Replacing a roof with existing solar panels is a two-contractor project. A qualified solar installer disconnects and removes the panels and mounting system before the roofing contractor starts. The roofer replaces the roof, then the solar installer reinstalls, tests and reconnects the system. Do not remove the panels yourself or allow an unqualified roofer to handle the solar equipment.
If you have not installed solar yet, replace the roof first and install the panels afterward. ENERGY STAR recommends this approach when a roof needs renovation because it avoids paying to remove and reinstall the array later.
Federal tax treatment is a separate issue. The IRS statement dated September 25, 2026 addresses the Residential Clean Energy Credit under Section 25D, so review the tax section before deciding when to replace the system.
Roof Replacement With Solar Panels: At a Glance
| Project stage | Who normally handles it |
|---|---|
| Check roof condition and solar layout | Roofer and solar installer |
| Review ownership, warranties and financing | Homeowner and solar company |
| Shut down, disconnect and remove panels | Qualified solar installer |
| Remove old roofing and repair decking | Roofing contractor |
| Install the new roof, flashing and attachment areas | Roofing contractor |
| Reinstall the mounting system and panels | Qualified solar installer |
| Complete inspection, utility approval and system restart | Solar installer, local authority and utility |
Step 1: Determine Who Owns the Solar System
Before scheduling roof work, confirm whether you:
- Own the panels outright
- Financed the system with a solar loan
- Lease the system
- Have a power purchase agreement, or PPA
If a solar company or another third party owns the system, contact that company before signing a roofing contract. A lease or PPA may determine who can disconnect, remove, store and reinstall the equipment. These agreements can last many years, and you may not have permission to alter the system yourself.
Ask for written confirmation of:
- The approved removal and reinstallation process
- The cost of temporary removal
- Responsibility for damaged panels or wiring
- Where the equipment will be stored
- Whether the original installer must perform the work
- Any effect on production guarantees or system monitoring
Step 2: Have Both Contractors Inspect the Roof and Solar System
The roofing contractor should inspect the roof deck, flashing, underlayment, ventilation and areas around the solar attachments.
The solar installer should inspect:
- Panels and frames
- Rails, clamps and mounting hardware
- Roof penetrations and flashing
- Conduit and wiring
- Inverters, optimizers and disconnects
- Battery storage, if installed
- The electrical service panel
Have both companies agree on the roof layout before work begins. The new roof may use the existing attachment points, or the installers may create a revised mounting plan.
Roof replacement is also a point at which you can decide whether to keep the current solar system. The U.S. Department of Energy says most rooftop systems can continue producing useful power for decades. You may still consider replacing older panels or inverters while the array is already off the roof.
New utility rules or compensation rates for excess electricity can affect whether replacing the full system makes financial sense.
Step 3: Get a Removal and Reinstallation Quote
Solar removal and reinstallation is usually separate from roofing work. Get an itemized quote covering:
- Electrical shutdown and system disconnection
- Panel removal
- Racking and mounting hardware removal
- Temporary transportation or storage
- Replacement of damaged clamps, fasteners, wiring or flashing
- Roof repairs around penetrations
- Reinstallation of the mounting system
- Panel reinstallation
- Testing, monitoring and system commissioning
- Permit, inspection and utility charges
The contract should state who pays if a panel, inverter, roof attachment or cable is damaged during the project.
Step 4: Have the Solar Installer Disconnect and Remove the System
The solar installer should shut down the system according to the manufacturer's procedures, disconnect the array from the home's electrical system and remove the panels and mounting equipment.
The U.S. Department of Energy states that both the panels and the mounting system need to be removed during a roof replacement.
The installer should label and document:
- Panel locations
- Cable connections
- Microinverter or optimizer locations
- Rail positions
- Conduit routes
- Equipment serial numbers
- System performance before removal
Photographs taken before removal can help resolve damage disputes and make reinstallation easier.
Step 5: Replace the Roof Completely
The roofing contractor should remove the old roofing material and inspect the roof deck. Repair damaged decking, deteriorated flashing and water intrusion before installing the new roof.
Tell the roofer that the solar panels will be reinstalled. The roofing contractor and solar installer should coordinate on:
- Attachment locations
- Roof penetrations
- Flashing
- Underlayment
- Sealants
- Manufacturer warranty requirements
- Roof access and staging
Working around the mounting system is not enough. The panels and mounting equipment should be removed so the roofer can replace the roofing beneath them.
Step 6: Reinstall the Mounting System and Panels
After the new roof is complete, the solar installer should inspect the roofing before reinstalling the equipment.
The installer then:
- Installs new or inspected flashing and attachment hardware
- Reinstalls the racking system
- Places the panels according to the documented layout
- Reconnects wiring and grounding
- Reconnects the inverters, optimizers and disconnects
- Restarts the system
- Checks monitoring and production data
Do not assume that old flashing, bolts or roof attachments can be reused. The roofer and solar installer should decide whether each component is suitable for the new roof.
Step 7: Complete Permits, Inspection and Utility Approval
Local requirements vary. The project may require permits, an inspection and utility approval before the system can operate on the grid. The local authority typically inspects the installation, and the utility may require approval before granting permission to operate.
Ask the solar company:
- Is a new building or electrical permit required?
- Does the utility require a revised interconnection application?
- Will the system's permission to operate be interrupted?
- Who schedules the inspection?
- Who submits the final paperwork?
- When will monitoring resume?
Do not turn the system back on simply because the panels have been reinstalled. Wait until the installer confirms that the electrical work is complete and all required approvals have been issued.
Should You Replace the Solar Panels at the Same Time?
Keep the existing panels if they are producing close to their expected output, have usable warranties and work with reliable inverters and wiring. Consider replacing the system if the panels are old, damaged, underperforming or difficult to support with replacement parts.
| Keep existing solar | Consider new solar equipment |
|---|---|
| Panels are producing close to expected output | Panels have substantial damage or output loss |
| The inverter and wiring are reliable | The inverter is near the end of its service life |
| Existing utility compensation is valuable | A new system would materially increase useful production |
| The system is paid off | Replacement cost is reasonable compared with expected benefits |
| Warranties remain active | Parts or installer support are no longer available |
Replacing the system can affect utility interconnection terms, export compensation and local incentives. Check with the utility before changing the system size or equipment.
What If the Roof Damage Came From a Storm?
Notify your homeowner's insurance company and solar provider before anyone removes the equipment. Storm-related removal and reinstallation may be covered, but coverage depends on the policy, cause of damage, deductibles and exclusions. Get the insurer's position in writing before work begins.
The solar installer should document damage to the panels, racking, inverter and wiring separately from the roofing damage.
Important Federal Tax Credit Note for 2026
As of September 25, 2026, the Internal Revenue Service states that the Residential Clean Energy Credit under Section 25D is not allowed for expenditures made after December 31, 2025. Traditional roofing materials also generally served a roofing function rather than a solar-electric function under the prior rules. State, local and utility incentives may have different deadlines and requirements.
The Safest Project Sequence
Use this order for an existing solar system:
- Confirm system ownership and contract requirements.
- Get coordinated quotes from a qualified roofer and solar installer.
- Agree in writing on removal, storage, damage responsibility and reinstallation.
- Have the solar installer disconnect and remove the panels and mounting system.
- Replace the roof and repair all roof penetrations.
- Have the solar installer inspect the finished roof.
- Reinstall the racking and solar panels.
- Complete electrical testing, inspections and utility approval.
- Confirm that monitoring and production are working.
For a new solar installation, replace the roof first and install the panels afterward. This avoids removing the same equipment for a future roof replacement and helps protect the new roofing warranty.