Solar Panels in Jersey Village: Plan Around Hail and Roof Age
A solar array sits on your roof for many years. In an area with frequent large hail, the roof under it and the panels on it both deserve a careful plan.
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Two local facts that shape a solar plan
The first is hail. NOAA's Storm Prediction Center logged 46 hail reports within 10 miles of Jersey Village from 2015 through 2024, with 11 at 1.75 inches or larger and a top size of 2.5 inches on May 9, 2019. Ask how the panels you are considering are rated for impact, and know that the roof around them faces the same storms.
The second is roof age. Half of the homes in Jersey Village were built before 1991 (U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020-2024). Many roofs here are mid-life, and some carry storm damage that has not leaked yet. A roof that needs replacing a few years after panels go up means paying to take them off and put them back. The same Census data show that 45 percent of homes are owner occupied, and only the owner can approve solar.
A roof-first approach
Inspect
Book a roof inspection in Jersey Village to check shingles, flashing, decking and any past hail damage.
Fix what is found
Repair leaks and storm damage before panels cover the area.
Decide on replacement
If the roof is near its end, replace it first. See roof replacement in Jersey Village.
Plan the layout
Choose slopes with open sky and room around vents and edges.
Mount and seal
Each attachment is flashed and sealed into the roof before the rails and panels go on.
Roof problems to fix before installing
Hail bruises or cracked shingles anywhere under the planned array.
Any active leak or attic stain.
Lifted or missing shingles from past wind.
Worn pipe boots or loose flashing near the array.
Soft decking found from the attic.
Poor attic ventilation that has baked the shingles from below.
Old storm damage that was patched but never fully repaired.
Questions to ask any solar installer
Who checks the roof?
Make sure someone looks at the roof itself, not only the sun exposure.
How are mounts sealed?
Every mount is a hole in the roof. Ask how each one is flashed.
What about hail?
Ask for the impact rating of the panels and what happens if hail damages them.
What if the roof needs work later?
Ask who handles removal and reinstallation. GemSco offers solar panel removal and reinstallation in Jersey Village.
Who handles the roof around the array?
Ask who is responsible if a leak shows up near a mount after the install, and how it gets checked.
Roof and solar under one roofer
Most solar problems on the roof come from the roof, not the panels. A leak at a mount, a shingle cracked by hail under the edge of the array or a deck that went soft years ago are all easier to prevent than to fix later. That is the case for looking at the roof first. Our guide on things to do before replacing your roof is useful if a new roof comes first.
GemSco installs solar panels and handles roofing, so the roof and the array are planned together. Estimates are free and financing is available. Read more about our solar panel installation service.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can hail damage solar panels in Jersey Village?
Large hail can damage panels, though they are built to handle some impact. With hail up to 2.5 inches recorded nearby, ask for the impact rating of the panels you are considering. After a storm, check the panels and the roof around them, and photograph any damage.
My roof is about 35 years old. Can it hold panels?
The age of the house is not the age of the roof. Many homes built around 1991 have had a roof replacement since then. What matters is the condition of the current roof and the deck. An inspection tells you whether it can carry panels for many years or should be replaced first.
What happens to the roof warranty when panels are installed?
That depends on the shingle maker and the terms of the warranty you have. Some manufacturers set conditions for penetrations like solar mounts. Read your warranty documents or ask the manufacturer before the install, and keep records of who installed the panels and how the mounts were sealed.
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