A Consideration for Installing Solar

SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO — Installing a solar system on your home can be a great investment, but before you commit, there’s one thing you should consider: the age of your roof.

If you have an older roofing system, installing solar panels might not be a great decision. Why? Both roofing materials and solar panels have a similar life expectancy. If you install new panels on an older roof, the roof will need to be replaced sooner than the panels. And with those panels in the way, the job is likely to be more expensive.

Ideally, you should replace your roof and install a solar system at the same time—that way, you’ll get the most value out of both. It’s also a good idea to have both jobs performed by the same contractor. Having one contractor handle your roof and solar panel installation simultaneously will help streamline the project thanks to seamless planning and communication.