Why the timing matters so much
Solar panels typically last 25 years or more. An asphalt roof with ten years left will need replacing in the middle of that, which means removing the array, storing it, re-roofing and reinstalling — a significant cost you didn’t plan for.
Replacing the roof first, or together, resets the clock. Our roof-timing calculator compares your roof’s age and material against the life of a solar system so you can see which order makes sense.
After a hail claim
Front Range hail season runs roughly mid-April through mid-September, and the May 8, 2017 Denver storm alone is estimated to have caused about $2.3 billion in insured losses. Many Colorado homeowners end up with an insurance-funded roof replacement at some point.
If your insurer is already paying to replace the roof, you’re only paying for the solar. Your claim and your solar project are separate transactions; we don’t advise on claims or promise insurance outcomes. We do make sure the new roof is ready for mounting before shingles go on.
Building for the next hailstorm
We’ll talk through impact-resistant roofing options with you, and we mount panels that meet the IEC 61215 hail test (25 mm ice balls at about 23 meters per second). Ask your insurer whether an impact-rated roof changes your premium or deductible.
Colorado passed SB26-155 in June 2026, creating an enterprise funded by a fee on insurers starting in 2027, with most of that money earmarked for resilient-roof retrofit grants. Program details haven’t been published yet; we’ll update this page when they are.
How pricing works
Roofing is quoted after an inspection — roof size, pitch, layers to remove and decking condition vary too much for a per-square-foot guess to mean anything. The solar portion follows our usual $2.80–$3.25 per watt range.
FAQ
Questions we hear
Can I add solar to the roof my insurance company is paying to replace?
Yes. The insurance replacement covers the roof; you pay for the solar. Doing them together avoids a second tear-off around the panels later.
How old is too old a roof for solar?
It depends on material and condition more than age alone, but if an asphalt roof is within about ten years of replacement, we’ll usually recommend replacing it first or together.
I already have solar and my roof needs replacing. Can you help?
Not with that project — we don’t remove and reinstall existing panels or service other companies’ systems. Your original installer or a remove-and-reinstall specialist is the right call.
Does solar void my roof warranty?
Penetrations installed incorrectly can. When the same company does both the roof and the mounting, there’s one party responsible for the details. Ask about warranty terms in your quote.
Are there grants for hail-resistant roofs in Colorado?
A state program created by SB26-155 is expected to fund resilient-roof retrofit grants from insurer fees starting in 2027. Terms aren’t published yet; check the program before counting on it.