I've seen way too many cases where homeowners ended up stuck in the blame game. Photos are your best friend—nice thinking getting ahead of it.
Having photos beforehand is smart, but honestly, I'd also suggest having a roofer inspect things first. Solar installs can expose issues you never knew existed—better safe than sorry. Good luck with it, though...sounds like you're doing your homework.
Photos are definitely helpful, but honestly, don't rely on them alone. I learned this the hard way when my uncle decided to put solar panels on his 20-year-old roof. He took a ton of pictures beforehand, thinking he was covered. But once the installers got up there, they found soft spots and some hidden water damage that wasn't obvious from the photos. Suddenly, what was supposed to be a straightforward solar install turned into a full-blown roofing project.
If you're serious about solar, here's what I'd suggest based on what I've seen:
1. Get a roofer out there first—someone who knows their stuff and isn't tied directly to the solar company. They'll spot issues you might miss and give you an honest assessment of your roof's condition.
2. If your roof is older (say 15+ years), consider replacing it before installing panels. Yeah, it's an extra expense upfront, but trust me—it's way cheaper than having to remove and reinstall panels later because your roof starts leaking or deteriorating underneath.
3. Make sure your roofer and solar installer actually talk to each other. Sounds obvious, but you'd be surprised how often communication breaks down between trades. A quick conversation can save you headaches down the road.
I get why people want to jump straight into solar—it's exciting and feels like you're doing something good—but slow down a bit and cover your bases first. My uncle ended up paying way more than he planned because he skipped these steps...lesson learned the hard way.
Anyway, sounds like you're already thinking ahead, which is great. Just don't underestimate how much trouble an old roof can cause if you don't deal with it upfront. Good luck with everything!
Definitely agree with getting a roofer out first. When I went solar, my roof was pushing 18 years and I almost skipped the inspection—glad I didn't. Turns out I had some flashing issues that could've turned messy down the line. Getting the roof sorted first saved me from headaches later (and probably some cash too). Better safe than sorry with this stuff...
"Turns out I had some flashing issues that could've turned messy down the line."
Haha, flashing issues are sneaky little devils—had a similar run-in myself after a storm. Thought my roof was solid until I noticed a suspicious drip in the attic... turns out the panels weren't the issue, but the installation definitely exposed some hidden weak spots. Always good to get eyes on the roof first, especially if it's older. Better to catch those gremlins early before they throw a party up there.
Had a similar scare myself... thought the panels were causing leaks, but turns out the previous homeowner had done some DIY flashing repairs that weren't exactly up to code. Solar install just highlighted the issue. Lesson learned: always double-check previous "fixes" before adding new stuff.
