Installing Solar in Bellaire: Get the Roof Right First

Bellaire is mostly owner occupied: 88% of homes, according to the U.S. Census Bureau (American Community Survey 2020-2024). Owners are the ones who decide on solar, and they are also the ones who pay if the roof under the array fails.

Hail is the factor that sets Bellaire apart. NOAA's Storm Prediction Center logged 10 hail reports of 1.75 inches or larger within 10 miles of Bellaire from 2015 through 2024, in 2016, 2017, 2019 and 2023. A roof with hail bruises from one of those years can start leaking under the panels, and fixing it then means taking the array off.

Half of the homes in Bellaire were built before 1996, per the same survey. If your roof has not been replaced in a while, check its age before you sign a solar agreement.

Here is the scenario we try to help owners avoid. Panels go up on a roof with a few years left. A hail storm or simple age finishes the shingles. Now the array has to come off, the roof gets replaced, and the panels go back on. That second round of work could have been avoided with an honest look at the roof before the install.

An inspection before solar is simple. It tells you how much life the roof has, whether old hail damage is hiding under the surface, and whether the decking is sound enough for the mounts. If the answer is yes, you install with confidence. If not, you fix the roof first and give the array a solid base. Our guide on things to do before replacing your roof helps if the roof comes first.

GemSco is family owned, fully licensed and insured, with 20+ years in roofing and elite contractor status with Owens Corning and GAF. Learn more on our solar panel installation page and roofing in Bellaire. If the roof needs work first, roof financing is available.