Don't let solar panels interfere with roof repairs.
Perhaps your roof was damaged in a storm, or you’ve noticed curled or cupped shingles, an early sign of a leak. Maybe you’ve decided to increase your home value by replacing your roof, or you simply want to improve your overall energy efficiency. Or, you’re moving and the buyer doesn’t want solar, so you’re taking your system with you.
There are a handful of different scenarios that call for solar panel removal and reinstallation. If you find yourself in this situation, don’t worry — removing solar panels from your roof is becoming more commonplace as millions of Americans make the switch to rooftop solar.
But there are some things to be aware of beforehand.
Who Can Remove Solar Panels from Your Roof?
A strong roof is crucial for providing a secure foundation for your solar panels. Whether you need minor repairs, are undergoing renovations, or require a full roof replacement, you’ll need to remove your solar panels temporarily.
Your first thought might be to uninstall them yourself. Even if you’re handier than most, there are a few solid arguments for hiring a professional:
- Unless you have the proper tools, safety equipment and expertise, you risk damaging your investment.
- A reinstall may require new permitting, best navigated by those familiar with building and electrical code requirements.
- Attempting a DIY removal could void your solar contract or warranty.
Do roofing companies remove solar panels? Many do, and they will likely provide an attractive quote. While removing solar panels isn’t overly complex — dismantling your modules, racking, mounting hardware and wiring can be done in a day — the reinstallation requires technical expertise. Equipment that’s been mishandled may not work correctly once it’s reconnected, costing you more down the road. So, it’s wise to hire a qualified solar service company to do it right the first time.
Sunnova makes removals and reinstallations easy, whether you bought your system from us or another company.
How to Remove Solar Panels
What does the solar removal and reinstallation process look like? It’s fairly straightforward:
Cost to Remove Solar Panels + Reinstall
Your initial solar install was likely priced on a cost-per-watt basis. Removal and reinstallations require as much (sometimes more) labor than the original installation.
Cost considerations may include:
- Solar panel disconnection and uninstallation
- Removal of mounting hardware
- Reinstallation of hardware and modules + system reactivation
- Any new mounting hardware needed (flashings, etc.)
- Permits and inspections
These base costs are typically a few hundred dollars per panel, depending on the extent of the removal service. If the technician team inspects your system and discovers that you need replacement parts or that your roof requires patching from the mounting hardware, this can increase costs by hundreds, even thousands.
Will Insurance Pay for Your New Roof?
The reason you have homeowner’s insurance is to cover losses and damage to your property if something unexpected occurs. Will this cover a new roof? The answer depends on what caused the damage and what type of insurance policy you have.
If the damage is caused by an act of nature, it’s likely covered. If your damage is the result of normal wear and tear, probably not.
Here are a few scenarios where insurance may cover:
- Hailstorms that crack shingles and skylights
- High winds that topple trees or loosen roof flashings
- Heavy snow that causes buckling
Leaks are trickier and are typically only covered if they’re caused by a risk outlined in your policy. Keep in mind that if your roof is older (15-20 years), your insurance company may deny your claim or pay you the cash value: what your roof is worth after that many years of depreciation.
If you’re a Sunnova customer, your solar or solar plus battery system comes with our Sunnova Protect® Platinum Plan, which covers maintenance, repairs and replacements for 25 years. However, this doesn’t include removals and reinstalls. There is one caveat: third-party ownership. If you opted for a lease or power purchase agreement (PPA), that means another party (Sunnova) owns your system and is responsible for insuring it. But we’d only cover damage to your solar or solar plus battery system, not your roof.
If you own your solar panels outright through cash or a loan, you’d need to file a claim with your homeowner’s insurance for both a roof and solar system repair. Depending on the circumstance, Sunnova’s removal and reinstallation could be included in the claim.
For instance, if a severe hailstorm cracks the tempered glass on your solar modules and splits your shingles, your insurance may issue a payment to have:
- Your solar system removed
- Your shingles repaired
- Your damaged solar modules replaced
- Your solar system reassembled and rewired
Our team can answer any questions you may have about engaging with a third party. We understand that time is of the essence when it comes to fixing roof damage, and our team is committed to restoring your comfort as quickly as possible.
If you just had a new roof installed, you may wonder if a solar reinstallation will void your roof warranty. Generally speaking, the answer is no.
Even though holes must be drilled into your roof to secure the modules to the racking, solar won’t impact your roof warranty as long as steps are taken to preserve your roof’s integrity — filling the holes so water cannot penetrate the shingles, for instance.
However, it’s important to understand that any solar components installed on a roof deemed unfit to handle the extra weight will likely void your roof warranty.
Therefore, it’s standard practice for a qualified solar installer to obtain permission from the roofing manufacturer or licensed contractor beforehand. This typically involves a pre- and post-solar inspection and a warranty continuance letter.
Sunnova now offers roof replacements with competitive financing to streamline your project.
As a publicly traded company with more than 438,000 customers across the U.S., Sunnova is leading the nation in service and innovation. We believe that providing exceptional, personalized service will inspire you to adopt clean energy solutions at home.
At Sunnova, we’ve built our own in-house workforce, with each technician completing 200+ hours of electrical, solar and safety training. Our field service teams work closely with manufacturers to ensure each technician is up to date on the industry’s latest technologies.
While we handle most of the removals and reinstalls in-house, we also have select dealers that can perform the work if a customer is out of our coverage area, for instance.
If you own your solar panels outright through cash or a loan, you’d need to file a claim with your homeowner’s insurance for both a roof and solar system repair. Depending on the circumstance, Sunnova’s removal and reinstallation could be included in the claim.
For instance, if a severe hailstorm cracks the tempered glass on your solar modules and splits your shingles, your insurance may issue a payment to have:
- Your solar system removed
- Your shingles repaired
- Your damaged solar modules replaced
- Your solar system reassembled and rewired
Our team can answer any questions you may have about engaging with a third party. We understand that time is of the essence when it comes to fixing roof damage, and our team is committed to restoring your comfort as quickly as possible.
Ready to start your solar removal and reinstall?
