Solar, 6 min read
Solar panels and your roof: what Arizona homeowners should know
Solar panels can sit on your roof for decades, so the roof under them matters. Here is how to plan solar around your roof's age, type and condition, and how to avoid leaks later.
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The short answer
Before you install solar, have your roof inspected and make sure it has enough life left to outlast the panels, because removing and reinstalling a system later adds cost and hassle. On tile roofs the underlayment is the main concern, since it often wears out before the tile. Every bolt that goes through the roof needs proper flashing, and you should know in writing who is responsible if a mount leaks.
Check the roof's age and condition before you go solar
Solar panels are designed to last a long time. If your roof needs major work a few years after the panels go up, the system has to come off so the roof can be repaired or replaced, then go back on. Planning ahead avoids paying for that twice.
Ask a roofer to inspect the roof before you sign a solar contract. On an asphalt shingle roof, look at shingle age, granule loss and curling. On a concrete or clay tile roof, the tile itself can last a very long time, but the underlayment beneath it is what keeps water out, and in Arizona heat it often wears out well before the tile does. If the underlayment is near the end of its life, replacing it before solar goes on is usually the smarter order.
What detach and reset means
Detach and reset is the process of removing solar panels and racking, setting them aside safely, doing the roof work, and then reinstalling the system. It comes up when you re-roof, replace tile underlayment, or repair a leak under the array.
The electrical side of a solar system should be handled by a licensed solar or electrical contractor. In most cases your solar company, or a company that specializes in this work, removes and reinstalls the panels while the roofer handles the roof. We coordinate timing with your solar company so the roof is ready when they return. Ask both companies for a clear schedule, and ask the solar company whether reinstalling affects any warranty on the system.
Penetrations and flashing: where leaks start
Most solar systems on sloped roofs are held down by mounts bolted through the roof into the rafters. Each of those bolts is a hole in your roof. Done well, every mount is flashed so water sheds around it. Done poorly, a mount sealed only with caulk or sealant can start leaking once the sealant dries out and cracks in the sun.
- Each mount should be anchored into structure, not just the roof deck.
- Mounts should have proper flashing that laps correctly with the roofing material above and below it.
- Sealant can help, but it should not be the only thing keeping water out.
- Wire runs and conduit that pass through the roof need their own properly flashed penetrations.
- Ask your installer what mounting system they use and how they flash it on your roof type.
Solar on tile roofs
Tile roofs are common across the East Valley, and they take more care with solar. Concrete and clay tile cracks if it is stepped on the wrong way, and installers have to walk the roof to place mounts. Broken tiles under the array can go unnoticed for years.
There are a few common approaches. Tile hooks attach to the rafters and reach out between tiles so the tile can be put back. Another method removes tile at each mount location and replaces it with a flashed base. Either way, the underlayment under the tile must be protected and sealed at every penetration. After installation, it is worth having the roof checked for cracked or slipped tiles. See our tile roofs page for more on how tile roofs are built.
Solar on flat and foam roofs
Many Arizona homes, especially older ones and those with Pueblo or territorial styles, have flat or low-slope roofs. Solar on these roofs may use a tilted racking system that is either weighted down with ballast or attached through the roof.
On a spray foam roof, each attachment needs to be sealed into the foam and coating system so water cannot get into the foam. Racking should also leave room to recoat the roof, because foam roofs need periodic recoating. Heavy ballast and foot paths need to be planned so they do not crush or wear the roof surface. If your flat roof is due for a recoat or repair, do it before the panels go on.
Who is responsible if a solar roof leaks?
This is one of the most common questions we hear, and the answer depends on your contracts. In general, the company that made the penetration is responsible for the leaks at that penetration, and the roofer is responsible for the roofing work they did. Warranties vary a lot, so read them before you sign.
- Ask the solar company in writing whether they warrant roof penetrations and for how long.
- Ask whether using a different roofer later, for repairs or detach and reset, affects that warranty.
- Keep copies of your solar contract, roof warranty and any inspection photos together.
- If a leak shows up under the panels, call the solar installer and a roofer so the cause can be traced.
- If your solar company is no longer in business, a roofer can still find and repair the leak.
Critter guards keep birds and debris out
The gap between panels and the roof is a shaded, sheltered spot, and pigeons love it. Nesting birds leave droppings, nesting material and debris that hold moisture, clog roof valleys and can damage wiring. Critter guard is a mesh barrier installed around the edges of the array to keep animals out.
If you already have birds under your panels, the nesting material should be cleaned out before guards are installed. The mesh should attach to the panel frames, not be screwed into the roof, so it does not add new holes.
Planning solar and roofing together
The best results come when the roof and the solar system are planned as a pair. Get the roof inspected, handle any repairs or replacement first, and share your roof's details with the solar installer. If you are not sure whether your roof is ready, call us at 602-548-3770. If we don't answer, leave a message and we'll return your call within 24 hours. For a general sense of re-roofing costs, see our Roofing Cost Guide.
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Frequently asked questions
Still have a question? Call the office at 602-548-3770, Monday to Friday, 7 am to 5 pm.
Should I replace my roof before installing solar?
If your roof is close to the end of its life, it usually makes sense to replace it, or replace tile underlayment, before solar goes on. That avoids paying to remove and reinstall the panels a few years later. An inspection will tell you how much life the roof has left.
Can solar panels be installed on a tile roof?
Yes. Installers commonly use tile hooks or replace tile at each mount with a flashed base. The key is protecting and sealing the underlayment at every penetration and replacing any tile that cracks during installation.
Do solar panels cause roof leaks?
Panels themselves do not, but the mounts and wire penetrations can if they are not flashed and sealed correctly. Most solar-related leaks we see trace back to a mount, a conduit penetration or tiles broken during installation.
Who removes my solar panels when I re-roof?
Usually your solar company or a company that specializes in detach and reset handles the panels and electrical work. The roofer does the roof work in between. We coordinate the schedule with your solar company.
Do solar panels protect my roof from the sun?
Panels do shade the part of the roof they cover, which can reduce heat and UV exposure there. The roof around the array still ages normally, and the area under the panels is harder to inspect, so it still needs attention.
How do I keep pigeons out from under my solar panels?
Have the area cleaned out and then install critter guard mesh around the array. The mesh should clip to the panel frames rather than being screwed into the roof, so it does not create new holes.
Can solar go on a foam roof?
Yes, but each attachment must be sealed into the foam and coating so water cannot get in. Plan the layout so the roof can still be recoated, and handle any needed recoat or repairs before the panels are installed.
Does Integrity Roofing install solar panels?
No. We are roofers, not solar installers. We inspect roofs before solar, repair and replace roofs under existing systems, and coordinate with your solar company when panels need to come off and go back on.
Let's take a look at your roof.
Call the office at 602-548-3770 to schedule an estimate, Monday to Friday, 7 am to 5 pm. If we don't answer, leave a message and we'll return your call within 24 hours.