What are the most common roof repairs and how do we address them?
One of the first steps in going solar is the home assessment. For your safety, and to ensure the sustainability of your solar energy system, we analyze the longevity of your roof. Because solar panels will be on your roof for years to come, we want to make sure the roof sections underneath the panels are in good condition. Before we’ll install the solar panels, there are some common roof repairs that we may address with you, if we deem it necessary. Addressing these concerns on a one-off basis can be more cost-effective than replacing your roof completely. We work hard to do these repairs prior to installing the solar panels or, if the repair is minor, in conjunction with the installation. In this article, we’ll review the most common types of roof repairs we see and how we address them.
The most common repairs we see
Every year, your roof gets bombarded by things like rain, hail, golf balls, frisbees, apples, tree branches, and a ton of other debris. Over time, the impacts can really start to take their toll on the structure of your roof. Though there are a lot of different reasons for a roof repair, in the solar industry, we’ve really narrowed it down to three main types:
- Moss Buildup: moss that gets under and around your shingles causing your shingles to crack and break off.
- Missing Ridge Caps: extreme weather or falling debris can cause the ridge caps on your roof to become loose and fall off.
- Missing/Loose Shingles: same thing as your ridge caps. Over time, weather or falling can cause your shingles to loosen and fall off your roof.
The good news is we can help with this.
How we address the most common roof repairs
During our assessment, we’ll review the status of your roof to determine whether the work will be extensive or minimal.
If the work is extensive, your Sales Manager should go over your options. At the very least, our assessor will explain the situation with your Sales Manager, and your Sales Manager should have a discussion with you to see if we can work out the financial options/benefits of replacing your roof.
If the work is minimal, we’ll either contract the work out or (depending on your area) have an in-house roofing team make the repairs. Based on the three repair types we mentioned above, here is what we can do:
- Moss Removal: prior to installation, we’ll treat your shingles with a chemical spray to kill moss.
- Replace Ridge Caps: if the damage is minor or you’re only missing a few units, we can replace the ridge caps along the ridges and valleys of your roof.
- Replace Shingles: if your roof is missing a limited number of shingles, or if you have a small number of loose shingles, we can replace them while we’re installing the solar energy system.
Other ways we address roof repairs
The three repair options listed above usually do the trick; however, if the work is going to be extensive enough to warrant addressing, but not so extensive as to require entirely replacing your roof, there are some other things we will do to help you fix your roof. These include:
- Overlay: on shingle roofs, if there is only one layer of existing worn shingles, we may be able to add a second, new layer of shingles on top, to reinforce stability.
- Felt Replacement: on a tile roof, if the felt has been damaged or is worn, but the tiles are in good condition, we can get a roofing crew to remove the tiles, replace the felt underneath them, and then reinstall the tiles again.
- Comp Out: on a tile roof, if the tile is unable to support the weight of the solar panels, we can get a roofing crew to remove the tiles in the area where the panel(s) will go and install shingles instead. The solar panels will appear to be set into the tile seamlessly and passersby won’t be able to see the shingles.
If you are considering going solar, make sure your solar provider can help address any roof repairs needed prior to installation. This is an essential part of a successful solar installation and will save time and money in the future.