Partial Removal for a Repair
If a roof has years of life left and the problem is localised, there is no reason to take the whole array off. A section is removed, the repair is made properly, and the panels go back.
When partial removal is right
- The roof covering is sound and not near end of life
- The damage is localised — a failed flashing, a cracked tile, a damaged section of underlayment
- The leak source has been established rather than guessed at
- The array layout allows a section to be isolated safely, electrically and structurally
When the whole array should come off
- The roof covering is near end of life, so you would be paying for removal twice
- The leak source cannot be isolated and the deck needs inspecting generally
- Rot is suspected across the area beneath the array
- Several separate repairs are stacking up — each partial removal carries its own cost
Finding the leak under an array
Water travels. On a roof with solar, it frequently enters at a mount penetration and surfaces several feet away, so the panel nearest the stain is often not the panel to lift.
We test rather than guess, because lifting the wrong section costs you money and tells you nothing.
Common questions
Can you repair a roof under solar panels without removing them all?
Yes, when the roof is otherwise sound and the damage is localised. A section is isolated and removed, the repair is made properly with new flashing, and those panels go back.
How do you find a leak under a solar array?
By testing sections rather than lifting the panel closest to the interior stain. Water commonly enters at a mount and travels along the deck before it surfaces, so the stain is rarely directly beneath the breach.