The Truth About Solar Panel Removal and Reinstallation (R&R) During a Roof Replacement
If you live in the Tampa Bay area, you already know that a new roof is an eventual necessity. But if you’re one of the thousands of homeowners who made the smart investment in solar panels, replacing your roof suddenly becomes much more complicated.
Most roofers will give you an estimate and then drop a bombshell: “You’ll need to call a solar company to take those panels down before we can start, and have them come back to put them up when we’re done.”
Suddenly, your simple roof replacement has turned into a scheduling nightmare involving two different companies, two different contracts, and a massive headache.
Before you start making calls, here is the honest truth about Solar R&R (Removal and Reinstall)—and why hiring separate contractors is the biggest mistake you can make.
The Real Cost of Solar R&R
Homeowners are often shocked by the price of removing and reinstalling their existing solar panels. Because the panels are already yours, many assume the labor should be cheap.
The reality? The labor required for a Solar R&R is virtually identical to a brand-new installation.
It takes highly specialized technicians to safely detach the electrical components, remove the heavy panels without damaging them, store the mounting hardware, and then perfectly reset and seal everything once the new roof is on.
In the industry, a standard Solar R&R typically costs around $250 per panel. For an average 24-panel home, you are looking at roughly $6,000 just for the labor to move your system.
The Danger of “Finger-Pointing”
When you are spending $6,000+ to move your solar panels on top of the cost of a new roof, you need to ensure your investment is protected. This is where hiring separate roofing and solar companies becomes incredibly risky.
If you hire a solar company to reinstall your panels, they have to drill dozens of holes into your brand-new roof to mount the brackets. What happens if it rains heavily a month later and you notice a leak in your ceiling?
The nightmare begins:
- You call the roofing company. They come out, look at the solar brackets, and say, “Our roof is fine. The solar guys didn’t seal their penetrations properly. Call them.”
- You call the solar company. They look at the roof and say, “Our seals are perfect. The roofers didn’t lay the underlayment right. Call them.”
You are left caught in the middle with a leaking roof, while two companies point fingers at each other to avoid paying for the repair.
The Solution: One Team, One Timeline, One Warranty
At Brandon Roofing, we realized that coordinating between roofers and solar technicians was a broken system. That’s why we handle everything completely in-house.
When you hire us for a roof replacement with solar panels, you get:
- Zero Scheduling Headaches: You don’t have to wait weeks for a solar crew to become available just so your roofers can start. We handle the removal right before the tear-off begins.
- Rapid Reinstallation: As soon as your new roof is finished, our team is immediately resetting your panels so your home can start generating power again.
- No Finger-Pointing: If there is ever an issue or a leak, there is no debate about who is responsible. It is 100% on us.
- The Ultimate Warranty: You get a rock-solid warranty that covers your new roof and the solar panel penetrations.
Don’t Pay the “Go Away” Price
Because most solar companies only want the high profit margins of selling brand-new systems, they often give homeowners inflated “go away” prices just to do an R&R.
Don’t overpay a solar company to do half the job, and don’t risk your roof warranty by hiring two separate crews. If you live in Hillsborough, Pasco, or Pinellas County and need a roof replacement under your solar panels, call Brandon Roofing.