Throughout the nation, many people have been taking steps toward improving their homes. One such way people are improving their home is by installing solar panels on the roof. Solar energy can help to reduce your carbon footprint, but what about the roof itself? Will those panels cause a leak to occur? Normally a leak from solar panels will be found within the first year of the solar panels being installed. So before you sign that contract with the solar company, make sure they will cover the costs of any damage to the home caused by their poor installation of the solar panels.
Roofs are not Compatible with Solar Panels
A roof with a leak from solar panel installation means you have a roof that is not compatible with solar panels. Professionals will need to drill into the rafters, and then must seal it during installation. There are some shingles that may not be compatible with solar panels. If the roof is older, or there are other issues, poor installation is normally used to “make it fit.” Normally the roofs with issues have old shingles, wood shingles, clay tiles, or slate roofing. It’s much harder to have solar panels installed on those roofing materials.
Poor Installation
A common reason why a roof can leak is due to the company that installed the solar panels. Most solar companies work hard to prevent leaks, but there are some that do not use sub-roofing materials. Inexperienced sub-contractors can be the other reason for inadvertent damage to a roof.
Contact your solar panel company immediately if you do notice a leak occurring soon after the job is complete. Most solar companies offer warranties on the actual solar panels, but limited warranties on the installation cost.
Older Home, Older Roof
Most Utah homes qualify for solar panels to be installed, but there are a few situations where you have older homes that are not compatible with solar panels. An old roof causes problems, especially when you have shingles that are 30 years old. The shingles are already deteriorated, which means adding panels on top of them can add stress to the roof, leading to leaks and problems.
Replacing a Roof With Solar Panels
If you do have solar panels added to an older roof, what needs to be done? What happens when the actual roof starts to deteriorate? Solar panels need to be removed, and the entire solar array will need to be re-installed.
Free Roof Inspection
Homeowners thinking they would like to have solar panels installed should have a roof inspection done prior to calling the solar company. A free roof inspection will let you know the quality and overall condition of the roof. Contact Kanga Roof today to schedule your free roof evaluation!
