Solar Panels in Round Rock Start With the Roof Under Them
Panels sit on your roof for many years. If the roof below them fails first, they have to come off. Here is how to plan solar the right way in Round Rock.
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Round Rock roofs and solar: what the data says
Half of the homes in Round Rock were built before 2002 (U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020-2024). Many of those roofs are around 24 years old. Putting new panels on a roof that is near the end of its life means paying to remove and reinstall them when the roof is replaced.
Hail is the other factor. NOAA's Storm Prediction Center logged 36 hail reports of 1.75 inches or larger within 10 miles of Round Rock from 2015 through 2024, and the largest was 4 inches on September 24, 2023. Panels and the roof around them both take those hits. The census survey also shows 56% of homes here are owner-occupied. Solar is the owner's decision, so renters will need the owner's approval.
Questions to answer before installing
How old is the roof, and how many good years does it have left?
Has it been checked since the last large hail storm?
Is the decking solid where the mounts will go?
Will the flashing around each mount be sealed to the roofing manufacturer's standards?
Who will handle the roof if a leak shows up under a panel?
Is there shade or a roof slope that changes where panels can go?
How we approach a solar project
Roof check first
We inspect shingles, decking and flashing. If the roof is near the end, we talk about replacing it before panels go up.
Plan the layout
Panel placement is planned around vents, valleys and the roof structure.
Seal every mount
Each attachment point is flashed and sealed so the roof keeps shedding water.
Install and review
Panels go on and we walk you through what was done.
Why a roofer matters on a solar job
One crew, one roof
The people drilling into your roof understand how it sheds water.
Hail awareness
In a hail area, the roof under the array needs to be ready for storms too.
Easier repairs later
If the roof needs work, the same company can handle solar panel removal and reinstallation.
The cost of skipping the roof check
Panels make roof repairs harder. A leak under an array is difficult to find, and fixing it can mean taking several panels off. If the shingles under the array wear out before the panels do, the whole system has to come off for a replacement, then go back on. That extra work is easy to avoid with a little planning.
The simple rule is to match the roof to the panels. A roof with many good years left can carry an array. A roof that is close to the end should be replaced first, ideally with materials that hold up well in hail. Our guide on how long roofing materials last in Texas helps set expectations.
Get started
GemSco is family owned, fully licensed and insured, with 20+ years of roofing experience. A roof inspection in Round Rock is a smart first step. Learn more about our solar panel installation service.
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I replace my roof before adding solar?
If the roof is near the end of its life, it usually makes sense. Replacing it later means taking the panels off and putting them back. An inspection tells you how much life is left so you can decide with facts, not guesses.
Can hail damage solar panels?
Large hail can crack panel glass and damage the frames, and it can still damage the shingles around the array. Panels are rated for impact differently by model. After a big storm, have both the panels and the roof checked so nothing is missed.
Will installing panels cause leaks?
Not when each mount is flashed and sealed correctly. Most leaks under panels come from rushed attachments or old roofing that was not ready for the job. That is why we look at the roof before the array is planned and seal every penetration.
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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.