Should I replace my roof before going solar?
If your roof is likely to need replacing during the decades panels would sit on it, it usually makes sense to replace it first, or at the same time as the panels go on. Replacing a roof under existing panels means taking them down and putting them back. The official guidance we checked sets no single age cut-off, so the answer for your home depends on your roof's age, material and condition, checked by someone qualified.
This page is general information, not legal or financial advice.
At a glance
- ConditionAge is one clue. Material and condition matter too.
- Sun & shadeTrees, roof direction and obstructions affect the assessment.
- Future workDiscuss any roof work before committing to a panel layout.
Why roof age matters
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) says the average working life of a solar panel has grown to 25 to 35 years, citing a Berkeley Lab survey.
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) lists the pitch, age and condition of your roof among the things that affect how much power a system produces.
How to find out where your roof stands
- Find the roof's age. If you don't know when it was installed or last replaced, ask your city or county building department. In Florida, the building code is enforced by a local board or agency.
- Have it looked at. Before you decide, ask a licensed roofing contractor to look at the roof's condition.
If the roof needs work after the panels are up
Replacing a roof that already has panels on it means the panels come off first and are reinstalled afterwards.
The FTC suggests finding out, before you sign, what happens if you need to repair your roof after the system is installed. It raises this for leases and power purchase agreements, but the question is worth asking under any arrangement: who takes the panels down and puts them back, who pays for that work, and which warranties still apply afterwards.
Florida roof considerations
Building code and wind
Florida has one statewide building code, the Florida Building Code. State law makes it apply statewide without local adoption and has it enforced locally. FEMA's windstorm and tornado guidance for one- and two-family homes says wind loads on solar panels should be calculated under the local building code. It adds that panels should be installed with enough uplift resistance to meet those loads.
Insurance and roof age
Florida law limits when a home insurer can turn you down because of roof age (Fla. Stat. 627.7011(5)):
- Roof under 15 years old: an insurer cannot refuse to issue or renew a homeowners policy solely because of the roof's age.
- Roof 15 years or older: before requiring a new roof as a condition of coverage, the insurer must let you have the roof inspected by an authorized inspector (the statute lists who qualifies), at your own expense. If that inspection finds at least five years of useful life left, the insurer cannot refuse solely because of age.
These rules apply to policies issued or renewed on or after July 1, 2022. They say nothing about solar. We mention them because your roof's age and remaining life matter to both decisions. This is a summary, not legal advice: read the statute, and ask your insurer or an attorney about your own policy.
What to ask your contractor
- How many years of life do you think my roof has left, and what is that based on?
- Do you recommend any roof repair or replacement before panels go on? Who would do that work?
- How will the mounts be attached and sealed, and how will the system meet Florida Building Code wind requirements for my home?
- Which permits and inspections will this need, and who arranges them?
- If my roof needs repair or replacement later, who takes the panels down and puts them back, and what happens to the warranties?
- What warranties cover the equipment and the installation work, and for how long? Can I have that in writing?
The FTC also suggests comparing detailed bids from several companies. Ask your home insurer, too, how adding panels would affect your policy.
Sources
- U.S. Department of Energy: End-of-Life Management for Solar Photovoltaics
- Federal Trade Commission: Solar Power for Your Home (April 2022)
- FEMA: Improving Windstorm and Tornado Resilience: Recommendations for One- and Two-Family Residential Structures (February 2023)
- Florida Statutes (2026): Section 553.73, Florida Building Code
- Florida Statutes (2026): Section 627.7011, Homeowners' policies
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