What to do with solar panels when responding to roof leaks or repairs?

When we install solar panels on your roof, we provide you with maintenance options for the entirety of your agreement.* That’s because we understand that roofs don’t last forever and that it only takes one, poorly struck golf ball to interfere with the function of a solar panel.

This means that your roof and the panels on it may need maintenance and even fixing at times. Quality roofing materials are not cheap, and as a homeowner, it’s important that you have a realistic understanding of the things we do to help maintain your roof and solar panels, so you can prepare accordingly.

So, what do you do if you need to address roof maintenance, replace your roof, or have your solar modules inspected? Well, we consider a variety of things when assessing roof repairs, including the location of your solar panels relative to the roof repair, what it would take to maintain the quality of your roof, what the potential cost(s) for repairs might be, and if we need to remove any of your solar panels. Let’s break each of these down, shall we?

We take into account the status of your roof before we install

During your home assessment, our technicians review your home to ensure it’ll be compatible with a Vivint Solar system. If your roof needs to be repaired, our technicians will alert your Sales Manager that your roof cannot support a Vivint Solar system. At that point, your Sales Manager will review your available roof options with you and discuss whether or not you’re in a situation where we can fix or upgrade your roof, so it can support a solar energy system. The key thing for us is safety. If your roof isn’t able to support a system, we do everything in our power to ensure that it can prior to installation. Otherwise, we won’t move forward with the installation.

The quality of the installation will always be a top priority

To install solar panels onto your roof, we secure them with anchor lag bolts that we drill into your rafters.

We do this to ensure that the weight of the solar array is properly spread across your roof, so as not to add unnecessary strain. It also has the added benefit of keeping the array securely on the roof. We then seal the penetrations, from the anchor bolts, using specialized roof flashings and roof bonding construction sealants that are watertight. Vivint Solar pioneered an 86 point inspection that has become the gold standard in the solar industry. This inspection helps ensure that we installed your solar energy system correctly and that your roof penetrations are watertight.

We consider the location of your solar panel(s)

Is the roof issue in the same area as the solar panels? If no, you are good to go. If necessary, our roofers can make repairs or replace a section of your roof, and then tie the system into another section, without upending the entire system and all the panels with it.

We offer options that allow us to help you maintain your roof

In rare cases, we may need to look at and address your solar mounting points.

Understand your Vivint Solar warranty. For homeowners with a Vivint Solar system, the information can be found in your solar contract. Most solar installers warranty the roof penetrations from the installation. We ask that, as a homeowner, you maintain the overall condition of your roof and other non-solar affiliated roof penetrations such as skylights, plumbing vents, attic vents, etc. Ridges, valleys, and roof-to-wall transitions are also important and vulnerable parts of a roof that we recommend you assess and maintain.

If there is a problem, we’ll do what we can to reduce potential costs

If the roof work is not urgent, we’ll help you schedule the solar removal, roof repair, and/or reinstallation in as short of a window as possible, so as to maximize your energy savings.

Does your solar provider have a process to remove and reinstall solar panels? We do. The agreement you have with your solar installer or service provider should detail the process to remove and reinstall the solar system for you to facilitate roof repairs.

Is your roof being replaced as an insurance event by your insurance provider? If yes, your homeowner’s insurance may also cover the cost of solar removal and reinstall. If you’ve installed with Vivint Solar, we can help you by providing a quote to give to them—just give us a call.

In the end, the main thing to keep in mind is that you are never without options. Be it a roof repair, solar repair, or complete system or roof replacement, your solar provider should always have a solution for you that will meet your needs as a homeowner.