How does roof replacement work when solar panels are already installed?
The sequence
- Solar removal. A solar contractor or qualified electrician shuts the system down, disconnects wiring, removes panels and racking, and stores everything safely, often on site.
- Roof replacement. Tear-off, decking repairs and the new roof system, including the areas that were under the panels.
- New mounts. Attachments are installed with new flashing into the rafters.
- Reinstallation and testing. Panels go back up, wiring is reconnected, and the system is recommissioned and checked against its monitoring.
Who should do the solar work
Check your solar warranty and any lease or power purchase agreement. Some require the original installer or an approved company to handle removal, and using someone else can void coverage. If the original company is gone, find a licensed solar contractor and document the system's output before and after.
Timing and cost
Detach and reset is priced separately from the roof and varies with the number of panels and the type of racking. Book the solar crew early, since their schedule usually controls the timeline more than the roofer's.
After a storm
If hail or wind damaged the roof, the cost to remove and reinstall the panels may be part of the insurance claim, because panels attached to the house are often covered as part of the dwelling. Check your policy and make sure the estimate includes it. See does homeowners insurance cover roof replacement.
If you have not installed solar yet, read replacing your roof before solar to avoid this step.