Arcola, TX Solar Panel Installation Starts With a Roof Check
Panels can sit on a roof for decades. If the roof under them is near the end of its life, the project gets harder and more costly later.
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Questions to answer first
Is this the original roof, and how many years does it have left?
Is the decking solid enough to hold the mounts?
Are the flashing, vents and pipe boots in good shape?
Has the roof been checked since the last hailstorm?
Who will handle the roof if a leak shows up near the panels?
Arcola's roofs and the solar decision
Half of the homes in Arcola were built before 2001 (U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020-2024). Many are still on their first roof, about 25 years old. For a standard shingle roof, that is often late in its life. Putting panels on now may mean taking them off again for a replacement in a few years, which adds cost and time.
In Arcola, 60% of homes are lived in by their owners. Owners are the ones who decide on solar, so renters should talk to their landlord before any plans. For owners with an original roof, the sensible order is inspect, fix or replace, then install. A roof inspection in Arcola is the first step.
How GemSco handles a solar install
Roof assessment
We check shingles, decking, attic and flashing and tell you how much life the roof has.
Layout
Panels are placed to keep vents and valleys clear so water and air still move.
Mounting
Each mount is flashed and sealed so the roof stays watertight.
Final check
The roof around the array is inspected after the panels are installed.
Weather and the array
Hail
NOAA's Storm Prediction Center logged 15 hail reports within 10 miles of Arcola from 2015 through 2024, two at 1.75 inches. Panels and the roof around them should be checked after storms.
Heat
Sun and heat age shingles. Read how Texas heat affects asphalt shingles.
Heavy rain
Debris can collect along the lower edge of an array and in the gutters below.
Wind
Strong gusts test the mounts and the shingles around them, so sealing matters.
What we do not cover on this page
This page is about the roof side of a solar project: making sure the surface can carry panels for years and that every mount stays watertight. It does not cover energy production, bills or incentives, which depend on your provider and your system.
If you are comparing quotes, ask each company the same roof questions: how old the roof is, how mounts are sealed, and who returns if a leak shows up near the array. Clear answers to those questions tell you a lot about how the install will age. Our article on things to do before replacing your roof is also useful if a new roof is part of the plan.
Talk to us
GemSco installs solar panels and handles the roof under them. If roof work is needed later, panels can come off and go back; see solar panel removal and reinstallation in Arcola. We are fully licensed and insured, with 20+ years of experience and free estimates. Read about solar panel installation or our page for Arcola.
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I replace my original roof before going solar?
If the roof has only a few years left, yes, that usually makes sense. Otherwise you will pay to remove and reinstall the panels when the roof is replaced. An inspection gives you an honest estimate of how much life the current roof has.
Do solar panels damage the roof?
Panels themselves do not, but the mounts go through the roof. If they are flashed and sealed well, they stay dry. If they are not, they become leak points. Ask how each mount will be sealed before you agree to an install.
Can panels go on any roof type?
Most roof types can hold panels, but the mounting method changes. Shingle, metal, stone-coated steel and tile each need different hardware. Tile in particular needs care because it can crack when walked on. Ask how your roof type will be handled.
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GemSco Roofing & Solar serves Houston, DFW, Austin, San Antonio and surrounding areas. We’re family owned and fully licensed and insured.