Solar panel removal and reinstall in Little Rock around a new roof

Solar arrays usually last a long time, but the roof under them may not. If shingles are near the end of their life, hail has damaged the roof, or a leak has started around a mount, the panels must be lifted so the roof can be repaired or replaced properly.

Some owners try to patch around the array, but that rarely works for long. Crews cannot reach the shingles under the panels, and sealant smeared around mounts from above tends to crack within a season or two. A planned detach and reset is the way to give the roof underneath a real fix.

If your roof is older and you are only now thinking about solar, it is usually smart to replace the roof first. Paying to remove and reset panels a few years after installing them adds cost that a well timed re-roof avoids.

Solar work touches both the roof and the electrical system, and we keep those roles clear. Our crews handle the roofing side: removing panels and racking once the system is shut down, protecting and storing the panels, doing the roof work, and flashing every mount into the new roof.

The electrical side, including shutting the system down safely, disconnecting and reconnecting wiring, and confirming the system is producing again, is handled by your solar company or an electrician where required. Many solar installers offer this service, and some leases and warranties require that their own technicians handle it.

We coordinate the dates with them so the array is not left disconnected longer than it needs to be. Before work begins, it helps to look over your solar paperwork or call your provider so everyone knows the warranty and lease terms.

• Our crews: detach, store, roof, flash mounts, reset racking
• Solar company or electrician: shutdown, wiring, restart
• Owner: check lease or warranty terms with the provider
• Everyone: agree on dates before the first panel comes off

Panels are large, heavy and easy to scratch or crack if they are handled carelessly. We number each panel and its position, lower them carefully, and store them on padded racks or flat on blankets in a dry spot on site or in a secure area you agree to.

Racking rails and clamps are bagged and labeled so the array goes back up in the same layout. We also photograph the array before removal, including wire routing and the location of every mount, so the reset matches the original as closely as the new roof allows.

Wiring stays with the electrical side. We do not cut, splice or reconnect any conductors, and panels stay unplugged until your solar company or electrician returns to bring the system back online.

• Roof under the solar array is near the end of its life
• Hail damage on shingles around and under the panels
• Ceiling stains below a row of solar mounts
• Sealant cracked or missing around mount bolts
• Debris and needles packed under the panel rows
• Planning a re-roof and keeping your existing solar system

Mounts are the most common source of leaks on solar roofs. Each one is a bolt or lag screw driven through the roof into a rafter, and it needs a proper flashing that laps under the shingle course above and over the course below.

During the reset, we install new flashed mounts or reuse compatible ones with new flashing, set each lag into solid framing, and seal it according to the mount maker's instructions. We do not rely on a blob of sealant over a bolt head, because that is the shortcut behind many leaks we are called to fix.

Where the new roof layout allows, mounts go back in the same rafters so the array returns to the same footprint. If any rafter shows damage or the decking around a mount is soft, we replace that wood before setting the mount.

Squirrels and birds like to nest under arrays, and their chewing can damage wiring. If your array had a critter guard or screen, we reinstall it around the perimeter after the reset.

Spring hail season is when many of these jobs start. Hail that damages shingles often leaves panels intact, since most panels use tempered glass, but the roof underneath still needs replacing. If an insurance claim is involved, ask your adjuster how detach and reset costs are handled under your policy.

Straight-line winds put real load on an array, which is another reason every mount must be fastened into rafters and not just decking. Hot, humid summers also make the shaded roof under the panels slower to dry after rain, so pine needles and leaves trapped under the array can hold moisture against the shingles. We clear that debris during every reset.

A typical job runs in stages. The solar provider or electrician shuts the system down, our crew removes and stores the panels in a day, the roof replacement or repair takes one to three days, and the reset with new flashed mounts takes another day. Then the system is reconnected and checked by the electrical side.

You get a written price before work starts, covering detach, storage, roofing and reset. Any extras found once the roof is open, such as rotted decking around old mounts, are priced before we do them. We clean the site and run a magnet sweep when the work is done, and we share photos of every mount flashing before the panels go back on.

Detach and reset pricing is mostly per panel, with roofing priced separately based on the roof work needed.

Electrical disconnect and reconnection by your solar company or an electrician is billed by them and is not included in these ranges. See the full roof pricing guide.