ENER Cost to Remove/Reinstall Solar Panels

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GenErik

Veteran Member
I hope someone here can help us.
We need to have a new roof put on our addition. How much should it cost to have 12 roof mounted, non-grid tied, solar panels removed, along with the racks and then reinstalled after putting on the new roof ?
The pitch is not steep, it's easy access and easy power shut off. They are connected by MC4 connectors and the racks have SamE bolts.
Thanks, Genny
 
P

Pinecone

Has No Life - Lives on TB
That would partly depend on the prevailing wages of your state. Our minimum is somewhere near $14 - 15/hour where some states are at the national minimum wage which is what - $7.50?
 
G

GenErik

Veteran Member
Luddite said:
Whoever does it will be "on the hook" to ensure the new roof doesn't leak. That cost absorbs that risk in addition to 3or 4 hours of labor.

If my roofer wouldn't do it I'd find another roofer. Jmho
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None of the roofers will touch the solar panels.
If Erik and I weren't disabled, we'd do it ourselves.
Genny
 
Griz3752

Griz3752

Retired, practising Curmudgeon
GenErik said:
We're in SE TN.
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Considering this would likely require some technical expertise and care to not damage the panels, I'd be looking for a crew with experience/references and pay what I had to particularly if that section of panels is critical to performance.

Failing that you might need a new roofer but it's not going to be cheap or free.
 
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Capt. Eddie

Capt. Eddie

Veteran Member
Worst part of the job is going to be getting those MC4s apart without damaging them, it's a royal bitch even with the oem tool. If they manage to jack up your connectors best case is efficiency goes WAY down, worst case they get hot to the point of melting or arc out.

When they did our trenching and final hookup our local power coop told me they don't even try to reuse MC4s, they just cut the cable and crimp on new ones. Easy for them, they don't have to pay for the replacements (the customer does) and they have the $$$ oem crimping tool.

I read a bunch of studies while designing our setup and across the board the number one cause of failures / fires were the connectors.
 
Capt. Eddie

Capt. Eddie

Veteran Member
Does your local power company offer solar? Might not be a bad place to start, especially if it's a coop. Just make sure your up to code before you contact them.
 
West

West

Senior
If the workers/laborers are making $15 a hour it probably cost their employers 3 times that much to keep them on the books/payroll. The workers comp on roofers is often more than they take home. So 4 times the amount they make a hour, because the employer has to make money on their labor.

Why 90% + roofers are illegal or working under the table in the USA. By mandate almost.
 
kyrsyan

kyrsyan

Has No Life - Lives on TB
Unfortunately, this is one of the reasons why I'm looking into other ways to mount solar panels. Because on the roof is a problem if the roof needs repair or replacement. I wish I could help but no roofer that I know of wants to touch that. You may need to reach out to a solar installation company to get that done.
 
Capt. Eddie

Capt. Eddie

Veteran Member
kyrsyan said:
Unfortunately, this is one of the reasons why I'm looking into other ways to mount solar panels. Because on the roof is a problem if the roof needs repair or replacement. I wish I could help but no roofer that I know of wants to touch that. You may need to reach out to a solar installation company to get that done.
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www.sinclair-designs.com

Sky Rack 2.0 Ground Solar Mount

www.sinclair-designs.com www.sinclair-designs.com

Ours has been great, fairly easy install (other than setting the verticals in concrete). I was able to get the assembly done in a day.
 
West

West

Senior
Any roof work will be super expensive. Just the mandated workers comp payroll liability(not including other mandated payroll liabilities) for laborers who work on roofs is often as much as the laborer takes home in wages including compliance.
 
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kyrsyan

kyrsyan

Has No Life - Lives on TB
Capt. Eddie said:
www.sinclair-designs.com

Sky Rack 2.0 Ground Solar Mount

www.sinclair-designs.com www.sinclair-designs.com

Ours has been great, fairly easy install (other than setting the verticals in concrete). I was able to get the assembly done in a day.
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I'm actually looking to put up two carports. And I think I'm going with panels on top of those. But those are long-term plans so new stuff may be available before I get that far.
 
W

WalknTrot

Veteran Member
If money is an issue, and you guys can't do any of the work yourselves, frankly, I'd scrap the solar panel replacement. A sound roof is the priority. As it is, no matter what, you will probably have to pay someone besides the roofer to take them down. For now, I'd just bid out the demolition and take it one step at a time.

If you decide you still want "solar" after the fact, come up with a plan and hire somebody in that business to install them. Either the old ones, or new ones.
 
Raggedyman

Raggedyman

Res ipsa loquitur
Gen
no roofing contractor is going to want to touch that. AND its not something you want to cheap out on. who did the install? go there first - if they're not around anymore and since you're in SE TN - there's a very reputable solar contractor in Asheville - SOL FARM. SolFarm Solar Co | Solar Energy Installers, Asheville, NC (828) 332-3003 give them a call and let them know what you need to do. may or may not be interested in the work since it wasn't theirs to begin with- but its a local contractor that I have used and would not hesitate to recommend their high quality work.

the other side of it is this - how old are your collectors and are they in need of replacement anyway? look at the cost to remove and replace rather than just replacing if the existing are older than 15-18 yrs. may be able to use the same racks and save $$$ there.

anyhow - some fud for thot hope that helps
 
G

GenErik

Veteran Member
WalknTrot said:
If money is an issue, and you guys can't do any of the work yourselves, frankly, I'd scrap the solar panel replacement. A sound roof is the priority. As it is, no matter what, you will probably have to pay someone besides the roofer to take them down. For now, I'd just bid out the demolition and take it one step at a time.

If you decide you still want "solar" after the fact, come up with a plan and hire somebody in that business to install them. Either the old ones, or new ones.
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True, but we still need to get the panels and racks down.
 
West

West

Senior
My panels are mounted about 5 feet off the ground. Mostly because I'm thinking hail storms, also safer cleaning. Have light weight sheetmetal covers incase I'm able to cover them just before big hail storm. Wouldn't want to get up on the roof with the wind blowing and me holding a wind sail.
 
kyrsyan

kyrsyan

Has No Life - Lives on TB
GenErik said:
True, but we still need to get the panels and racks down.
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If you're not trying to save them, then the roofer might be willing to do it. After an electrician comes out and seals off any connections to "live" lines. At which point, they'll likely chunk them in the dumpster. Or toss them off in such a way as to be unusable.
 
G

GenErik

Veteran Member
kyrsyan said:
If you're not trying to save them, then the roofer might be willing to do it. After an electrician comes out and seals off any connections to "live" lines. At which point, they'll likely chunk them in the dumpster. Or toss them off in such a way as to be unusable.
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The panels are still in good shape. They've been up about 12 years.
There is no way we can afford to buy new panels (we're barely holding on financially now).
 
Macgyver

Macgyver

Has No Life - Lives on TB
If your in a state that requires licenses for electricians chances are slim any legit roofer is going to touch them.
 
Macgyver

Macgyver

Has No Life - Lives on TB
Macgyver said:
If your in a state that requires licenses for electricians chances are slim any legit roofer is going to touch them.
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I had my roof done last year. There was a roof fan.
The guy said when he was out looking that the job I can disconnect that but can't reconnect it. You need to get an electrician. I said not to worry I'll unhook it and connect the new one.

That varies by state as well.
So in NJ certain limited things can be done.
Say you call a plumber to replace your electric water heater, they can do that.
If your switching from gas to electric they can't run a new line.

A plumber can do all the wiring say on a boiler and connecting the circulating pumps and stuff.
Or removing and replacing a air handler or condenser.

When I worked for a electrical contractor we could not run gas lines for a generator. We can do the flex line from the valve to the unit. So a plumber had to do the bulk of the gas work.
 
Macgyver

Macgyver

Has No Life - Lives on TB
hiwall said:
Usually there is very little regulation with any DC wiring.
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Incorrect answer. No difference between AC and DC.

Nec distinction of Low voltage is under 50 volts. But there are different requirements for the type of device. There is also a fairly low max amperage number associated with it as well. I can't remember that nugget of info.

Plus the panels them selves have no protection, another code variant in play.
 
Night Owl

Night Owl

Veteran Member
In Florida, a neighbor had a new roof installed and removal of solar was $1500. And re mounting was $1500.

To me I would never be able to use the amount of energy to off set the cost of solar installation and the solar rigging of off and on for a new roof to make it cost effective to have. Florida home owners insurance makes it necessary to have new roofs on every 12 years to have home insurance.
 
Milkweed Host

Milkweed Host

Veteran Member
Check Ebay or Amazon for MC4 connectors, very cheap.

As we age, we prefer to keep things closer to the ground for many reasons.

If you have the room, look into mounting closer to the ground, easier to install and
maintain.

It is also preferable to avoid added holes in the roof.

I don't see where roofers would have a problem with removal of the system, for a fee.

If you have the room, maybe you could re-install the system next to the ground yourself?????
 
Doc1

Doc1

Has No Life - Lives on TB
West said:
If the workers/laborers are making $15 a hour it probably cost their employers 3 times that much to keep them on the books/payroll. The workers comp on roofers is often more than they take home. So 4 times the amount they make a hour, because the employer has to make money on their labor.

Why 90% + roofers are illegal or working under the table in the USA. By mandate almost.
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One of my next door neighbor's sons (A White American BTW) is a middle-aged man. He was working for a shady general contractor who did some roofing jobs.

On one of those jobs the son fell off of a roof and was badly injured. The contractor paid his substantial medical bills and gave him some pocket cash, but alternately begged/threatened/cajoled and pleaded with him not to get an attorney. It quickly became obvious that the contractor had not been carrying workman's comp insurance.

I'm not sure how his situation was ultimately resolved, but I strongly recommended that he retain an attorney and not believe any more of the obvious lies his boss was telling him. Roofing work is a dangerous, young man's game.

In fact, I dread needing any roofing work done here at the Doc1 Homestead. I do all of our home maintenance, but have reached an age where it's beyond my capability to do any roofing work.

Best
Doc
 
L

Luddite

Veteran Member
Doc1 said:
I do all of our home maintenance, but have reached an age where it's beyond my capability to do any roofing work.
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Mentioned upthread was an insurance requirement in FL to replace a roof every 12 years to keep insurance. I have heard that before but find it hard to believe.

Who in their right mind would put on a metal roof or the best architectural shingles with a 30 year warranty if they must be replaced every 12 years?

We see many homes installing roof top solar systems here in Appalachia. One guy told me the company set up a "twenty year payment plan". I got the feeling he would never see a payback.

Selling a home with rooftop panels may evolve into a liability rather than be considered an asset...
 
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