Solar Panel Removal & Reinstall in Tucson, AZ

Solar Panel Removal & Reinstall comes up whenever the roof under an array needs attention: a full reroof, a new elastomeric coating on a flat roof, broken tiles, or a leak around a mount. A roofer cannot do proper work around panels that are still bolted down and wired up. The array has to come off, wait somewhere safe and then go back on with every roof penetration sealed again.

Flat roofs

Tucson has flat roofs of every age, from older Pueblo Revival and adobe homes with parapet walls to newer houses with coated decks. Their coatings and membranes have a service life, and many owners recoat on a schedule. Panels on flat roofs usually sit on tilted racks, either attached through the roof or weighted with ballast blocks. Through-roof attachments need careful sealing when they go back down. Ballasted racks avoid penetrations but put weight on the roof, and the blocks have to be moved and returned in the right places.

Tile and shingle roofs

Concrete tile is a common choice on pitched roofs in the desert Southwest. Tiles crack when someone steps in the wrong spot, and each mount sits on a flashing under the tile course. When a tile roof is redone, the underlayment usually gets replaced while the tiles may be reused, so the timing between us and your roofer matters. On shingle roofs, the mounts are flashed and sealed into the new shingles as they go down.

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How the timing works with your roofer

We come out before the roof job to document the system: photos, production readings, panel layout and serial numbers. Then we shut the system down, disconnect and label the wiring, and take down the panels and rails. Panels are stored on site or off site, depending on what you prefer and how much room there is. Your roofer does their work, and we coordinate with them on where the new mounts go. Once the roof is ready, we reinstall the racking, flash and seal every attachment, put the panels back, reconnect the wiring and test the system.

What to sort out before you sign a roofing contract

• Ask your roofer whether panel removal is included or whether you need to hire it separately.
• Find out who is responsible for leaks at the solar mounts after the job.
• Check whether your panel or inverter warranty requires a particular kind of company to handle the equipment.
• If the panels are leased, contact the leasing company first. Most leases spell out who may move the system.
• Plan for the downtime. The system makes nothing while it is off the roof.

Permits and the utility

A straight remove-and-reinstall with the same equipment usually does not change your interconnection. If you take the chance to add panels or swap the inverter, TEP requires a new application and Permission to Operate before the system is switched back on. Tucson, Oro Valley, Marana and Sahuarita are incorporated, so permits generally go through the city or town, and unincorporated areas generally go through Pima County. We check what applies to your address and put those steps on the quote.