Removing and Reinstalling Solar Panels on Arlington Roofs

Solar panels cover a large part of the roof. If the shingles, flashing or decking under them need repair or replacement, the roofer cannot reach them with the panels in place.

This often happens after a storm or when an older roof reaches the end of its life. Patching around the array rarely solves the problem, because the damage under the panels stays hidden. Read why temporary roof patches fail for more on this.

It also happens when a leak shows up inside the house and the source is under the array. The only way to find and fix it properly is to lift the panels and look at the roof directly.

Large hail is common here. NOAA's Storm Prediction Center logged 33 hail reports of 1.75 inches or larger within 10 miles of Arlington from 2015 through 2024, and the largest was 5.0 inches on June 12, 2023. A roof under a solar array takes the same hits as the rest of the house, but the damage is harder to see.

Half of the homes in Arlington were built before 1986 (U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020-2024). Some panels were installed on roofs that already had years of wear. When those roofs need replacing, the panels have to come off. If storm damage is part of it, see hail damage roof repair in Arlington.