What solar shingles are
Solar shingles and solar roof tiles are building-integrated photovoltaics (BIPV): the solar cells are part of the roofing instead of sitting on racks above it. The active pieces produce electricity and keep water out, and matching inactive pieces cover the parts of the roof that get little sun. Because they replace the roof covering, they go on new homes or on roofs that are being torn off anyway, never on top of an existing roof.
The trade-off is cost and output. Shingles lie flat against the deck with little air behind them, so they run hotter and produce less per square foot than panels, and the job combines roofing and electrical work. What you get in return is a roof with no visible racks, which matters to some owners and some homeowners associations.
Solar roofs in the public records
Solar roofs are still rare. In public installation records for home systems installed in 2023–2025 (Tracking the Sun, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory), about 1,640 systems were integrated solar roofs, against more than a million conventional systems in the same years. Two products account for nearly all of them: Tesla’s Solar Roof (823 systems, median $5.95 per watt of solar capacity) and GAF Energy’s solar shingles (687 systems, median $7.02 per watt), against $4.25 for conventional panels. Tesla roofs were also much bigger, a median of 11.1 kW against 5.8 kW for GAF. That comparison flatters the solar roof, because its price usually includes the new roof itself, but it is the number to plan around: you are paying for a roof and a solar system at once.
A solar roof makes the most sense when the roof needs replacing anyway and appearance matters to you. If the roof is sound, conventional panels deliver far more power for the money.
How the installation works
- Tear-off: the old roof is removed down to the deck, and damaged decking is replaced.
- Underlayment and flashing: a waterproof underlayment goes on, with flashing at the edges, valleys, chimneys and vents.
- Active and inactive pieces: solar pieces go on the sunniest roof planes and are wired together under the roofing; inactive pieces cover the rest.
- Electrical connection: the wiring runs to the inverter and then to your main panel. Older or full panels may need an upgrade first.
- Inspection and approval: the building department inspects the roof and the electrical work, and the utility approves the connection before the system is turned on.
Because one crew handles both trades, expect the job to take longer than a reroof or a panel install on its own.
Cost factors
The price combines a new roof and a solar system, so roofing variables matter as much as electrical ones.
| Factor | Impact on cost |
|---|---|
| Roof size and complexity | Valleys, dormers, skylights and steep pitches take more cuts, flashing and labor. |
| Share of active pieces | Active solar pieces cost much more than inactive ones, so the more of the roof that produces power, the higher the price. |
| Tear-off and decking | Removing and disposing of the old roof, and replacing rotten decking, are added to the solar price. |
| Electrical panel | A home with a small or full main panel may need an upgrade before the system can connect. |
| Battery | Many solar roofs are sold with a battery, which can add $10,000 or more to the quote. |
When a solar roof makes sense
- The roof needs replacing soon anyway. Part of the price pays for a roof you would have bought regardless.
- You’re building a new home and can lay out the roof planes for sun.
- Appearance is worth a premium to you. In the records above, the median solar roof cost about $1.70 (Tesla) to $2.80 (GAF Energy) more per watt than panels.
If the roof has ten or more years of life left, panels are usually the better buy: tearing off a sound roof adds cost without adding power.
Questions to ask your installer
- Is your company certified by the manufacturer for this product? (Confirm it with the manufacturer too.)
- Does the price include tear-off, disposal, decking repairs and any panel upgrade?
- Who warrants the roof against leaks, who warrants power output, and for how many years each?
- How is a single damaged piece replaced, and who else nearby is certified to do it if you stop servicing the product?
- How many kilowatts of active solar will the roof have, and how much electricity do you estimate it will produce in a year?
- How many days will the roof be open, and how is it protected from rain overnight?
What to watch out for
- Uncertified crews. Solar roof products are proprietary, and manufacturers can deny warranty claims on work by installers they haven’t certified.
- Quotes that don’t separate roof and solar. Without a price for each, you can’t compare the quote with a new conventional roof plus panels.
- Few service options. Fewer companies can repair a given solar roof than a panel system, so ask who else in your area works on the same product.
- Production estimates based on the whole roof. Only the active pieces produce power. Check that the estimate matches the active kilowatts in the contract.