Question: Five years ago, we contracted with a solar panel company to install a system on our home. After receiving three reports, we realize that a new roof is needed within two years. This surprises us. The roof is only 14 years old.
And here is the problem. The solar panel company charges $6,500 to remove and reinstall the panels. shocking! The cost of the roof is about $20,000. We tried to find a solar panel company that quoted us $27,000 for the roof and panels. You undertake to call, visit or send us written notes. We call, we call, but nothing happens. We said that the call is transferred to the right person.
We're worried you won't respond when it's time to buy a new roof. We are old, retired and very worried about how we will pay these unexpected expenses. The money is in the bank, but the account is empty.
If someone asks us if we want to use solar panels, we say no. First our electricity bill went down, but now we will never get the cost of the panels back. Any help to find the answer and reduce the cost of this project?
A: Well, you make a good point about timing. To get the most bang for your buck, you should install a new roof first and then install a solar system. On the other hand, if you don't have a new roof, and especially if you have an old roof that needs to be replaced soon, you may want to delay installing a solar system.
Sam recently represented a buyer who purchased a home with solar panels. When the inspector inspected the roof, it was found that the house needed a new roof.
When Sam and his buyers looked at the solar panel company's contract, they found the statement I did. This contract includes a fee of approximately $6,500 for the removal and reinstallation of the solar panels. In this case, the seller had to raise money to cover the costs or the buyer would not complete the purchase.
Unfortunately, your situation is a little different. Depending on where you live, weather conditions and the type of roof, a new roof can last 15, 20, 30 years or more. Asphalt shingles are the most common roofing system in northern areas. These files have a different lifespan depending on their thickness and other factors. If you do a simple comparison, you will see that shingle manufacturers advertise their life spans. You'll pay more for shingles that last 15 to 20 years and longer.
If you decide to install solar panels on your home, you should first determine how many years your existing roof has left. The financial benefits you get from solar panels outweigh the installation costs, and you want to make sure they arrive in time before you replace your roof.
We doubt the solar panel company will do much for you right now. You paid to install solar panels and you are being asked to remove them and reinstall them on your new roof. There is a price for this work and they will tell you this on the forms you sign.
But we feel your pain Large unexpected expenses are a serious problem for seniors on fixed incomes. One thing that comes to mind: roof drains. If so, don't mention it. You mentioned that your roof only has a few years left. Sam had clients who were told the same thing and found that their roofs were older than they should have been. Maybe your roof will last a little longer while you continue to benefit from the savings that solar panels provide.
They wrote that they spoke with several roofing companies. Invite several people to inspect your roof. Once you've decided to pull the trigger and replace your roof, you need to decide if the area of the roof equipped with solar panels is better occupied than the rest of the roof. Talk to your roofers and find out if a partial replacement will work. Maybe you can save the part of the roof where the solar panels are located.
Of course, we are not roofing experts. But if you don't weigh all of these options and ask these questions, your only options seem to be to remove the solar panels, install a new roof, and reinstall the panels. Finally, you must pay the fees set by the solar panel company to remove and reinstall the panels.
We apologize for your situation and hope you can find a solution that will lower your roofing costs. Let's find out what happened.
(Elise Glink is the author of 100 Questions Every First-Time Home Buyer Should Ask (4th Edition) . She is also the CEO of Best Money Moves, a financial security technology company . Samuel J. Tamkin is a Chicago-based real estate agent. Ellison, an attorney (Sami Find it at ThinkGlink.com .)
©2023 Ellis R. Glink and Samuel J. Tamkin distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
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