We Have Solar Panels and a Roof Problem. What Happens Now?

Panels complicate roof repairs but do not stop them. Here is how removal, repair and refit are coordinated so your system comes back working.

Common problems under panels

Slipped or cracked tiles beneath the array, leaks around the roof hooks where tiles were not properly notched, and pigeons nesting in the gap behind the panels are the problems we see most. Occasionally an older roof simply needs replacing and the panels have to come off first.

Roofers should not disconnect a solar system. The panels are isolated and removed by a qualified electrician, the roof work is done, and the system is refitted and tested. We coordinate this so there is one plan rather than two trades working around each other.

Find your installation paperwork and any warranty for the panels and inverter. Some warranties require an accredited installer for removal and refit. If the original installer still trades, it is worth asking them first.

Tell the roofer which slope is affected, whether water appears only after rain and if any panels cover the suspected entry point. Share photographs taken safely from ground level and any survey or installation drawings you have. A stain below an array does not prove that a roof hook is at fault: water can travel from a higher junction before it becomes visible indoors. Ask what will be inspected once the panels are lifted, and agree who will record the condition before they go back.

It is the cheapest moment to fix anything else on that slope: renew worn tiles or underlay, correct the hooks, and fit bird mesh around the array edge on refit if pigeons have been a problem.

Can a roof leak be fixed without removing solar panels?

Sometimes, if the defect is at the edge of the array. Leaks beneath the panels usually mean lifting at least part of the system.

Will removing the panels void my warranty?

It can, depending on the terms. Check your paperwork before work is booked so removal and refit are done the way the warranty requires.

How do I stop pigeons nesting under my panels?

Mesh fitted around the edge of the array keeps them out without drilling the panels. It is easiest to fit during a refit.

How long are the panels usually off the roof?

It depends on the roof work. A small repair may be days; a full re-roof longer. We plan the timing with the electrician up front.

Roof problem under your panels?

Tell us what you are seeing and we will plan the repair and the panel removal together so nothing is left to chance.

Evans Roofing & Maintenance Ltd, Witney, Oxfordshire. Call 07960 482233 for a free written quote.