Roofing and Solar, 2019

[kingmoochr]

Hello Hive Mind,

Anyone have experience w/ a peninsula roofer/solar company? 1000sq/ft house, occupied by 2, with led and smart devices already installed. Looking for info or resources to determine if solar is actually worth it (other than our power supplier deciding they're randomly going to shut the grid down) and the best way to go about it, lease/own, etc. Also looking for input on just roofers, as we need to have it done before next year, and it's been difficult to get people to come out.

 

[HappyHighwayman]

I have a 1500 sq foot house and there's only enough room for one set of panels and I calculated it's absolutely not worth it.

 

[augustiron]

Call a handful of local companies, have them do their free estimates for you with various payment options they offer.
The industry is always evolving and what applied 2 years ago may not now.
Get the quotes, sit down and compare 5 or 10 of them.

No one else can answer if it is a good idea for YOUR house and YOUR usage on the internet. Only what their situation was.

 

[RightCoastBias]

I think a big question is whether you're doing it to save money, or be energy independent. That may inform your lease v purchase decision.

 

[wazzuFreddo]

Estimate production yourself :nerd

https://pvwatts.nrel.gov

 

[stangmx13]

I got quotes for a 3.3kW system for around $13k. My bill was ~$105 at the time. So itd take ~10yrs to see a benefit... assuming electricity rates stay the same. They won’t. And newer panels are good for 25yrs, maybe with a new inverter halfway through for $1500. The solar company guessed on electricity rates going up and said I’d save over $50k in 25yrs.

 

[Agent Orange]

How do roofers repair roofs if there are solar panels? Who handles them and reinstalls them or repairs / replaces them in the event that they get damaged?

 

[bpw]

I think a big question is whether you're doing it to save money, or be energy independent. That may inform your lease v purchase decision.

Not going to be energy independent without a very expensive off grid system, so a solar install will be about some combo of saving money and/or environmental concerns. Since so much of our power on California is already from renewables the environmental benefits may not be much, though I have never actually looked at the details.

Always reduce consumption as much as possible first since it is by far the most cost effective.

 

[mikev]

How do roofers repair roofs if there are solar panels? Who handles them and reinstalls them or repairs / replaces them in the event that they get damaged?

Depends on if it's leased or owned.

 

[rodr]

I've been looking at solar but am not there yet. I'd want to include a battery for protection from blackouts and better use of the power. Considering that the technology is evolving rapidly I don't think a 8-10 year payback is good enough. Maybe at 5 years.

 

[stangmx13]

How do roofers repair roofs if there are solar panels? Who handles them and reinstalls them or repairs / replaces them in the event that they get damaged?

The panels protect the roof. So as long as the mounting feet are installed properly, it shouldn’t be an issue. Removing a panel or two along the edge of a system isnt hard either.

My solar was installed ~10yrs ago and it wasn’t done well. So I just went through all of this. The roof under the panels was practically new. But the feet were amateur bullshit that required tons of sealer to not leak. I paid for a new feet and had it done right w a new roof. The new stuff is legit, ez to install, and will prob last a ton longer than the rest of the roof.

 

[stangmx13]

I've been looking at solar but am not there yet. I'd want to include a battery for protection from blackouts and better use of the power. Considering that the technology is evolving rapidly I don't think a 8-10 year payback is good enough. Maybe at 5 years.

I haven’t seen a situation where a battery is worth it. The electric company doesn’t care when you use or make power (if u have a net meter IIRC). At the end of the month, if I make more than I use I get credit. If it’s winter and I use more, I use that credit instead of paying. So all I’m paying monthly is the minimum service fee.

With a battery, u could potentially downsize the solar system. Credit is worth less than paying for electricity, so keeping what your generate is a net positive. But you aren’t going to save enough with a smaller system to buy a battery. I wonder if this will ever change.

 

[augustiron]

If anybody wants to build a battery backup system, I have a 6KW Fronius IG 6.0 inverter, SMA sunny island 6048 battery inverter, a separate battery disconnect switch and 2 autotransformers to get the sunny island to and from 240Vac plus other bits like heavy gauge battery cables, manuals, and I can even provide the diagram to hook it up like I had it.
No batteries, no PV.
$3k for all of it, in SF.

 

[ABC]

I just got done working for Luninalt as a solar installer for 6 months. After seeing others work I could say our work was the best compared to other local sf companies and Noel cotter is a legend in the solar industry. He had built a very awesome company and the powerwall combo they can hook you up with is nop notch.

 

[augustiron]

I just got done working for Luninalt as a solar installer for 6 months. After seeing others work I could say our work was the best compared to other local sf companies and Noel cotter is a legend in the solar industry. He had built a very awesome company and the powerwall combo they can hook you up with is nop notch.

Ha, I know Noel and August. Yes, they are a good experienced small company worth a call.

 

[fast4d]

my edison bill avg $65 a month. how can I possibly benefit from solar panels?

 

[kingmoochr]

Sort of more interested in a roof at this point but if it makes sense we could invest in the solar. Does luminalt do roofs? If not I assume they may have some suggestion?

 

[augustiron]

Sort of more interested in a roof at this point but if it makes sense we could invest in the solar. Does luminalt do roofs? If not I assume they may have some suggestion?

They, and most installers, coordinate install with a roofer they partner with, or one you choose, if reroofing.

 

[augustiron]

my edison bill avg $65 a month. how can I possibly benefit from solar panels?

Maybe you can't.
But that's like a 90 # person calling diets and exercise useless. You are on the low end of electricity usage, you are an anomaly.