How Much Is A Solar Roof

Nations Top Residential Solar Panel Manufacturers

You probably hear a lot about Tesla being one of the frontrunners for all things solar and electric. This is definitely true, but many other companies have been installing solar panels on residential homes for years. Well focus on the top three leading companies for this purpose. The biggest residential solar installers in the U.S. are:

Honorable mentions include Seraphim Solar, Solar Electric America, SolarTech Universal, SolSunTech, SunPower, and SunSpark. A whole of sun puns in those names, huh? We love to see it! Now, lets get into how much it actually costs to install solar panels on your home.

How Much Do Gafs Solar Shingles Cost

As of January 2022, GAF has not released any official pricing for their solar shingles.

However, GAF Energy President Martin DeBono told the Washington Post that a full roof replacement and GAF solar shingle installation would cost $42,000 for his home. Once incentives are considered, the price would drop to $30,000.

Frankly, these numbers dont really mean anything because we dont know the size of DeBonos roof or solar system. He did compare it to a traditional roof replacement and solar panel installation, which he says would cost about $52,000 before incentives, and $44,000 after.

So, according to DeBonos estimates, getting a roof replacement with GAF solar shingles would be cheaper than getting your roof replaced by a roofing company and a separate solar installation by a solar company. It would also be cheaper than installing a Tesla solar roof, which would cost the average home around $50,000, as well.

What Previous Customers Are Saying

For a more in-depth view of what people are saying about how Teslas customer support is holding up for solar customers, we looked at the TeslaSolar social media page on Reddit.

Certain threads report the solar roof as having good weather resistance, professional and friendly same-day installation, and good efficiency in winter weather.

However, some reports mention that installing the Tesla Powerwall and getting the entire system up and running took much longer than the one-day roof installation. From start to finish, customers report, on average, about one week, depending greatly on the magnitude of the installation.

Read Also: Roof Cost California

Should You Install Gafs New Solar Shingles

Were going to be totally honest – were not crazy about how the GAF solar shingles look, which pretty much defeats the purpose of installing them. Because GAFs shingles stick out like a sore thumb on your roof, why wouldnt you just get regular solar panels that will be able to produce more electricity?

The good news is that GAF is a reputable company, so you can trust that theyre delivering a quality product. However, with that said, the solar shingles are brand new, making it hard to tell how they will actually hold up in real world conditions atop residential roofs.

What GAFs solar shingles really have going for them is their potentially low price and easy, streamlined roof-plus-solar-shingle installation. So even though the solar shingles produce less electricity and they arent the greatest looking thing you can put on your roof, if the price is right, it could still be worth it.

If GAF can really make their solar shingle installations fast, easy, and cheap, this might be the product that finally makes solar shingles a mainstream choice for homeowners looking to go solar. But for now, were still going to recommend at least getting quotes from local solar installers in your area before you jump right into installing GAF’s rooftop solar shingles.

See what local companies are charging for solar system installations

How Much Does The Tesla Solar Roof Cost

However, we can use numbers provided by Tesla and numbers provided by real-life solar estimates from Tesla to compare the costs of a Tesla Solar Roof versus a conventional solar installation.

According to Tesla, their Solar Roof costs $21.85 per square foot with the assumption that 35% of the roof will be covered by non-energy producing tiles. That means a 2,000 square foot roof would cost about $44,000. Keep in mind that this includes the cost of replacing the entire roof material in place of solar tiles.

However, according to actual solar estimates from prospective Tesla customers, the actual cost of a Tesla Solar Roof comes out to approximately $35 per square foot. That adds over $26,000 to the cost of a 2,000 square foot roof.

As you can see, the pricing difference between what Tesla estimates and the ultimate price can be quite different.

The unfortunate task of getting a true price estimate for a Tesla Solar Roof is that not many have been installed yet. Tesla, not known for their transparency, has not provided numbers about how many Tesla Solar Roofs have been installed, nor provided much information about the ultimate costs of those installs.

Also Check: How To Get Roofing Leads Without Door Knocking

What Are The Costs Of Installing Solar Panels

The average cost to install solar panels is $15,000 to $25,000, depending on the size of your roof. To break it down further, according to EnergySage.com, The cost of solar panels as of July 2021 is about $19,300 after tax credits .

Likely, youll save more than this over the long run. While the exact figure depends on how much energy you generally consume and the average cost of electricity in your area, switching to solar power generally leaves you with a bill thats 20 percent the price of your previous ones. That number rises to 40 percent for homes with electric heating or air conditioning systems!

Better yet, state governments also offer tax incentives for those who install renewable energy systems like solar panels .

Tesla Drastically Increases Price Of Solar Roof

• Reddit

Tesla appears to have drastically increased the price of its Solar Roof tiles in an update to its configurator and quote estimates.

After years of delays, the Tesla Solar Roof is finally gaining momentum with a sharp rise in installations over the last few quarters.

The increased deployment came after Tesla launched version 3 of its Solar Roof tiles, which brought a significant price decrease through optimization and faster installation process.

Tesla kept refining the product and changed its online cost estimates a few times, .

But now Tesla appears to have changed course and significantly increased the price of its solar roof in its online configurator.

Several Electrek readers and prospective solar roof buyers reached out this weekend to let us know that they are seeing higher prices for the same quotes.

We decided to check it ourselves with a previous quote that we have used as a reference.

Last summer, a quote for a 3,947-square-foot roof with a 12,3 kW solar roof tile system was $54,966 before incentives.

Now the Tesla Solar Roof configurator shows prices between $79,938 and $100,621 for the same size roof:

While this is a sharp increase in price, Tesla also appears to try to make its online quotes more accurate with a new roof complexity factor:

However, in this case, the least to the most complex options all result in higher prices than previously quoted for the same address with the same square footage.

FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links.More.

You May Like: How To Extend A Roof

Why Solar Is A Ripoff

Businesses have deceived consumers about the true cost of installing solar panels, provided poor workmanship and left homeowners with higher consumption costs, all the while forcing them to sign unscrupulous contracts that do not allow them to complain. Two companies in particular stand out: Vivint and SolarCity.

What is the catch with no cost solar?

Yes, there are installers who will install free solar panels for your home. But the catch is that they require you to enter into a solar cell lease or power purchase agreement . These deals entice people with a free way to use solar energy.

What are the 2 main disadvantages to solar energy?

However, solar energy still has significant disadvantages that we should be aware of. The 2 biggest disadvantages of solar energy are dependence on weather conditions and inability to store electricity. Solar energy production depends mostly on direct sunlight.

How Much Do Solar Roof Tiles Cost

Solar tiles can cost at least twice as much as solar panels. For example, a 4kW solar tile system will typically cost between £12,000 and £16,000, while a 4kW solar panel system of usually costs £5,760.

Neither option is cheap, but the tiles will burn a much bigger hole in your wallet. Why are they so much more expensive than solar panels? The main reasons are:

Newer technology

Less competitive market

Longer and more complex installation process.

Its difficult to estimate exactly how much a solar tile system costs, as it depends on 1) the size of your roof, and 2) what proportion of the roof youd like to be covered in solar tiles.

If you want to go the whole hog and drape your home in pure photovoltaic goodness, youll be spending much more than two-tile Brian down the road.

Here are the typical costs of solar tiles compared to solar panels:

However, Tesla CEO Elon Musk admitted in 2021 that the cost to consumers could be two or three times higher than Teslas initial estimate, according to Verge five years after he initially unveiled the tiles.

And while it’s currently unclear as to how long a Tesla solar roof installation will take in the UK, according to Electrek it will be about two weeks. That’s a lengthy installation.

Read Also: How Much For Shingle Roof

The Value Of A Roof + Solar In One

When considering a solar roof versus a new roof plus panels, you should keep in mind that a new roof with rack-mounted panels requires two sets of building materials, two sets of crews to coordinate, and two price tags. With a solar roof, you have a more streamlined installation that uses fewer materials. Plus, your structural roof is now generating energy and saving you money over time.

Cost Reduction In Teslas Solar Roof V3

Based on a 2,000 square-foot roof, the price of the Tesla Solar Roof V3 starts at $34,000, roughly £30,000 based on todays exchange rate. This includes installation and Powerwall, making it 36% cheaper with the new solar tiles. Whilst it is still an expensive product, it does compete with other new premium roofs.

While it may set you back quite a bit initially? These Solar Roofs clearly pay for themselves in the long run. Is it time to consider investing?

You May Like: How Much Do Solar Screens Cost Per Window

Recommended Reading: Rv Rubber Roof Repair Kit

Scenario : Youre Interested In Solar

Storage is becoming increasingly popular to install with your solar panels depending on where you live. Especially if you live in an area that experiences frequent blackouts, you might want to pair storage with your solar installation to provide backup power. Or, if you dont live in an area with net metering, you might want to store the excess energy that your solar system produces during the day to use at night. Whatever your reason, the Tesla Solar Roof could make financial sense for you, depending on how much storage you need.

In our example, lets say you experience frequent blackouts at your home in California and want a storage system to provide backup power. While youd probably only need one battery to provide backup for all of your essential appliances, if you want to power more appliances or experience long blackouts, maybe youre looking to purchase two. With your Tesla Solar Roof, you can only install a Tesla Powerwall, which provides 13.5 kWh of backup energy and varies in cost depending on how many you add. Thus, well use this storage option in our Tesla Solar Roof estimate.

Final Word On The Tesla Solar Roof

The Tesla Solar Roof is a unique piece of technology that continues to roll out across the United States. By installing the Tesla Solar Roof today, you could begin to immediately save on your electricity bill.

To learn more about the Tesla Solar Roof and how the system works, visit online today at Tesla.com, where you can get a free estimate based on your address and monthly electricity bill.

Recommended Reading: Roof Replacement Cost California

Why Choosing Solar Panels Might Make More Sense Than A Solar Roof

Practical Reasons

Solar panels can be adjusted to catch more sunlight throughout the day. This could make solar panels a better option for some homeowners. Solar panels are an older technology, so there are more contractors who have years or even decades of experience installing them. Because of this, you can usually shop around, which could mean lower costs or greater levels of expertise.

However, just because its less expensive right now to install solar panels as opposed to solar roof tiles, that may not be the case much longer. Plus, thats only the initial, short-term investment.Solar roof tiles are more durable than solar panels, which means that they can withstand more extreme weather, and they should last longer without needing to be repaired or replaced.

And like any new technology, the cost is likely to decrease as time goes on.If you have a fairly simple roof that gets a lot of sunlight, or if you need to replace your roof anyway, a solar roof may be a better investment.

Appearance

Another key difference is the appearance of the roof. Solar panels sit on brackets on top of your existing roof, and some homeowners think they stand out and not in a good way.

As of right now, both solar panels and solar roof tiles have a blue or blue-black appearance, but there are some manufacturers of solar roof tiles that are working on designing more color options.

How Do Gafs Timberline Solar Shingles Perform

GAF doesnt provide any official specifications on their website for their solar shingles.

However, some versions of the products data sheet have been floating around online, and it seems as though each shingle has a power rating of 45 watts. So, in order to install a 6 kilowatt GAF solar roof system, you would need around 134 shingles, whereas you would need just 17 traditional 370-watt solar panels.

Learn more: How many solar panels do I need?

Don’t Miss: How Often Does The Roof Need To Be Replaced

What Our Clients Say

I ordered Roofit.solar roof, because I like the visual appearance of this solution. The solar cells inside roof panels are almost invisible. In the long run the price of a solar roof is even cheaper than regular roof because your roof generates electricity over time. My first experiences this summer are great: my solar roof created so much energy, that 20% we used ourselves in the household, but 80% sold back to the grid

Solar Roof owner from South East Estonia

My summer cottage roof has partially Roofit solar panels and partially traditional roof panels. I like the idea that my roof repays its own cost and it is an investment that does not disappear. Solar roof is a great alternative to conventional roof and as source of energy. In 5-10 years time when electric cars with reasonable price would be available, the roof will produce electricity for the car and the household. Definitely solar roof is good investment.

Solar Roof owner from North Estonia

I was happy to find out that Roofit.Solar roof is a modern solution suitable also to old and historical houses. The visual appearance of the house is important, so we chose the elegant solar roof panels. We have 1,85 kW as active part facing South-West and during first 3 months it produced 650 kWh. The roof is quiet, no problem with wind, rain and hail. As a nice surprise, the 45 degrees roof doesn’t need cleaning, the rain does it for us.

Solar Roof owner from South Estonia

Does Tesla Solar Roof Increase My Home’s Value

Yes. The company takes great pride in increasing both the quality and value of its customers homes. So whether you are looking to sell your home for profit, use it as a vacation home, or hand it down to future generations, the added sustainable energy production carries on its value to all parties.

Jenny Kim

Jenny Kim is the Solar Director at Green Building Elements where she is responsible with helping make solar power more accessible and affordable to anyone that wants to take advantage of the many benefits of solar energy. Jenny holds a Master of Science in electrical engineering from Virginia Tech where she paid her way through college as a top-performing inside sales representative for SolarCity. You can connect with Jenny on .

You May Like: Hydrostop Cost Per Square Foot

Should I Buy Solar Roof Tiles

The buzz surrounding solar tile technology is exciting, but everything is still in its early stages a solar roof is currently very expensive, and UK suppliers are extremely limited. If youre a homeowner looking to convert your home to solar power, we recommend solar panels.

Want to get tailor quotes straight from the horse’s mouth ? Pop your details on this short form and our trusted installers will be in touch with quotes for you to compare youll find the best deal in no time.

Calculating Solar Power Costs

Once the above costs and benefits are determined, a solar system can theoretically be evaluated using the discounted cash flow method. Outflows at the beginning of the project would consist of installation costs , and inflows would arrive later in the form of offset electricity costs .

Rather than using DCF, the viability of solar power is usually evaluated by calculating the levelized cost of electricity , then comparing it to the cost of electricity charged by the local utility. The LCOE for household solar will typically be calculated as cost/kilowatt-hour – the same format commonly used on electricity bills. To approximate the LCOE, one can use the following equation:

LCOE = Net Present Value of the Lifetime Cost of Ownership / Lifetime Energy Output

The useful life of a PV solar module is generally assumed to be 25-40 years. The cost of ownership includes the maintenance costs, which must be discounted to find the NPV. The LCOE can then be compared to the cost of electricity from a utility remember, the relevant price is that which occurs during times at or near peak PV solar production.

Read Also: Skylight In Metal Roof