Short answer: Often yes, if the roof damage is a covered event (like storm or hail damage) and your solar panels have to come off to complete the repair — but coverage depends on your specific policy, so it’s worth confirming with your insurer before work starts.
If your roof is damaged by a covered event and you have solar panels installed, your homeowners insurance claim may need to account for the cost of removing the panels, replacing the roof underneath, and reinstalling the system afterward — not just the roofing work itself.
What typically determines coverage
- Cause of damage. Storm, hail, wind, and falling debris are commonly covered perils. Gradual wear or lack of maintenance typically isn’t.
- Whether panels must come off to complete the repair. If the roofer can’t safely access or replace the roofing material with panels in place, removal becomes part of the covered repair scope in many policies.
- Your specific policy language. Solar-specific riders or endorsements vary by insurer — some policies cover panels as part of the dwelling, others require a separate rider.
What the process usually looks like
- File your insurance claim for the roof damage first, and get the adjuster’s assessment.
- Get a roofing/solar contractor who can quote both the roof repair and the panel removal/reinstallation together — this avoids gaps between separate roofing and solar companies over who’s responsible for what.
- Confirm with your insurer whether the removal/reinstall cost is included in your claim payout or billed separately.
How SunSent handles this
Because we do both roofing and solar in-house, we document the panel removal and reinstallation as part of the same project scope as the roof repair — which makes it easier to present to your insurance adjuster as one coordinated job, not two disconnected ones. We help you understand your coverage and document the damage, without pressure or confusion.
FAQ
Who removes my solar panels before a roof repair — my roofer or my solar company?
Ideally, one team that handles both, so there’s no finger-pointing over scheduling or liability. SunSent’s in-house teams coordinate this directly.
Will my solar warranty be affected by removal and reinstallation?
Reputable installers use a removal/reinstall process designed to preserve your existing warranty — confirm this with whoever performs the work before it starts.
How long does removal and reinstallation typically take?
It depends on system size and roof complexity — get a project-specific timeline rather than assuming a standard duration.
Who pays to remove and reinstall solar panels when getting a new roof — me or the roofer?
It depends on why the roof is being replaced. If it’s a covered insurance claim (storm or hail damage), the removal/reinstall cost is often included in the claim, as described above. If it’s a roof replacement you’re choosing to do on your own (aging roof, upgrade, not an insurance claim), that cost typically falls to you as the homeowner, since it’s outside a covered event. Either way, get this spelled out in writing before work starts rather than assuming — it’s the most common point of confusion between homeowners, roofers, and solar companies.