How do solar panels affect a roof warranty?
Short answer. Installing solar panels can affect both your roofer's workmanship warranty and the shingle manufacturer's warranty, because the solar installer drills through the roof to set the mounts. Before installation, get the solar company's roof penetration warranty in writing and check whether your roofer's and the manufacturer's terms allow other trades to penetrate the roof.
Who covers what after solar goes on
- Leaks at the mounts: usually the solar installer's responsibility under its workmanship or penetration warranty. Terms vary, so read the length and what it covers, including interior damage.
- Shingles elsewhere on the roof: still covered by your roofer's workmanship warranty and the manufacturer, unless their terms exclude roofs altered by others.
- Storm damage: hail and wind damage to the roof or panels is an insurance matter. If the roof is replaced in a claim, the policy may cover detaching and resetting the panels.
Questions to ask the solar installer
- Are the mounts flashed into the shingle courses, or only sealed with sealant on top?
- How long is the roof penetration warranty, and does it transfer if you sell?
- What does it cost to remove and reinstall the system when the roof is replaced later?
Timing matters most
Panels often last 25 years or more. If your shingles are already 10 to 15 years old in the Georgia sun, the roof will likely need replacing while the panels are still producing, and removal and reinstallation adds real cost. Replacing the roof first gives both systems a fresh start and a clear warranty line between them. See replacing your roof before solar and roofing warranties explained.