Updated: September 2025
Cost Drivers, Timeline, and How to Minimize Downtime
If you’re replacing your roof and you have solar panels, there’s one thing you can’t ignore: the solar system has to come off before the roofer can do the job—and it has to go back on the right way afterward.
This isn’t a “quick unbolt and slap it back up” situation. Done correctly, solar removal & reinstallation (often called a detach and reset) protects your roof, your production, and your long-term system performance. Done wrong, it can create leaks, damaged wiring, voided warranties, or weeks of downtime.
Here’s what homeowners need to know before they schedule a roof job.
What “Removal & Reinstallation” actually means
A proper detach and reset typically includes:
- Safe shutdown and electrical isolation of the system
- Removal of panels/modules and proper stacking/packaging
- Removal of mounting hardware as needed (depending on roof type and scope)
- Coordination with the roofing contractor on timing and roof readiness
- Reinstallation with proper flashing, sealing, and mount layout
- Re-termination and testing of wiring and monitoring
- System verification after PTO-equivalent checks (confirm production and app connectivity)
Key point: This is different from “decommissioning.”
Removal & reinstall assumes your system is going back on and will continue operating.
When homeowners need a detach & reset
Most commonly:
- Full roof replacement (asphalt shingles, standing seam adjustments, etc.)
- Major roof repair (leaks, decking replacement)
- Structural work (chimney rebuild, roofline changes)
- Storm damage claims (roof + solar impacted)
If your system is older, underperforming, or your installer is out of business, your roof job may also be the perfect time to decide whether you should:
- reinstall,
- upgrade/repower, or
- remove permanently (decommission).
Cost drivers (what makes detach & reset more expensive)
Every roof and solar array is different, but these are the usual cost variables:
1) System size and complexity
More panels = more labor. Multiple roof planes, odd layouts, and tight spacing add time.
2) Mounting type and roof material
Standard asphalt shingle mounts are straightforward (when done right). Complex roof materials, older penetrations, or unusual mounting can increase labor and sealing requirements.
3) Wiring and inverter configuration
Microinverters vs string inverters, attic routing, conduit runs, and combiner boxes all affect how long it takes to disconnect and restore everything cleanly.
4) Access and logistics
Steep pitch, limited driveway access, landscaping, and multi-story roofs can require more safety setup and staging.
5) “While we’re here” repairs
This is common (and often smart):
- Replace cracked panels
- Fix damaged wiring (critters, weather)
- Replace worn mounts/flashing
- Clean up monitoring issues
Sometimes a detach/reset turns into a service/repair opportunity that improves performance long-term.
Timeline: what to expect (and how to avoid delays)
Most homeowners worry about one thing: “How long will my solar be down?”
A normal detach & reset often looks like this:
Step 1: Detach (usually 1 day)
Panels come off, system is made safe, staging is handled.
Step 2: Roofing work (varies)
Your roofer does their part. A typical roof replacement might be 1–3 days, but scheduling and weather can extend this.
Step 3: Reset (often 1 day)
Solar goes back on once the roof is ready and signed off.
Best practice:
Do not detach weeks before the roof is ready.
Your downtime becomes a scheduling problem, not a technical one.
If SolarMe is coordinating the solar side, we aim to schedule the detach and reset tight to the roofer timeline so you’re not sitting without production.
Downtime prevention tips (homeowner checklist)
If you want this to go smoothly, do these five things:
1) Schedule solar + roofer together
Don’t treat solar as an afterthought. If your roofer says “we’ll handle it,” verify they have a qualified solar team or coordinate with a specialist.
2) Confirm who’s responsible for flashing and sealing
Roof leaks after a reset are almost always a penetration/flashing issue. You want clarity on who is responsible and what materials are used.
3) Make sure your monitoring is verified after reinstallation
A surprising number of homeowners “think it’s back on” but don’t notice production is down for weeks. Always confirm:
- inverter online
- app shows production
- no persistent errors
4) Use the roof job to fix existing solar issues
If your system has a known weak spot (older wiring, critter damage, intermittent errors), this is the perfect time to address it.
5) Decide now: reinstall vs upgrade vs remove
If your system is old or not worth reinstalling, it’s better to make that call before you pay for a detach/reset you don’t need.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Detaching too early “just to get it off the schedule”
- Reinstalling onto a roof that isn’t finished or properly inspected
- Reusing compromised mounts/flashing
- Ignoring wiring and conduit damage during reinstallation
- Not validating production and monitoring post-reset
How SolarMe handles removal & reinstallation
We coordinate detach/reset jobs the way they should be handled: like a project.
- We scope the system, roof, and wiring before removal
- We coordinate timing with the roofer
- We stage and protect the equipment properly
- We reinstall with clean mounting and leak prevention as a priority
- We verify production, monitoring, and performance after the reset
If you’re replacing your roof and want solar handled correctly the first time, we’ll map the cleanest plan and keep downtime minimal.
Ready to plan your roof + solar project?
If you’re scheduling a roof replacement in NJ, book a consult and we’ll help you decide the best path:
- Remove & Reinstall
- Repair while detached
- Upgrade / Repower
- Decommission (remove permanently)
Request a solar detach & reset quote and we’ll coordinate it with your roofing timeline.
