is about 12 years old with a builder grade roof. We did about $1400 in roof repair when we first moved in (it was a foreclosure). I am wondering whether I should change the whole roof, part of the roof before installing the panels or to go ahead and install the panels and see what happens. One of our neighbors, whose house was built at the same time by the same builder as ours, has already replaced their entire roof.
WWYD? |
Anonymous
| We did and our roof is older. Our agreement provides that the installer will remove and reinstall at no charge if and when we replace the roof any time in the next 30 years. Made the risk easier. Of course if they go out of business, the whole thing will cost more, but on balance still a good risk in our opinion. |
Anonymous
OP here- that's great! Do you live in the DC area, and if so, who was your installer? Both estimates I got charged a lot of money for moving the panels at a later date. |
Anonymous
| Keep in mind that the panels can increase your roof life span because they shield it, if installed correctly. |
Anonymous
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Why not just deal with it now...you know your going to do it. Safe yourself the hassle. Then the panels will protect that nice, new roof!
Congrats on. Going solar; we did, and we love it! |
Anonymous
It seems like a waste to change the roof before we actually need to. |
Anonymous
| Replace the roof. |
Anonymous
| Hmm, so that's two votes to replace the roof- I am really torn about this! |
Anonymous
Have you asked the solar panel installers about the feasibility of taking the panels off/replacing them if the roof needs to be replaced? I would do this first. |
Anonymous
Yes, of course! I had two installers come out- one gave me a fairly reasonable price to remove the panels, store them, and re-install them if the roof needs replaced- about 1k. The other installer, who gave me a better price/product, said it would be about 5k to do the same thing! His explanation was that removing the panels is a lot of effort for little money. This threw me for a loop. Other installers that I contacted didn't call me back. |
Anonymous
| solar panels are falling prices i would wait a few years until buying them |
Anonymous
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depends on the roof. You say builder grade so you are probably looking at a 20 year lifespan, max. Plus if it is a crappy roof and you already have had repairs likely the sub roof will need work too.
We renovated a few years ago and installed a 50 year roof with extra structure and above code underlay nets precisely to get solar in the next couple of years. In your shoes I would probably replace and make sure the attic, ventilation, and structure are all done right. |
Anonymous
Prices have fallen but might slow down falling or stabilize at least for another year. Don't wait. |
Anonymous
Haha no, look at the stock prices, especially solar city |
Anonymous
Prices for solar panels go down each year, but my issue is that I wanted to install before the federal rebates expire (next year) and go from 30% to 10%. |