Went through something similar myself. Thought my shingles had at least 5 years left, but after installing solar, the extra weight and foot traffic from the installers seemed to speed things up. Within two years, I had curling shingles and a leak near the chimney. Ended up paying extra to remove and reinstall the panels—ouch. Definitely recommend a thorough inspection beforehand, even if your roof looks decent at first glance... roofs can be sneaky like that.
"Definitely recommend a thorough inspection beforehand, even if your roof looks decent at first glance... roofs can be sneaky like that."
That's solid advice. Solar panels themselves aren't usually heavy enough to cause structural damage, but the installation process—foot traffic, drilling, brackets—can definitely accelerate existing issues. I've seen cases where minor granule loss or subtle curling shingles turned into leaks after installation. A detailed inspection and maybe even a professional roofing assessment beforehand can save you from headaches (and extra costs) down the line. Better safe than sorry with roofs...
Good points all around. One thing I'd add—it's not just about leaks or structural issues, but also warranty considerations. A neighbor of mine had solar installed without checking his roof warranty first, and later found out the installation voided his shingle manufacturer's warranty.
definitely applies here. Might be worth double-checking warranty terms before proceeding, just to cover all your bases."Better safe than sorry with roofs..."
Warranty is definitely important, but honestly, most reputable solar installers know how to work around manufacturer guidelines. I've seen plenty of installations that didn't void warranties because the installer coordinated directly with the shingle company beforehand.
applies for sure, but I'd say it's less about double-checking warranty terms yourself and more about choosing an installer who'll handle those details properly. Saves a headache or two down the line..."Better safe than sorry with roofs..."
I agree—having a reliable installer who takes care of the warranty coordination is definitely a smart move. When I got my panels installed last year, I initially thought I'd have to spend hours digging through fine print and warranty clauses myself. Fortunately, our installer had already reached out to the shingle manufacturer and confirmed everything beforehand. They even provided documentation from the shingle company explicitly stating that the installation wouldn't void any existing warranties.
One thing I'd add though—it's still worth asking your installer for copies of any communications or confirmations they get from manufacturers. It doesn't hurt to keep a paper trail just in case something unexpected pops up later. Roof repairs aren't cheap, and having clear documentation handy can save you some serious headaches down the road.
Overall, solar panel installations tend to be pretty safe for roofs as long as they're done professionally. But like you said, better safe than sorry...
