DOES INSTALLING SOLAR PANELS AFFECT MY ROF WARRANTY?
Does Installing Solar Panels Void Roof Warranty?
Many homeowners want to install solar panels to lower their utility bills and have a home power source that does not rely solely on the local utility company. While there are many things to consider before installation, the most common question is, “Does installing solar panels affect roof warranty?”
Generally, solar system installation should not void your roof’s warranty if done correctly and according to the roofing manufacturer’s guidelines. The following information can keep your warranty and roof intact, even with modifications like solar panels and skylights.
Understanding Solar and Roofing Warranties
Solar panels and roofing should work in unison to improve your home and quality of life. As such, your panels should not undermine your roof and vice versa. Let’s discuss your different warranties for the roof and solar array.
Solar Warranties
Solar panel installations come with the following warranties:
Product Warranty: This covers any potential defects the panels and inverters may have come with when they rolled off of the assembly line. The duration of coverage differs for every manufacturer. For instance, inverters are covered for 10–12 years, while panels will have more extended coverage.
Power or Performance Warranty: This ensures the energy production of your panels for the first ten years, with 90 percent of the predicted output. As solar panels age, they deteriorate and provide at least 1% less energy each year.
Workmanship Guarantee: Professional solar installers typically provide a warranty on their work, assuring that it adheres to the highest industry standards and requires no rework or repairs.
Roofing Warranties
Your roof will have separate warranties for the materials and labor:
Standard Warranty: As with solar panels, this covers only production defects by the manufacturer, not installation-related damage or wear and tear. The length of coverage typically varies according to the material type. For example, asphalt shingles feature 20-year warranties, whereas metal roofs have more extended coverage.
Workmanship Warranty: Roofing contractors stand by their work, and these labor warranties guarantee you won’t have issues with their installation.
What Situations Will Void Roof Warranty?
If you decide to go solar, you may ask yourself, “Does installing solar panels void my roof warranty?”
Well, it depends.
If, after a roofing contractor builds your roof, a solar company installs solar panels and, in the process, adds other roofing elements, the roofing company will not cover the new features. For example, if the solar company drills holes in the roof for panel assembly mounting and adds flashing, the roofing contractor’s warranty will not cover the flashing. As a homeowner, you could simplify the process by having the roofer install the flashing for the solar panels. That way, you’ll know that your roofing contractor covers any resulting roof damage.
However, remember that some roofers will void your warranty if the solar company or a third party alters any part of the roof.
The best way to keep your roof warranty intact.
The best way to maintain a roof warranty amidst a solar panel installation is to hire a roofing and solar company. Having a roofing license means they take over all responsibility for making penitrations into the roof. This removes the liability from the homeowner and shifts it to the new roofing and solar company. Hiring a roofing and solar contractor is the best way to eliminate all worries. They have the licenses to do the job correctly and will use the proper equipment to prevent leaks in the future.