What Happens To Your Solar Warranties If Your Installer Goes Out Of Business
One of the most frequent questions asked by homeowners who use the EnergySage Solar Marketplace is, what happens if my installer goes out of business? The short answer is that the most important components of your system the equipment will still be covered by manufacturer warranties, even if your installer isnt around to honor their workmanship warranty. Additionally, in the unlikely event that there is an issue with the workmanship for your solar PV installation, it will become apparent almost immediately.
Think about the last time you bought a new dishwasher or other home appliance: did you focus more on the brand name of the appliance, or the contractor that installed it? While both are important considerations, chances are you focused more on getting that new Maytag dishwasher or GE French Door refrigerator. Solar is no different, and pairing your equipment warranty with a strong power performance warranty is the best way to be certain youll have a high-quality product that performs well into the future.
In the rare event that something does go wrong, many of the companies that manufacture solar energy equipment such as LG, Panasonic, Hyundai and Kyocera are long-standing, reputable electronics manufacturers. This means you can be confident that they will be around to honor their equipment warranties if and when the time comes.
Does Installing Solar Panels Void Your Roof Warranty
If you mount your PV panel correctly, it wont void your roof warranty. Solar panels rest on rack systems, which arent detrimental to your roof. A well-installed system will even protect your roof from the elements.
Issues occur when mounting systems penetrate your roof or violate the manufacturers specifications. Roof damages might occur due to:
- Negligence by the solar panel installer
- Equipment damage when installing PV panels
- Poor installation of racks, fasteners, or flashings
- Poor quality rack systems
Theres always the risk of roof damage when you mount panels on your home. Thats why reputable solar installation companies offer workmanship warranties. This warranty will cover you for almost ten years against damages caused by PV installation.
Also, check whether your roof coverage protects your roof from installation damages.
Its necessary to consult with your roofer on the implications of solar panels on a roof warranty. Your roofer is likely to be well-versed in the types of contracts that may turn void during solar installation.
Its vital to hire qualified PV panel installers. Ask the installing company about warranty issues when contractors dent your roof.
Installing rooftop solar panels is a significant investment in your home. But before undertaking such a project, ensure you adhere to solar panel roof requirements. The above guide should help you understand whether your roof can accommodate solar panels.
Good Solar Roof Installation
In addition, your solar panel contractor will likely offer a warranty that covers a part of your roof. This workmanship warranty is generally good for 10 years. Still, be sure to check and consult your original roofer first. You need to consider that the warranty offered by your solar panel installer can also potentially void your original roofing warranty
All of the conflicts that you may encounter with solar roof installation can be solved when the solar panels are installed on your roof by an experienced contractor who understands roof functionality.
Barth Roofing Company, Inc. is a leading source of top-quality roofing solutions in California. We work diligently and aim to meet the needs of your home or business, from solar roof replacement to storm damage roof repair. Call us at 833-9917 or fill out this contact form to set up an appointment.
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What Voids A Roof Warranty
Any installation that involves large roofing, including penetration and removal of gravel, may revoke the warranty. This includes the satellite dishes above, but also rooflights. Roof windows look great, but they also drill right to your roof, making it vulnerable to leaks and other issues.
What is a workmanship warranty on a roof?
There is a workmanship warranty in place to protect you from careless or lazy work that results in the need for full roof repairs or replacement. You can even purchase a workmanship warranty through your shingle manufacturer.
Does painting roof shingles void warranty?
Any type of face cover you could apply would have a uniform color, so it would seem a bit strange compared to what a normal makeup roof looks like. Also, as these are face layers â paint-like â they wear off relatively quickly and can also void the manufacturers warranty.
How Do I Know If My Roof Needs To Be Replaced
Finding Out the Age of Your Roof
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Do Solar Panels Void Roof Warranty
Its not recommended to install solar panels on roofs with 10 years or less of remaining life. The best time to install solar panels is during a roof replacement. Installing solar panels shouldnt void your roofs warranty if the contractor installs the racking system according to the manufacturers instructions. In pitched shingle roofs, the installation of a good racking system includes flashing and waterproofing, ensuring its safe from water penetration for at least 25 years.
If youre getting solar panels for existing roofs, ask your contractor if solar installation by another company will void the warranty. Ask about the requirements needed to ensure the manufacturers warranty stays valid. Your roofer will want to know what method the solar installers will use to waterproof the panels. They may also want to confirm if the roof can handle the load of the panels additional weight.
Why You Shouldnt Put Solar Panels On Your Roof
Your roof is too small: Solar panels need sunlight to generate electricity. The more sunlight they absorb, the more power they generate. Read also : Can solar power run AC?. If you have a small roof, you may find that solar panels may not produce enough kilowatt hours to have a real impact on your bills.
What are the disadvantages of having solar panels on your roof?
Disadvantages of Solar Energy
- Not all solar panels are of high quality.
Do solar panels ruin your roof?
Solar panels do not damage your roof when fitted properly For most homeowners, installing solar panels will not lead to roof damage as long as your solar installer is a licensed, qualified professional and your roof in good condition.
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Are Roof Leaks Common With Solar Panels
Roof leaks as a result of installing solar panels are a rare occurrence. Installations that require penetration of the roof are made watertight through the use of sealants.
If there is any leaking it is likely due to negligence on the part of the installer. If carried out correctly without cutting corners, there should be no leakages.
How Much Do Solar Panels Cost For A 1500 Square Foot House
Solar panel installation costs around $18,500 for a 6 kilowatt solar panel system for a 1,500 square foot house, according to Modernize. The average cost of a solar system is $12,000, according to the U.S. Department of Energys Solar Energy Industries Association . The price of solar power varies depending on the size of the system, the type of panels used, and the amount of energy produced by the solar panels.
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Consult Your Regional Roof Installer Before Solar Panels Installation On Roof:
Be wary of solar panel vendors who might drill holes in your roof without thinking about the ramifications. The roof warranty on the roof area where solar panels are placed may be voided in specific situations.
Consult with your original roofer and request that they coordinate with your solar roof contractor. The primary roofer can start the solar panel installation by removing shingles or tiles from your roof. Roofers original work, as well as the warranty, can be restored.
Will Solar Panels On Roof Void Roof Or Panel Warranty
Installing solar panels does not void the warranty on a roof. As long as the installation is carried out by certified professionals, following guidelines from both the roofer and the roofing material manufacturer, the warranty will stand.
With that being said, the smart thing to do is to check the warranty. See if any clauses explicitly deal with solar panels and what effect they have on solar installation.
With the cost of repairing a roof ranging from $150 to $7000, you want to be double sure solar panels will not affect your warranty. In most cases, they shouldnt. In this article, we will look at how solar panels affect roof warranty and what impact installing solar has on a roof.
Should you expect to see leaks because you have had solar panels put up? Read on to find out the answer.
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What Is Covered Under My Commercial Roof Warranty
If you have a roofing material manufacturers warranty, the original installing roofing contractor is required to provide a two-year workmanship warranty to cover issues resulting from the workmanship during the first 2 years of the roof installation.
The material manufacturers warranty can cover both labor and materials or just the materials from 10 years and up to 25 years depending on the type of warranty purchased. Repairs that are typically covered are those caused by deterioration of materials due to normal weathering, manufacturing defects, or workmanship in the application of the roof system.
It is extremely important to read the specific terms, conditions and limitations in the warranty carefully as they cover specific items such as length of coverage, exclusions to covered repairs and what circumstances can void the warranty.
Roof Warranties: Words Of Advice
Lost, forgotten, and voided: Hopefully, these three words dont describe the state of your buildings roof warranty. The investment in a new roof is significant, and with the hopes that it will last 10, 20, or even 30 years, its important to hold on to the warranty protecting it. Unfortunately, knowing where it is located isnt enough to comply with its guidelines.
When shopping for a new roof, the menu of warranty options can be as daunting as the roof systems available to you. You might be wondering how something so simple could be so confusing. Theres really nothing typical about a warranty. There are so many different types, explains Thomas W. Hutchinson, principal, Hutchinson Design Group Ltd., a Barrington, IL-based roof consulting company. The three most common types of warranties issued today are material warranties, material and workmanship warranties, and full-system warranties . There are monetarily limited system guarantees and no-dollar-limit roofing system warranties as well. First and foremost, buy the right roof for your application. Secondly, select the warranty that most closely matches your needs.
The following 10 steps may help:
Also, make sure that the terms included are clearly defined. For example, if the warranty includes wind coverage, question what the speeds of gale-force winds are.
Review the clause carefully to make sure it specifies the number of times the warranty can be transferred and what is required to do so .
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Do Solar Panels Void The Roof Warranty
Exploring what you need to know to protect your roof warranty during your solar installation
Electrical Engineer with background in solar PV designs for residential and commercial projects as well as power systems development. Fan of renewable energy topics and projects. Technical writer for papers, articles and research in related topics to sustainability and especially solar power.
In your home, the roof is the one thing which allows you to protect your relatives from atmospheric elements such as rain or snow. Therefore, it is one of the most important investments you will make and you want to make sure it stays in good condition. However, to install solar panels you have to drill a lot of holes in the roof, and then place often very heavy equipment on top of this. In that sense, will the installation of the panels affect your roof warranty?
Generally speaking, no, mounting solar panels does not have to void your roof warranty, as long as the rail system installed by the contractor complies with your roof manufacturer and installers instructions. This should guarantee that the stated warranty conditions are complied.
Therefore, in this article, we will talk about what do roof warranties generally cover, roof types and photovoltaic installations, and finally we will discuss how a bad photovoltaic installation can void your roof warranty.
Navigation
What Is The Best Time For Solar Panel Installation On Roof
Solar panels should not be installed on roofs with fewer than ten years left on them. Installing solar panels during a roof replacement is the most cost-effective option. According to the manufacturers instructions, installing solar panels shouldnt violate your roof warranty if your contractor installs the tracking system.
Flashing and waterproofing are included in constructing a good racking system on pitched shingle roofs, ensuring that it will be watertight.
Ask your contractor if installing solar panels on an existing roof will void the warranty. Inquire about the conditions that must be met for the guarantee to remain valid. Your roofer will want to know how the solar panels will be waterproofed. They might also want to double-check that the roof can support the added weight of the panels.
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Ology: Our System For Ranking The Best Solar Companies
We collected data on dozens of solar companies and created a comprehensive rating system to formulate our rankings, grade each company and provide objective findings to our readers. The result of weighing a wide range of factors is a cumulative score for each provider.
We called companies and spoke with representatives to understand their products, services and solar installation processes. We also reviewed each companys product, production and workmanship guarantees in detail, and we closely examined customer reviews to understand the customer service experience with each provider.
All company data is monitored on an ongoing basis to keep rankings and information up to date.
Once we gathered all relevant data, we used the following scoring system to grade each moving company on a 100-point scale:
What Should I Look For When Selecting A Commercial Roof Warranty
When selecting a commercial roof warranty, look closely at the duration, whats covered, and any limitations on the dollar amount of the coverage. The warranty should be with a reputable manufacturer that doesnt have hidden clauses in the fine print. You also must remember that annual maintenance by a certified roofing contractor is required by most manufacturers to maintain the roof warranty and those costs, although minimal, should be included in your building maintenance budget.
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Labor For Diagnostics Repairs Or Replacements
Industry standard: most manufacturers do not cover labor costs as a part of their warranty agreement.
As we mentioned, a solar panel manufacturer may provide a product or performance warranty of 25 years that will cover a replacement panel should you need it. However, while the manufacturer may cover your replacement part, that doesnt necessarily mean theyll cover the labor costs necessary to re-install that equipment. In fact, most manufacturers do not reimburse for the labor associated with replacements or repairs of their products.
This addition to a warranty is a moot point for some solar shoppers: many local installation companies will cover maintenance and repair costs within their own warranty agreement. That said, installer warranties also vary from one company to the next, and often only cover their own work not maintenance costs for properly-installed equipment.
While most manufacturers wont pay for labor, some companies do! The best solar panel warranties will cover these costs entirely, or up to a certain amount .
Does Installing Solar Panels Affect My Roof Warranty
Your roof is one of the most important components of your house and can be very expensive to replace, so when you are considering installing solar panels, it is crucial to understand what your roofs warranty entails.
Installing solar panels on a pitched roof involves drilling dozens of holes into the roof, and possible modifications to the shingles, so you may be wondering will installing solar panels affect my roof warranty in any way? Were glad you asked! Lets discuss.
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What Are Roof Warranties
The warranty on your roof will normally have two parts to it.
First, there is the installerâs warranty, which will covers the workmanship of the installation itself. The duration of an installerâs warranty will vary, but 10 years is pretty common.
There will also a materials warranty that is provided by the manufacturer of the roofing product. Depending on the product, the materials warranty can range from 25 to 50 years.
Roofing failures that are due to improper installation are covered by the installerâs warranty. Defects in the roofing product are covered by the manufacturer, but only as long as the product was installed and maintained according to the manufacturerâs instructions.
For example, using spray foam insulation on the underside of the roof sheathing can cause the shingles above to get too hot, which may void the warranty.
Ways To Void Your Roof Warranty
Next to the cost of your home or building, your roof is the most expensive thing you are likely to have to replace or repair. The last thing you want to do is void the manufacturers warranty or contractors warranty. Its important to read your particular warranty for specifics, but here are five things that will commonly turn a warranty into useless scraps of paper:
Improper Installation
First, improper installation of the roof can and usually will void the manufacturers warranty. Roof manufacturers usually have very specific directions about installation, and if not followed, their products will not perform as advertised. If youve picked a less-than-responsible roofer, its likely that they will not be following the manufacturers instructions. Worse, they probably wont be around when you ask them to fix the problem. Its critical to choose your roofer carefully. Look for a company that has been in business for years, that is licensed, bonded and insured, and whose references you can check.
Roof Perforations
Once you start punching holes in your roof, whether you are installing antennas, satellite dishes, skylights, solar panels, or even HVAC units, your warranty may no longer be valid.
Does this mean you cant install ANYTHING on your roof? No. It simply means you should work with your roofing contractor to coordinate any roofing projects that you might want to undertake. This way, your roofer can ensure your roof and your warranties remain intact.
Pressure Washing
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