Solar Panels on Fort Worth Roofs: Get the Roof Right First
Panels can sit on a roof for many years. If the roof under them fails first, they have to come off. A roofer's check before installation avoids that.
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Our solar process, roof first
Roof inspection
We check shingles, decking, flashing and vents where the array will sit. See roof inspection in Fort Worth.
Decide on roof work
If the roof needs repair or replacement, it happens before the panels.
Plan the mounts
Attachments are placed on structure, away from valleys and problem spots.
Flash and install
Each mount is flashed and sealed, then the panels go on.
Walk-through
We review the finished array and the roof around it with you.
What Fort Worth data says about solar and roofs
Half of the homes in Fort Worth were built before 1994 (U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020-2024), so many roofs are on their second set of shingles, and some of those are well into their life. Panels should go on a roof with enough years left to match the array, or on a new one.
57 percent of Fort Worth homes are owner-occupied. The owner is the one who decides on solar, and for rentals that means the landlord, not the tenant.
Storms matter as well. NOAA's Storm Prediction Center logged 31 reports of hail 1.75 inches or larger within 10 miles of Fort Worth from 2015 through 2024, including 3-inch hail on October 10, 2019. The roof around and under an array takes the same storms as the panels.
The roof under an array is also harder to watch. You cannot see the shingles beneath the panels from the yard, so a sound start matters more. If the roof needs replacing in a few years, the panels will have to be removed first. Planning the roof and the panels together avoids that extra step and keeps the whole project with one contractor.
Roof factors that shape a solar install
Material
Asphalt, metal, stone-coated steel and tile each need their own mounting method.
Remaining life
Compare the roof's age with how long roofing materials last in Texas.
Deck condition
Mounts need solid wood and rafters to anchor into.
Ventilation
Panels change how heat moves over the roof. See how roof ventilation protects your home.
Questions to settle before you sign
How many years does my current roof have left?
Who is responsible if a leak shows up at a mount?
How are the attachments flashed into my roof type?
If the roof needs replacing later, who removes and reinstalls the panels?
Does the estimate describe the roof work separately from the panels?
One contractor for both
GemSco installs roofs and solar panels, so the same company is responsible for the roof under your array. We are family owned, fully licensed and insured, with free estimates, and financing is available. If the roof is close to replacement, see roof replacement in Fort Worth. More at solar panel installation.
Keep the inspection photos with your solar paperwork. They record the condition of the roof before the array went up, which helps with any future repair or claim.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a new roof before going solar?
Not always. If an inspection shows the roof has many good years left, panels can go on as it is. If the shingles are worn, hail-damaged or near the end of their life, replacing the roof first avoids taking the panels off and putting them back a few years later.
Can solar go on a tile or metal roof?
Yes, with mounting methods made for each. Tile usually needs special hooks or replacement tiles at each mount, and it takes more care to avoid cracking. Metal roofs can use clamps or flashed attachments depending on the panel type. We look at your roof before recommending a method.
What if hail damages my roof after the panels are installed?
Shingles around the array can be repaired with the panels in place. Damage under the panels usually means removing them first. GemSco handles solar panel removal and reinstallation in Fort Worth along with the roof work, so the sequence stays with one company.
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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.