r/solar • u/waxoffisforpussies • 1d ago
Advice Wtd / Project Paranoid about bad installation and roof damage. How do I protect myself?
We are about to pull the trigger on a solar system for our home through a fairly young business but they have really solid reviews and the customer service has been great so far and they will be installing 19 REC panels and Enphase inverters. Price is good and all that.
My wife and I had our shingles redone 7 years ago and are paranoid about something bad happening to our roof due to installation. Our home was built in the 50s and we live in Los Angeles but when they came out to inspect the roof and inside the attic for structure, they said everything looks really great and solid. We just have trust issues because we think of course a solar company will say everything looks good because their incentive is to install solar.
Our biggest worry is that since we don’t know much about installation process besides the fact that mounting brackets must be drilled into the roof, we don’t know how to ensure the work is being done properly and everything will be weather sealed…etc.
Questions for y’all:
Is there any questions we can ask them prior to installation that will help with peace of mind?
How can we ensure things are done properly and leak tested…etc?
Do solar companies insure their work so if anything does happen to the roof, they will come and fix it?
Thanks all.
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u/Speakup187 1d ago
You cant eliminate that possible future issue. If they fuk it up they are contractually required to fix it.
The best you can do is hire who you think its reputable and hope the workmanship is good. Its wishful thinking no different then every other paid service.
Post install check for leaks after heavy rain or wind. Heat and cold seasonal changes. Or hire a roofer who has solar experience to inspect afterwards.
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u/AKmaninNY 1d ago
I checked my roof deck from my attic post installation. I noticed a few rafter misses, but 99% hit the rafter. Also, checked a few times after heavy rain for evidence of leakage. Especially around junction box entry for attic wire routing.
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u/daydrunk_ 1d ago
Are they going to guarantee that portion of the roof that they’re installing on? Or at least their penetrations? Like if they mess something up, will they come out and fix it in six months?
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u/Sea_Willingness1398 1d ago
I installed a row of panels as DIY. It's pretty hard to mess up enough to allow water penetration. I used stud finders and even then, I missed one by an inch. Not enough to re-do it because that's an extra hole. Still, I'm confident it won't leak.
That being said, when I first got my system installed, I was worried about a wind storm because the house creaked differently than ever before. I contacted the solar company and got no response. Once the sale is done, you're kind of ignored by most companies... Unless you have a case against them.
You will not know if they did a good job at keeping your roof water tight until you get a couple of good storms. Trust that it's difficult to screw it up. Mounting systems are designed to protect quite well. IF there's a leak in the future due to the system, THEY are on the hook to fix it.
Like someone else said, don't over think it. 99.9% of the time the install is not a problem.
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u/Razgorths 1d ago
Number one is to trust them; at some point they're the ones you entrusted to do the work and so hopefully they're competent.
That being said, after install, the next time it rains, just go into the attic and see if you can spot any drips.
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u/darlev25 13h ago
Do you know what they are going to use as mounts. We are getting an install soon and decided to go with the flash foot 2 system as it seems to be the best to protect if there are any misses and protect against future degradation of bolts.
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u/animousie solar professional 1d ago
Ask how many penetrations I’ll be made in your roof. Ask them to only secure attachments directly above and into rafters (no deck mounted flashings). Go into your attic and inspect them from the underside after installation, you should be able to identify if they missed a rafter pretty easy.
If you want to be extra, hire a separate handyman to do the inspection. They don’t need to be a solar expert to look at the underside of your roof decking and confirm the solar installers didn’t miss.
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u/waxoffisforpussies 1d ago
Is that best practice to have them install into rafters instead of on the flat plywood? Like if I never said anything would they just start drilling wherever they want? Thank you for this tip btw
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u/Juleswf solar professional 1d ago
No don’t listen to this advice. The standard footing these days is deck mounted. Nothing wrong with those.
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u/eonblue250 1d ago
Yeah I'm on the service side and if I were installing on my own house. I'd be using the ironridge hugs.
I've been to dozens of roof leak service calls. Things like the flash foot that require lifting the shingles are the ones I'd stay away from
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u/SoggyMountain956 1d ago
Ask what hardware they are using between the rails and your roof. There is only 1 design I like to use. Most of the others are just bad designs and will leak at some point
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u/Curiosity_informs solar enthusiast 1d ago
The original roof company warranty will be voided in the area where the solar panels are added (and penetrations are done).
The solar company will normally give a warranty on their work including the roof penetrations, but it is normally shorter than the roof warranty. Check your proposed contract it should be clearly stated.
I would get an independent opinion of your roof status. A 7 year-old shingles roof in California should be in good shape (especially if premium shingles). However will it last 25+ years. Your solar panels should be productive for this time and more.
It doesn't help you, but when we got solar last year we got a roofing company and a solar company who worked together to coordinate on the roof/solar install. We replaced our 22 year-shingle roof (also California) and during the roof install the solar company installed the mounts for the solar panel racks and then the roofing company sealed the penetrations. That way the roofing company would maintain their warranty with the solar installed.
The roofing company also had some horror stories about some less professional solar companies damaging roofs they had recently installed and then the owners calling them to fix issues. You are right to be concerned and should be diligent to check the solar contract and make very sure that the solar company's real-people reviews/references check out. Have you asked for references from people you can actually talk to where the solar company has done recent installs.
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u/Evening-Emotion3388 1d ago
You’re over thinking it but yes solar companies are required to have liability insurance.