Why the timing matters
Panels last 25 years or more. An asphalt roof in hail country often doesn’t. Put solar on a roof halfway through its life and you’re likely to face a second project later — removing the array, replacing the roof, and reinstalling. We don’t do remove-and-reinstall, which is exactly why we push for roof and solar together when the roof is new.
Doing both at once also means the flashing and mounting attachments are designed into the new roof by the same team, rather than retrofitted into someone else’s work. When a roofing crew and a solar crew are different companies, a leak becomes a finger-pointing problem. With one company, it’s our problem.
What your insurance does and doesn’t cover
Your homeowner’s claim covers repairing or replacing the damaged roof according to your policy. It does not pay for adding solar. The solar portion is your cost, financed however you choose — cash, loan, lease, or PPA.
Do the claim the normal way: document the damage, let the adjuster inspect, and understand your deductible and any depreciation holdback. Roofing is quoted after inspection. Once the roof scope is settled, the solar design comes on top of it.
Will the panels survive the next storm?
Solar modules certified to IEC 61215 are tested by firing 25 mm (about 1-inch) ice balls at 23 meters per second at multiple points on the panel. That’s a meaningful standard, and most Colorado storms don’t exceed it. The largest Front Range hail does, and no panel is hailproof — the May 8, 2017 Denver storm produced roughly $2.3 billion in insured losses, the costliest in state history.
Most homeowner policies cover roof-mounted panels as part of the dwelling, but coverage varies. Call your insurer before installation, tell them you’re adding solar, and ask how it’s covered and whether your premium changes.
Resilient-roof grants are coming — maybe
Colorado’s SB26-155, signed June 4, 2026, created the Strengthen Colorado Homes Enterprise, funded by a 0.5% fee on insurance premiums starting in 2027, with at least 85% going to resilient-roof retrofit grants. Details on who qualifies, how much, and when applications open were not published when we researched this. If your roof isn’t urgent, it may be worth watching; if it’s leaking now, don’t wait on a program that doesn’t exist yet.
What to do next
- 1File your hail claim and get the adjuster’s scope before signing any roofing contract.
- 2Ask us for a combined roof-plus-solar quote, with the solar portion priced separately so you see exactly what insurance does and doesn’t cover.
- 3Call your insurer to ask how roof-mounted solar would be covered and whether your premium changes.
- 4Run the roof-timing calculator if you’re unsure whether a partially damaged roof should be replaced now.
- 5If you prefer, consider a ground mount so the panels and roof are never tied together.
FAQ
Questions we hear
Will my insurance pay for solar panels on my new roof?
No. The claim covers restoring the roof. Adding solar is a separate purchase you fund yourself — by cash, loan, lease, or PPA.
How big a hailstone can solar panels handle?
Panels certified to IEC 61215 pass an impact test with 25 mm (about 1-inch) ice balls at 23 m/s. Larger hail can break panels, which is why insurance coverage matters.
Does adding solar void my new roof’s warranty?
When the same company installs both, the roof penetrations are part of one job, which simplifies the warranty picture. We walk through exactly what’s covered for your roof material before you sign.
What is the Strengthen Colorado Homes program?
SB26-155, signed June 4, 2026, created an enterprise funded by a 0.5% insurer fee starting in 2027, with at least 85% going to resilient-roof retrofit grants. Eligibility and application details were not yet published as of September 2026.
Can you move my panels later if the roof needs work again?
We don’t offer remove-and-reinstall, which is why we recommend solar go on a new roof. Pairing them now avoids that problem for the life of the panels.