I would also go further and say that since you cannot do 50 of your roof if you need to do your roof in order to support solar then the entire cost of the roof is eligible for the tax credit.
Savings for doing solar at the same time as roof.
Even though rooftop panels extend the life of a roof it s better to begin with a roof that s newish or in good condition.
The savings you may see by going solar are dependent on two simple factors.
The result is a product that produces a better return on investment and a more durable roof at the same time.
The price you currently pay to buy electricity from the grid.
Wood shake roofs which are more popular in the northeast have about a 30 year lifespan while cement shingles tend to retire around 20 years.
The deciding factor will primarily be the cost of electricity which varies significantly depending on where you live.
So in the past few months several people ended up calling in a roofer while we were together analyzing their solar proposals.
Slate and copper roofs can last roughly the same amount of time.
One issue with installing rooftop solar is the pre existing condition of the roof.
The graph below shows the savings for the same customer over 25 years.
The amount of money you can save with solar depends upon how much electricity you consume the size of your solar energy system if you choose to buy or lease your system and how much power it is able to generate given the direction your roof faces and how much sunlight hits it.
As the first data table illustrates 20 year electricity savings from solar can be significant ranging from the low end of 10k to almost 30k.
As a result when you pair solar with a roof replacement the panels actually extend the lifetime of the portion of the roof that they cover.
This to me is clear that roofing work that is done to support a solar system can be included as part of your tax credit claim.
When you install solar panels on your roof you are essentially turning your home into its own mini power plant.
When you do the roof replacement look for products with the longest possible warranty at least a 25 year lifespan and more if you can afford it.
Replace it now if you want to go solar.
However it is important that people realize that solar savings grow over time as utility prices increase.
The stronger and better the roof the longer your solar panels can do their.
You generate renewable energy reducing or eliminating your electricity costs altogether.
When we installed our solar roof my analysis estimated we would save more than.
Your roof acts as the foundation for your solar panels.