Solar Panels in Carrollton: Get the Roof Right Before You Install
Panels stay on a roof for a long time. In a city with older homes and frequent hail, a careful roof check up front saves money and hassle later.
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Before you sign for solar
Find out how old your roof is and how many years it has left.
Have it checked for hail damage, especially after recent storms.
Confirm the decking is solid where mounts will go.
Ask how every mount will be flashed and sealed.
Talk with your insurance agent about how panels fit on your policy.
If you rent, the owner has to approve any roof work.
Ask what it will take to remove and reinstall the panels if the roof needs work later.
Carrollton conditions to plan around
Half of the homes in Carrollton were built before 1988 (U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020-2024). Many roofs on those homes have already been replaced, but some are close to the end again. If the roof needs replacing soon after panels go up, the panels have to come off first. Our page on solar panel removal and reinstallation in Carrollton explains that job.
Hail is the other factor. NOAA's Storm Prediction Center logged 27 hail reports of 1.75 inches or larger within 10 miles of Carrollton from 2015 through 2024, with the biggest at 3 inches on June 6, 2018. Storms that size can damage both panels and the roof around them.
Ownership matters too. In Carrollton, 59 percent of homes are lived in by their owners, so on many homes the person deciding on solar is a landlord rather than the people living there.
Wind is part of the plan as well. Strong gusts come with many spring storms, and panels act like a sail if mounts sit in weak decking. Mounts fastened into solid structure, with the array kept back from roof edges, help the system stay in place. Read can Texas winds lift shingles to see how wind works on a roof.
Roof types and solar
Asphalt shingle
The most common base for panels. Mounts are flashed under the shingle course above.
Metal
Standing seam roofs can use clamps that grip the seams, with fewer holes.
Tile
Needs special mounts and careful handling, since tiles crack under foot.
Flat roofs
Use tilted racks, with attention to drainage and membrane protection.
Stone-coated steel
Uses mounts made for its profile, with flashing that fits the pattern of the panels.
How we approach a solar install
Roof work first
Repairs or a full replacement are done before the panels go up.
Layout around water paths
Panels stay clear of valleys and vents so water and air keep moving.
Mount and flash
Mounts go into solid structure, each with proper flashing.
Check and document
The roof around the array is checked and photographed.
Roof and solar from one company
Ventilation deserves a look too. Panels shade the roof and change how the attic heats up, so intake and exhaust vents should stay clear of the array. Our article on how roof ventilation protects your home explains why airflow matters for shingle life.
GemSco handles roofing and solar panel installation, so one team is responsible for the roof and the panels on it. Financing is available, and estimates are free. Read more about solar panel installation or visit our Carrollton roofing page.
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I install solar on a roof that has had hail damage?
Get the damage repaired first. Shingles with cracked mats or missing granules under panels will only get harder to fix later. A roof inspection after a recent storm tells you whether repairs or a replacement should happen before installation.
Who should install the panels, a roofer or a solar company?
What matters is that someone takes responsibility for both the roof and the mounts. When one company handles both, flashing and roof details are planned with the panels in mind, and there is no finger-pointing if a leak shows up later at a mount.
Can hail damage solar panels?
Yes, large hail can crack or chip panels, and the roof around them can be damaged too. How panels are covered depends on your homeowners policy and your insurance company. Review your coverage with your agent before and after installation.
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