Should You Reroof Before
Installing Solar?

If your roof is under 10 years old and in good condition, you can install solar panels immediately. If it is 10-15 years old, a professional inspection is recommended. If it is over 15-20 years old, consider bundling a roof replacement with your solar installation to avoid costly panel removal and reinstallation later.

It depends on the material and condition. A 20-year-old metal or slate roof likely has decades of life left and is fine for solar. A 20-year-old asphalt shingle roof is approaching end of life (typical lifespan 20-30 years) and should either be replaced first or bundled with solar to avoid future R&R costs.

Solar panel remove-and-reinstall (R&R) typically costs $3,000-$5,500 for a standard 20-panel residential system. This includes electrical disconnect, safe removal, storage, reinstallation on the new roof, and final inspection. This cost is entirely avoidable by timing your roof and solar projects together.

Yes. Bundling roof replacement and solar installation together saves $2,000-$5,000 through shared permitting, scaffolding, single mobilization, and coordinated labor. You also avoid the $3,000-$5,500 future R&R cost if you would otherwise need to remove panels for reroofing later.

Properly installed solar panels do not damage your roof. In fact, they protect the covered area from UV degradation, rain, and snow. Solar mounting systems use flashing and sealant at penetration points that, when installed correctly, maintain the roof warranty. Metal standing seam roofs use clamp-on mounts with zero penetrations.

Metal standing seam roofs are ideal for solar. Clamp-on mounting systems attach directly to the standing seams without any roof penetrations, making installation faster and preserving the full roof warranty. Metal roofs last 50-70 years, easily outlasting a 25-year solar system.

You will need to hire a licensed solar electrician (not your roofer) to disconnect and remove the panels, store them safely, then reinstall and reconnect after the new roof is complete. This R&R process costs $3,000-$5,500 and takes 1-2 weeks. Your system produces no power during this time.

Yes. NuWatt offers bundled roof and solar projects through our roofing partner network. One project manager coordinates both the roofing crew and the solar installation team, saving you the hassle of managing two separate contractors and saving $2,000-$5,000 through combined permitting and labor.