Who knew
that solar and roofing had so much in common? Times sure have changed over the
years! From time to time, we run into situation that makes us scratch our
heads. Lately, solar installation on old roofs has taken over the top spot. As New
Jersey commercial roofing contractors we have plenty of experience in this
area.
Solar
installation typically last for twenty plus years. So doesn’t it make sense
that the roof it sits on should last that long as well? Some of the responses
we’ve heard form owners have been, “The roof was in good condition and not
leaking” or this one “The solar guy said he has a roofer who will add another
ply of modified bituminous membrane and we’ll be good to go!”
Our response
is that your roof may not be leaking now but now has to mean 20+ more years. As
far as “he has a guy…” the primary responsibility of the solar company is to
sell solar and his roofing buddy will be used to install the bare minimum even
if it’s wrong.
Recently, we
inspected a roof for a client who just purchased the building with a solar
array on it. During our inspection, the roof felt spongy underfoot which most
of the time means the roof substrate is wet. Core samples were taken and as
expected, the roof was saturated and leaking. What was most upsetting for
the new owner was that the solar panels sat on a new modified bituminous roof
that was installed on a roof that was already saturated.
Because the
deck was already showing signs of rust, the insulation substrate was now
becoming a mold issue and the leaks, the roof had to be removed and a new roof
installed. That was bad enough but to make matter worse, the solar array had to
be dismantled, stored and reinstalled by a solar company. If you have ever
experienced that, you know it sometimes can cost as much as the roof!
What we
recommend is before you sign a contract for a solar system to be installed on
your roof, call MJT Roofing New Jersey and we will be glad to help. We’ll
inspect your roof and provide a clear non-biased assessment of your roof and
its longevity. If you need a new roof to avoid future problems, we’ll provide a
proposal. Even if you have a new roof already, we can provide you with the help
of working with the manufacturers to ensure your warranty is not voided.

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