Solar detach and reset follows the same basic steps on every roof - check, get approval, take the panels off, do the roof work, then put the panels back and test - but your roof type changes what happens around each panel mount. Tile has to be lifted near each mount, shingle roofs get a new layer and new flashing, and foam and flat roofs seal mount holes in a different way. All Valley Roofing does the roof work, a solar detach and refit partner handles the panels, and we plan both jobs so you have one point of contact.
The steps that stay the same
No matter the roof, the order holds:
- Assess. We check the roof and the panels. If the roof is still sound, we say so, and the panels can stay.
- Authorize. If the system is leased or on a PPA (power purchase agreement), the panel owner may need to approve the work. That can take weeks, so start early.
- Detach. The solar partner shuts the system down, takes off the panels, rails, and mounts, and marks and stores each part on site so it goes back in the right place.
- Reroof. We do the roof work and seal each hole left by the old mounts.
- Reset and test. The solar partner puts the mounts and panels back, with flashing to help seal each mount, then reconnects and tests the system.
Your home stays on grid power while the system is off.
Tile roofs
Tile adds the most hands-on work around the array. Tile has to be lifted near each mount, and on an underlayment job, the tile and panels both have to come up to reach the layer underneath.
The good news: concrete and clay tile can last 50 years or more, while the underlayment under it often wears out at 15 to 25 years. If your tile is sound, we can lift it, replace the underlayment, and put the same tile back before the panels return. See tile roofing.
Shingle roofs
On a shingle roof, a full replacement means the old shingles come off and a new layer goes on under new shingles, with new flashing. With the panels off, the whole roof surface can be reached. Holes from the old mounts get sealed, and flashing helps seal each mount when the array goes back. See shingle roofing.
Foam roofs
On a foam roof, the condition of the foam decides the job. Sound foam with a worn top coat may only need a new coat. Soft or wet foam may need to come off. Either way, taking the panels off gives clear access to the whole surface, and the old mount holes get sealed before the array goes back. See foam roofing.
Flat TPO and modified bitumen roofs
Flat membrane roofs often fail at seams and roof openings - and every panel mount is a roof opening. With the panels off, we can check every seam and opening, patch or replace the membrane, and seal the old mount holes before the array returns. See flat and low-slope roofing.
What changes the cost on any roof
Panel work and roof work each have their own price. Ask for both lines in the quote so you can compare. What changes the solar side:
- Panel count - each panel comes off and goes back on
- Mounting hardware - old rails and mounts may be reused, but rusted or worn parts may need replacing
- Roof type - tile must be lifted near each mount, and foam and flat roofs seal mount holes differently
- Array complexity - more roof faces, small power units, animal guards, and long wire paths add work
- Ownership - a lease or PPA adds an approval step
Check your warranty and lease first
The panel maker, the installer, and your lease or PPA set the rules for who can take the panels off and put them back. Check those terms, and ask us for the job papers before you sign. For more on the planning side, read Chandler roof repair for homes with solar panels.
FAQ
Do the panels have to come off for a roof repair?
Not always. A small repair far from the panels may not need it. A full new roof does, and so does replacing tile underlayment under the array.
How long will my system be off?
From the time it is unplugged until it is put back and tested. We give you a time plan once we know the roof job.
Will the two companies blame each other?
We plan the job with the solar partner and go over each firm's work and terms before the job starts. You get one point of contact.
Start with the roof check
Check the roof before the panels come off. Request a Free Roof Report from All Valley Roofing and tell us about the panels. If the roof is still sound, we will say so and the system can stay in place. Learn more on our solar detach and reset page.
Next step: Free Roof Report
No cost. No obligation. Yours to keep. Tempe-based All Valley Roofing documents whether you need routine maintenance, localized repair, underlayment work, or a full system. Prefer a leak first? Go to roof repair.