What removal and reinstallation involves
Removal and reinstallation (often called R&R, or detach and reset) means taking an existing solar array off the roof so the roof can be repaired or replaced, then putting it back. It is the most common reason homeowners call a solar company after the original install, because panels usually outlast the asphalt roof under them. The same visit is also a good time to replace failed panels or an aging inverter.
The work should be done by a solar crew, not the roofer: the panels carry DC voltage whenever the sun is up, and reconnecting the system often needs an electrical permit and inspection. A careful crew photographs the layout and wiring, removes and stores the panels, comes back after the roof is done, installs new flashed mounts, reconnects everything and checks that each panel reports in monitoring.
Why more systems need this every year
Home solar grew fast after 2012, so a large number of systems are now reaching the age when roofs and inverters need attention. In the public installation records (Tracking the Sun, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory), about 688,000 home systems, 23% of those on record, were installed before 2016, so they are now more than ten years old. That is when many central inverters reach the end of their 10- to 12-year warranty and when asphalt roofs installed at the same time start to need replacing.
Many of those systems were installed by companies that no longer exist: SunPower, Titan Solar, Verengo, Sungevity and dozens of regional installers. If that’s your case, the panel and inverter warranties still come from the manufacturers, but you’ll need a different company for the removal and reinstallation. Ask whether it will take responsibility for leaks at the new mounting points, and for how long.
How the work is done
- Baseline check: the crew records production and checks each panel before shutting the system down, so existing faults are documented.
- Removal: panels are disconnected and lowered, and the rails and roof mounts are removed.
- Storage: panels are stored on site or at the company’s shop, covered and stacked as the manufacturer allows.
- New mounts: after the roofer finishes, the crew installs new mounts with new flashing.
- Reinstallation: the panels (or replacements) go back on, are rewired and pass inspection where required.
- Final check: the system is turned on, and every panel should show up in monitoring with normal production.
Cost factors
The cost is mostly labor, so it scales with the number of panels and how hard the roof is to work on.
| Factor | Impact on cost |
|---|---|
| Number of panels | Each panel is disconnected, lowered, stored and remounted. |
| New mounts and flashing | Old flashing shouldn’t be reused on a new roof, so new hardware is part of the job. |
| Roof pitch and height | Steep roofs and two-story homes need more safety rigging and time. |
| Storage | Off-site storage and a second trip add cost compared with storing on site. |
| Upgrades | New panels, a new inverter or a battery added during the job are priced separately. |
When you need it
- Roof replacement or repair under the array, the usual case.
- Leaks at the mounts. The fix often requires lifting part of the array.
- Upgrading an old system. If you are replacing a failed inverter on a system more than 15 years old, compare the repair with a new set of panels and inverter.
- Before selling the home. A buyer’s inspector may flag a roof near the end of its life under the panels.
Questions to ask your installer
- Is new flashing and mounting hardware included in the price?
- Where are the panels stored, and who is responsible if one is damaged?
- Who coordinates dates with the roofer, and what happens if the roofer runs late?
- Will the work affect the panel, inverter or workmanship warranties?
- Will you record production before removal so we have a baseline?
- How long do you guarantee the new roof mounts against leaks?
What to watch out for
- Letting the roofer move the panels. Most roofers aren’t trained to handle live DC wiring or microinverters, and damage during removal is hard to claim afterward.
- Reused flashing. New flashing costs little compared with a leak in a brand-new roof.
- No baseline. Without a check before removal, a panel that was already dead can turn into a dispute after reinstallation.
- Split responsibility for leaks. Get in writing who answers for a leak at a solar mount: the solar company or the roofer.