Solar on a midlife or failing roof often costs more than re-roofing first. Walk through this before you sign a panel contract.
Roof readiness
- Roof age & remaining useful life documented
- No active leaks or soft decking
- Structural load review if adding heavy tile later
- HOA or historic approval if required
Contract & warranty
- Who pays for removal and reinstall if roof fails in 10 years?
- Penetration warranty — roofer vs solar installer
- Production guarantee tied to shade analysis, not sales deck only
- Lease vs loan vs cash — ownership and transfer rules clear
Sequencing
- Re-roof completed and inspected before racking install
- Electrical panel capacity confirmed (MPU if needed)
- Utility interconnection timeline realistic
- HEAR or tax credits verified for eligible equipment