Short answer: If your roof has less than 10–15 years of life left, replace it before solar goes on. Removing and reinstalling panels later to fix a roof costs more than doing it once, in the right order.
Solar panels typically last 25+ years. Most asphalt shingle roofs last 20–25 years with proper care — but if yours is already showing wear (curling shingles, granule loss, visible leaks, or it’s simply older than 15 years), installing solar on top of it means you’ll likely need to remove and reinstall the panels within the system’s lifetime to replace the roof underneath.
How to tell if your roof needs replacing first
- Age. If your roof is more than 15 years old, get it inspected before signing a solar contract — even if it looks fine from the ground.
- Visible wear. Curling, cracked, or missing shingles; bald spots where granules have worn away; daylight visible through the attic boards.
- Existing leaks or repairs. Multiple past repairs are often a sign the roof is near the end of its useful life, not evidence it’s been “kept up.”
- Local weather exposure. Missouri, Kansas, and Illinois all see regular hail and wind events — a roof that’s taken storm damage may qualify for insurance-covered replacement, which is worth checking before you install solar on top of it.
Why order matters
Installing solar first and replacing the roof later isn’t just inconvenient — it adds a real cost most homeowners don’t budget for: a full removal and reinstall of the entire array, plus lost production time while the panels are off. Doing the roof first (or as a combined project) avoids that cost entirely.
How SunSent handles this
As a combined roofing and solar installer with in-house crews for both, we check your roof’s condition before quoting solar — not after. If a replacement makes sense, we handle the roof and the solar installation as one coordinated project, so you’re not paying two separate companies or scheduling around each other. If your roof still has good years left, we’ll tell you that too.
FAQ
Does solar void my roof warranty?
It depends on your roofer and your installer’s mounting method. Ask both about warranty terms before installing — SunSent’s in-house roofing and solar teams coordinate on this directly so there’s no gap in coverage.
How much does it cost to remove and reinstall solar panels for a roof replacement?
Costs vary by system size and roof complexity — get a specific quote rather than relying on a general estimate, since panel count, mounting type, and roof pitch all affect the price.
Can I get my roof replaced and solar installed at the same time?
Yes — this is often the most efficient approach, and it’s what SunSent recommends when a roof is near the end of its life. One coordinated project avoids the extra cost of removing and reinstalling panels later.