New Roof Before Solar Panels: A Solar-Ready Re-Roof In Encino, CA

This Encino home got a new roof before solar panels went on, and we built it with the solar install in mind. The sloped part of the roof got about 2,800 square feet of dark Owens Corning shingles in a color called Midnight. The flat part, about 1,600 square feet, got a two-layer roof with the solar brackets sealed between the layers. That way, nobody had to drill through the finished roof.

Below, we explain why the roof should come first. We also show how we built the flat roof for solar, and what to ask if you're planning the same thing.

Should You Get A New Roof Before Solar Panels?

Usually, yes, if your roof is getting old. Your roof's age is the main thing to check. If the roof under your panels wears out first, the panels have to come off before it can be fixed, and that costs extra. Putting the new roof on first, or at the same time, means you don't pay for that later.

EnergySage, a website that compares solar companies, puts it simply. In its words: "If your installer suggests a roof replacement before going solar, we recommend listening to them." It puts the cost to remove and reinstall panels at about $200 to $300 per panel. It also says that if your shingle roof is more than 10 years old, you should probably replace it first.

What Is A Double Torch Flat Roof?

A double torch flat roof has two layers of torch-down roofing. Those are tough, tar-like sheets heated with a torch so they melt together and seal every seam. Both layers sit on a base sheet nailed to the wood. It's how we build a solar-ready flat roof, and we expect this one to last around 20 years.

Here's how we built it, step by step:

1. Base sheet. We nailed the first layer to the wood roof, using nails with wide metal caps so the sheet doesn't tear.
2. First layer. We heated a smooth sheet onto the base sheet. This is the first fully waterproof layer.
3. Solar brackets. The solar company attached its brackets on top of that smooth layer.
4. White top layer. We heated the final white sheet over everything, sealing around each bracket. It's Polyglass PolyFresko G, a white sheet that Polyglass says can be used to meet California's cool roof rules.

Why Put The Solar Brackets Under The Top Layer?

So the finished roof never gets drilled. The brackets are sealed in before the last layer goes on, instead of being screwed through a brand-new roof afterward. That gives the panels a stronger base and keeps the top of the roof in one piece, with no holes for water to find.

Holes are where flat roofs leak. Building experts give the same advice: plan where the solar mounts go before the roof is finished, so the roofer can seal them properly.

Real example: on this Encino home, the solar crew came in between our two flat-roof layers. Their brackets went on the first layer, and our white top layer went over them. The finished roof has no holes from the solar install.

Can A Dark Roof Be A Cool Roof?

Yes, if the shingle is made for it. A cool roof reflects more sunlight and stays cooler than a regular roof. Most cool shingles are light colors. Midnight is dark, but its surface has special granules (tiny stones) that bounce back heat you can't see, so it stays cooler than it looks.

Owens Corning describes these colors as "deep, rich colors" that are "unexpected for solar-reflecting shingles." Cool roofs get a score called SRI. The higher the number, the cooler the roof. Midnight scores 20, and it's listed with the Cool Roof Rating Council, the group that tests cool roofing.

Higher is cooler. Source: Owens Corning Cool Roof Collection brochure.

Want the coolest color instead? See our Shasta White cool roof in Northridge.

Does Encino Require A Cool Roof?

Yes, for most new roofs. Encino is part of the City of Los Angeles, and LA requires cool roofs. For a sloped roof like this one, the LA rule is a score of at least 20. Midnight hits that mark, so it's about as dark as you can go and still pass.

Flat roofs have to meet a much higher score, so they're almost always white or light gray. That's why this home's flat roof is white even though its shingles are dark.

Rules can change, so check with LADBS, LA's building department, or ask us during your estimate.

New Roof And Solar At The Same Time: A Checklist

• Get a roof inspection first. Have a roofer check how old your roof is and what shape it's in before you sign a solar contract.
• Do the roof first, or at the same time. If your roof is getting old, replace it before the panels go up.
• Get your roofer and solar company talking early. On a flat roof, the order matters: first layers, then brackets, then the top layer.
• Ask how the brackets will be sealed. Find out if anything will be screwed through the finished roof, and who fixes it if it leaks.
• Pick a color that passes LA's cool roof rule. Check the score before you choose.

Planning A New Roof Before Solar Panels In Encino?

We do roof replacements, flat roofs and cool roofs across the San Fernando Valley, including Encino and nearby cities like Sherman Oaks and Tarzana. Book a free estimate before your solar install. We'll tell you if your roof should come first and plan the timing with your solar company. You can also see our shingle roofing options.