Good to hear your folks had a positive experience—I agree condition probably matters more than age. When I bought my place, the roof was pushing 20 years, and I debated hard about solar. Ended up replacing the roof first just to avoid headaches later, but it def stung the wallet a bit, ha. Curious though...did your parents notice any change in their roof maintenance routine after installing the panels?
Yeah, good call on replacing the roof first—I've seen plenty of headaches from folks who skipped that step. From what I've noticed, solar panels don't necessarily add a ton of extra maintenance, but they do complicate things a bit when you need repairs or inspections after storms. Did your parents mention anything about debris buildup around the panels? That's usually the main issue I've come across, especially in areas prone to heavy winds or hail...
"Did your parents mention anything about debris buildup around the panels? That's usually the main issue I've come across, especially in areas prone to heavy winds or hail..."
Yeah, debris buildup is definitely something to keep an eye on. Usually, it's leaves and twigs getting stuck under the edges of the panels—nothing too major, but it can cause water pooling if left unchecked. I'd recommend doing a quick visual inspection after any big storm. Doesn't have to be anything fancy; just grab a ladder, climb up carefully (or better yet, use binoculars from the ground if you're not comfortable), and check for any obvious clumps of debris or damage.
If you do spot something, gently brushing it away with a soft broom usually does the trick. Just avoid pressure washers or harsh tools—you don't wanna accidentally damage the panels or shingles underneath. And honestly, if you're in an area that sees a lot of hail or heavy winds regularly, consider asking your installer about protective guards or mesh screens. They're pretty affordable and can save you some headaches down the road...trust me on this one, learned that lesson myself after a particularly nasty hailstorm last year!
Yeah, debris can definitely sneak up on you—I learned that the hard way. Last fall, after a pretty rough windstorm, I noticed some water dripping off the roof in a weird spot. Climbed up there and found a thick mat of wet leaves stuck under one of the panels. It was causing water to pool and slowly seep under the shingles. Nothing major yet, but it could've gotten bad if I'd ignored it.
I agree with the binoculars tip—climbing ladders isn't everyone's thing, and honestly, you can usually spot most issues from the ground. Also, when you're clearing debris, be gentle. I made the mistake of using a stiff brush once and scratched up one of my panels a bit...lesson learned on that one.
If your roof is older, I'd also suggest having someone check the condition of your shingles before installing solar panels. Panels themselves don't usually cause problems, but if your shingles are already worn out or brittle, drilling mounts into them might speed up leaks or damage down the road. Just something to think about before diving in headfirst.
"Panels themselves don't usually cause problems, but if your shingles are already worn out or brittle, drilling mounts into them might speed up leaks or damage down the road."
Good point about shingles. I had a similar experience—installed solar panels on a roof that was borderline at best. Within a year, we started seeing minor leaks around one of the mounts. Thankfully, caught it early enough to avoid major damage, but it was definitely an eye-opener.
A few quick thoughts based on my experience:
- Definitely get a thorough inspection beforehand. If your roof's nearing its lifespan limit, consider replacing it first (I know that's not what anyone wants to hear...but trust me).
- Agree 100% about gentle debris removal. I use a soft broom head now after scratching up one of my panels with something harsher.
- Another tip: keep an eye on any nearby trees. Branches that seem safely distant can surprise you in heavy winds—had one branch break off and land right next to my panels once. Dodged a bullet there.
Solar panels themselves are pretty durable, but they do highlight existing roof issues more than you'd think. Sounds like you're being proactive though, so you're already ahead of most homeowners out there. Good luck with it...
