Re-roofing with solar panels
on a Shrewsbury home.

— Practical homeowner guidance

Coordinate two specialist trades

Solar panels, rails, cabling and electrical equipment form a separate system attached to the roof. A competent solar or electrical specialist should isolate, remove, store and recommission the equipment where required; the roofing quotation should state whether that work is included or arranged separately.

Removing panels can expose roof areas that have not been readily visible. The covering, fixing points, underlay and battens should be considered together so that old penetrations are not simply hidden beneath a new installation.

If panels are planned for the future, tell the roofer before the new covering is specified. Roof condition, covering choice, fixing zones, access and cable routes can then be discussed with the proposed solar installer.

— Useful questions

Questions for both contractors
for your quotation.

Ask for the roofing and solar responsibilities to be written down. Clear sequencing helps prevent a gap where each contractor assumes the other is responsible for access, damage or weatherproofing.

Keep the answers with the written scope so that responsibilities, allowances and exclusions are understood before the deposit is paid.