Can a Roofer Remove My Solar Panels?
Published
Short answer: No. A solar system is electrical equipment, and a roofer is not a licensed electrician. The panels should be removed and reinstalled by a licensed electrical contractor, and the roofer should handle the roof.
Why this comes up
When a roof needs to be replaced, the solar panels on it have to come off first. The mounts, rails and wiring sit on top of the shingles, so the roofer cannot do a full replacement around them. Many homeowners in the Valley hear from their roofer, "We can take the panels off for you." It sounds convenient. It is also the wrong trade for the job.
A solar system is electrical work
A rooftop solar array produces electricity whenever the sun is on it. Taking it apart means shutting the system down safely, disconnecting wiring, and handling the inverter or microinverters and the rapid shutdown equipment. Putting it back means reconnecting all of that correctly and testing that the system produces the way it did before.
In Texas, electrical work is licensed through the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation. RGV Solar holds Texas Electrical Contractor License TECL #37418. A roofing company's crew is skilled at roofs. They are not licensed electricians, and they should not touch the electrical components of a solar system.
What can go wrong
When a solar system is taken down and put back by someone who is not a licensed solar or electrical contractor, these are the problems that can follow:
- Panels, wiring or connectors damaged during removal or while stored
- Roof leaks at the mounting points after reinstallation
- A system that does not turn back on, or that produces less than before
- Monitoring that stops reporting
Fixing a problem afterward usually costs more than doing the removal correctly the first time.
How RGV Solar does it
We shut the system down safely, remove and label every component, store the panels safely, and reinstall the system with brand-new electrical wire. We never reuse the old wire. Then we commission the system, confirm it is producing, and back our detach and reinstall work with a 3-year RGV Solar warranty.
Who should do what
- The roofer replaces or repairs the roof.
- A licensed electrical contractor shuts down the solar system, removes it, protects the equipment, reinstalls it and tests it.
- When RGV Solar does both, the roof and the solar are under one contractor.
What it costs
Our solar panel detach and reinstall pricing starts at $230 per panel. The total depends on the number of panels, the roof and the condition of the system. You can get a preliminary range in under a minute with our Detach & Reinstall Estimator.
If you already have a roofer
That works. We schedule the removal before your roofer starts and reinstall once the roof is ready. Send us the panel count, the inverter brand and a few photos on WhatsApp at (956) 225-7813, or call (956) 507-0514.