Replacing a Roof That Has Solar On It
If your roof needs replacing and there is an array sitting on it, the panels have to come off first. Here is how that actually sequences.
You need two contractors and one schedule. A licensed solar or electrical contractor removes the array before the roofers start and reinstalls it after they finish; the roofer replaces the roof in between. Booking them in the wrong order — or assuming the roofer will handle the panels — is the single most common reason these projects stall with a half-finished roof and an array in the garage.
This work is performed under Arizona ROC #344757, CR-11 — Electrical — commercial & residential. Verify it.
Book the panel removal before the roof, not after
Roofing crews get scheduled weeks out. Solar removal gets remembered days out. That mismatch is what causes the delay.
If you have a roof date, call us with it. We will schedule the detach ahead of their start and the reset behind their finish, and we will talk to your roofer directly so you are not relaying dates between two trades.
What happens to your production while the roof is off
Your system produces nothing while the array is down, and your utility bill will reflect that for the billing period. It is worth planning the work outside peak summer if you have the choice, though monsoon damage rarely gives you one.
If your original installer is gone
A lot of Arizona homeowners are in this position — the company that installed the system no longer exists. It does not stop the roof work, and it does not necessarily mean your panels are out of warranty.
- Manufacturer warranties on panels and inverters usually survive the installer closing
- The installer’s own workmanship warranty generally does not
- Somebody still has to file a manufacturer claim on your behalf, and that requires a licensed contractor
What drives the price
- Panel count
- Tile versus shingle
- Whether racking is re-used or replaced
- How long the panels are in storage
- Condition of the existing mounts and flashings
Blackout Electric’s own current pricing replaces this section at launch. Real local numbers from the contractor doing the work beat national cost-guide ranges on credibility — published figures for panel upgrades alone vary by more than 2.5× between sources, which is precisely the gap real pricing fills.
Frequently asked
Can I replace my roof without removing the solar panels?
Only for a genuinely localised repair well away from the array. A full replacement means the deck and underlayment under the panels are being replaced too, and that cannot be done with the array in place. A roofer who offers to work around it is leaving the worst section of your roof untouched.
Who schedules the work — me, the roofer, or you?
Give us your roofer’s contact and we will coordinate directly. That is how most of our jobs run.
Does the array have to go back exactly where it was?
Usually yes, and usually that is what you want — the original layout was designed around your roof planes and shading. If your roof design is changing, or the original layout was poor, tell us and we will assess whether a different layout is worth the extra work.
You may also need
Solar Detach & Reset
Panels off, roof replaced, panels back on and producing. Coordinated with your roofer, permitted properly, and reconnected by a licensed electrical contractor.
Read more →Detach & Reset on a Tile Roof
Most Arizona roofs are tile, and tile is where detach and reset goes wrong. Broken tile, disturbed underlayment, mounts re-set into the wrong course.
Read more →Orphaned Solar & Warranty Takeover
Your installer closed. Your panels are still on the roof and still under a manufacturer warranty someone has to file. We take the system over.
Read more →Get a straight answer on your job
Tell us what is on the roof and what needs to happen. You will get a real assessment, not a sales call.