Yeah, sealing and flashing properly is definitely a good call—can't argue with zero leaks. But I'm curious, did your brother's roof already have some age on it when you installed the panels? I've heard mixed things about putting solar on older roofs...like, is it really worth installing panels if your shingles only have 5-10 years left? Seems like you'd end up paying twice when you have to remove and reinstall everything later.
Also, the ventilation point is spot-on. A buddy of mine had solar put in professionally (supposedly), but they didn't even mention attic ventilation. Fast forward a few years, and his shingles started curling prematurely—turns out his attic was basically an oven in summer. He ended up shelling out extra cash to add vents after the fact. Not ideal.
Another thing I'm wondering about is maintenance access. Panels cover a big chunk of the roof—how do you even inspect or repair shingles underneath without removing them first? I mean, sure, solar companies say it's easy enough to take panels off temporarily, but realistically, how practical (or affordable) is that gonna be down the line?
Don't get me wrong, solar sounds great overall—I'm just skeptical about how well it meshes with older roofing systems or if people really factor in all these hidden costs and hassles upfront. Maybe I'm overthinking it though...
"I've heard mixed things about putting solar on older roofs...like, is it really worth installing panels if your shingles only have 5-10 years left?"
Yeah, I ran into exactly this issue a few months back. Ended up advising my sister to replace her shingles first—saved her from paying double labor later. Better safe than sorry.
Went through something similar myself. About 6 years back, I jumped the gun and installed solar panels on shingles that had maybe 8 years left. Thought I'd save some cash upfront...big mistake. Ended up having to pay extra to remove and reinstall the panels when the roof finally gave out. Honestly, if your shingles are already on their way out, bite the bullet and replace them first. It'll save you headaches (and money) down the road.
Been there, done that, got the overpriced t-shirt. 😂 Seriously though, here's the deal:
Step 1: Check your shingles—if they're curling, cracking, or looking like they've seen better days, they're probably toast.
Step 2: Replace roof BEFORE solar panels. Trust me, it's cheaper than paying twice.
Step 3: Enjoy your shiny new panels without worrying about leaks or surprise expenses.
Learn from our mistakes...your wallet will thank you later.
"Replace roof BEFORE solar panels. Trust me, it's cheaper than paying twice."
Wish I'd read this advice a couple years back... We thought our roof had a few good years left, so we went ahead and installed solar panels. Big mistake. Within a year, we had leaks popping up, and the roofer charged extra to remove and reinstall the panels. Lesson learned the hard way—definitely worth getting a thorough roof inspection first, even if you think you're good.
