Taking Solar Panels Off and Back On for a Duncanville Roof
The roof under a solar array wears out too. When it needs work, the panels have to move, and how they move matters.
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Reasons owners call us
The roof is at the end of its life
A roof replacement in Duncanville needs a bare deck, so the array comes off first.
A leak under the panels
Water getting in near a mount or under the array cannot be fixed with the panels in place.
Hail damage
Storms can damage the roof around and under the panels, and the panels themselves.
Re-roofing after buying a home
New owners sometimes inherit panels on a roof that needs replacing.
Why this comes up often in Duncanville
Half of the homes in Duncanville were built before 1978 (U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020-2024). When solar is added to a house that old without replacing the roof first, the roof often reaches the end of its life long before the panels do.
Storms speed things up. NOAA's Storm Prediction Center logged 69 hail reports within 10 miles of Duncanville from 2015 through 2024, with 13 at 1.75 inches or larger. Large hail fell in 2017, 2021, 2023 and 2024. Every one of those storms is a reason to check both the panels and the roof they sit on.
Leaks under an array are easy to miss. The panels hide the shingles from view, and water can travel a long way across the decking before it shows up as a stain inside. Owners often find out only when a ceiling spot appears in a room nowhere near the panels. If you see any sign of a leak, check the attic below the array first, then call for an inspection. Our guide on can a roof leak without ceiling damage explains how this happens.
Step by step
Pre-removal record
We photograph the array, wiring and roof so everything goes back the way it was.
Remove the panels
Panels, rails and mounts are removed in order.
Agree on panel storage
Settle before the job where the panels go while the roof is open and how they are protected.
Roof repair or replacement
The roof work is done with new flashing at every future mount point.
Reinstallation and sealing
Panels go back on with each attachment sealed.
Walk-through
We review the finished roof and the reinstalled panels with you.
Questions to ask any contractor
Who is responsible for the panels while they are off the roof?
Will every mount point get new flashing on the new roof?
Is the removal, roof work and reinstallation in one written estimate?
What happens if the roof work uncovers rotten decking?
Is the company licensed and insured? GemSco is fully licensed and insured.
For more questions, see questions to ask before hiring a roofing contractor.
One team, one plan
Coordinating a roofer and a solar installer on the same job can lead to delays and finger-pointing over leaks. It also means two schedules, two estimates and two companies on your roof. GemSco handles roofing and solar panel removal and reinstallation together, with free estimates and financing available. Learn more about solar panel removal and reinstallation or see our Duncanville page.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do all the panels need to come off?
Not always. For a full roof replacement, yes. For a repair in one area, sometimes only the panels over that spot need to be moved. We inspect first and tell you how many panels are involved before giving you a written estimate for the job.
What happens to the panels while the roof is being worked on?
They are taken down by hand and in order, so the glass and frames are not scratched or cracked. We document the array before removal with photos so the reinstallation matches the original layout and wiring. Then each panel goes back on the finished roof.
Is it worth replacing the roof under panels that are only a few years old?
If the roof under them is failing, yes. Panels cannot protect a roof that is already leaking, and water damage to the decking gets more expensive with time. Replacing the roof now, while the panels have many years left, avoids doing the same job twice later.
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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.