When I had my panels installed about three years ago, I was pretty paranoid about the roof too. My shingles were already pushing 15 years, and I didn't want to end up with leaks or voided warranties. The installer reassured me they'd done plenty of older roofs without issues, but I still insisted on seeing their mounting system and how exactly they'd seal everything up.
Glad I did, because it turned out they used a flashing method that actually improved the waterproofing around the mounts. They showed me step-by-step photos from previous jobs, and honestly, it put my mind at ease. Three years later, we've had some heavy storms roll through, and not a single leak or loose shingle yet (knock on wood...).
So yeah, professional installation is key—but don't be shy about asking questions or requesting proof of their methods. A good installer won't mind walking you through it.
Had a similar experience myself. My roof was around 18 years old when I decided to go solar, and I was pretty skeptical about the whole thing. Like you, I insisted on seeing exactly how they planned to mount the panels and seal everything up. Turns out, the flashing system they used was actually better than what my original roofer had installed—go figure.
I remember grilling the installer with technical questions about water intrusion, ice dams, and wind uplift ratings. To their credit, they patiently walked me through every detail and even showed me some close-up photos from past installs. It's been almost five years now, and despite some pretty intense weather (including hail and heavy snow), I've had zero issues with leaks or shingle damage.
Bottom line is, if you're thorough upfront and make sure your installer knows their stuff, adding solar panels can actually extend your roof's lifespan rather than shorten it.
Glad your install went smoothly, but I'd caution folks not to assume solar always equals longer roof life. Seen plenty of cases where poor installs caused headaches later on. Bottom line: vet your installer thoroughly—sounds like you did—and make sure they're experienced with roofing details too.
Good advice there—I've seen both sides myself. Had a neighbor who rushed into solar without checking references, and sure enough, leaks popped up within a year. But another friend took his time, asked around, and found an installer who knew roofing inside-out. His panels have been trouble-free for years now. Sounds like you did your homework too, so you're probably in good shape... always pays to be cautious though.
Had a similar experience myself. When I first looked into solar, I almost jumped at the first quote I got—seemed like a great deal. But after chatting with a buddy who works in roofing, he warned me to slow down and double-check the installer's track record. Glad I listened... ended up choosing someone who knew exactly how to handle older roofs. Panels have been up for three years now, zero issues so far. Definitely worth taking your time on this stuff.
