Taking Solar Panels Off and Back On for Roof Work in Richmond, TX
When the roof under your panels needs repair or replacement, the panels have to come off first. Doing it carefully protects both the panels and the new roof.
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When the panels need to come down
The roof under them needs a full replacement.
A leak is coming from a spot covered by panels.
Hail or wind damaged shingles under or around the array.
Mounts or flashing have failed and need to be redone.
Rotten decking has to be replaced under the array.
Storms, older roofs and panels in Richmond
NOAA's Storm Prediction Center logged 19 hail reports within 10 miles of Richmond from 2015 through 2024. The largest was 2.5 inches, on May 9, 2019. A storm like that can damage shingles around and under an array, and the only way to fix them properly is to lift the panels.
Half of the homes in Richmond were built before 1984 (U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020-2024). Some panels here were installed on roofs that were already aging. As those roofs reach the end of their life, the array has to be removed before the old shingles can come off.
Leaks under an array are tricky. Water can enter at a mount, run along the deck and show up on a ceiling far from the panels. Patching from above without lifting them often misses the real entry point, and the stain comes back after the next rain. Our guide on why a roof can leak without ceiling damage explains how water hides in the attic before it shows.
How removal and reinstallation should work
Document the system
Photos of the layout, wiring paths and each panel's condition before anything is touched.
Remove and store the panels
Panels and racking come down carefully and are kept safe while the roof work happens.
Fix the roof
Repair or replace the shingles, decking and underlayment underneath. See roof repair in Richmond or roof replacement in Richmond.
Flash new mounts
Mount points are sealed and flashed into the new roof, not reused over old holes.
Reinstall and check
Panels go back in the same layout, and the system is checked before the job is closed.
Questions to ask before you hire
Who handles both parts?
One crew for panels and roof means one schedule and nobody passing blame.
What if a panel is damaged?
Ask how pre-existing damage is documented and how it is handled.
Are mounts flashed again?
New flashing at every anchor is what keeps the new roof dry.
What about insurance?
If storm damage started the job, see our page on roof insurance claims. Coverage depends on your policy.
Where will the panels be kept?
Panels are fragile once they are off the rails. Ask whether they stay on site or are taken away, how they are protected from weather and theft, and who checks them before they go back up.
Is the roof under the array included?
A clear estimate lists the shingles, underlayment and decking under the panels, not only the open sections around them.
GemSco in Richmond
GemSco handles roofing and solar panel removal and reinstallation, so the roof and the array are treated as one project. We are family owned, fully licensed and insured, and estimates are free. Learn more on our solar panel removal and reinstallation page or see what we do in Richmond.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I just repair the roof around the panels?
Small repairs at the edges of an array can sometimes be done without moving panels. Damage under the array cannot be reached that way. If a leak is coming from under the panels, or the whole roof needs replacing, removing them is the only way to do the job right.
Will my panels be the same after reinstallation?
They go back in the same layout when the roof allows it. Before removal, the system should be photographed and checked so any existing damage is on record. That way you know whether a problem existed before the work or came up during it.
How do I know if hail hurt my panels or my roof?
Look for cracked glass, bent frames and dented gutters or vents. Damage under the panels is hard to see from the ground. An inspection after a big storm can check both the array and the shingles around it, with photos of anything found.
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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.