Can the installation of Solar panels cause roof problems?
First of all, When installing solar panels, it is very important to answer these questions: What type of roof do you have in your house? Is your roof in good condition? If you have a new roof, what happens to your roof warranties after installing solar?
For all this, it is crucial to have the advice of a solar professional, not just a salesperson but someone who can clarify all these questions in a clear and honest way. To help you in this process, we have written this article in which we hope you will know the impact that solar installation brings to your roof.
To begin with, it is important to clarify that there are several factors to take into account regarding your roof at the time of a solar installation: first, the type of roof you have; second, the type of anchor your solar installer uses to install the solar panels; and third, the waterproofing used in the sealing process to offer protection against water.
The potential problems you can have if any of those three elements are not well studied by your contractor and there is little to no examination in this matter, you can have potential problems due to an improper installation procedure or best practice. Some of these potential problems are:
- Roof damaged by the installer during installation: If your installer is walking with improper boots or bumps into an obstacle, it could potentially hurt your roof
- Roof damaged by the installer when loading and unloading the panels: There is no secret that when panels are going to the roof they normally are carried by a person from a side of the house to the roof. During this process, the panel can potentially damage the edges of the roof (or rain gutters) if there is no proper lifting procedure in place to make sure it is safe and protecting the roof edges
- Roof damaged as a consequence of improper penetration: This happens when the installer is distracted or not very detail oriented, they can drill the roof in the wrong spot, making it vulnerable to the outdoors
- Roof damage caused by water filtration as a consequence of improper seal, most of the roof’s rafts are made of wood so if you have water filtration this will create humidity in your attic that can damage the strength that the roof needs to provide coverage for your home. This damage is one of the most difficult to repair since it may have to involve a home inspector and a roofer contractor to see the level of compromised damage to the wood and sections to be replaced in the internal frame,
Most of these problems can be very severe depending on the number of roof arrays where the solar panels are installed and the location where the attachments and structural anchors may have to be placed.
Another variable in the severity of the damage is related to the amount of time from the moment the problem is caused until it is repaired. Sometimes a little leak that is not discovered on time can create with time massive damage over a period of years if is not easily discoverable.
If you would like to have an estimate with a company that can prevent these issues by providing a 30-year roof leaking and penetration coverage care, please schedule your free estimate with us and make sure you are in the hands of experts handling roof problems when installing solar panels.
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Diego and Jennifer, lead a team of solar experts with +7 years experience in over 22 different states in America. We would love to help you switch to solar the right way!
Get a professional and honest solar quote
Diego and Jennifer, lead a team of solar experts with +7 years experience in over 22 different states in America. We would love to help you switch to solar the right way!
