Solar Panel Removal & Reinstallation for Reroofing
Getting a new roof but you already have solar? We safely take the panels down, coordinate with your roofer, and reinstall and re-energize the system once the new roof is on.
Often paired with: Residential solar · Battery storage · Electrical services
Last updated: June 2026
When You Need Solar Removal & Reinstallation
If your roof is due for replacement and you have rooftop solar, the panels can't simply be worked around — they have to come off so the roofer can tear off and rebuild the roof underneath, and then go back on afterward. Just as importantly, disconnecting and reconnecting a solar array is electrical work that, in California, has to be done by a licensed contractor — not the roofing crew.
Pacific Edge Electric and Solar is a licensed C-10 electrical contractor (CA #1143455). We handle the solar side of a reroof from start to finish: removing the array, coordinating with your roofer on timing, pulling the permits the job needs, and reinstalling and recommissioning the system so it produces — and stays under warranty — exactly like it did before.
Why You Can't Just Have the Roofer Do It
Removing solar panels means safely disconnecting DC and AC wiring, microinverters or a string inverter, and the rapid-shutdown system, then dismounting the panels and rails without damaging them. Reinstalling means doing all of that in reverse — correctly flashing and sealing every roof penetration, re-wiring, and bringing the system back online with the utility. Roofing companies aren't licensed for that electrical work, and improper handling is the number-one cause of post-reroof leaks, cracked panels, and dead production.
- Licensed & accountable — our own C-10 crew does the electrical work, not a subcontractor
- One organized project — we line up removal and reinstall around the roofing schedule
- Watertight reinstall — every mount penetration is re-flashed and sealed on the new roof
- Warranty & PG&E intact — the system goes back exactly to code and spec
How the Process Works
1. Instant Estimate
Send us your system details or a few photos and we'll get you a fast, no-obligation estimate — or call and we'll walk through it. Permit fees from the city/county are separate.
2. Schedule Around Your Roofer
We coordinate timing with your roofing company (or refer a trusted one) so the panels come off before the tear-off.
3. Panel Removal — About a Day
We disconnect and dismount the full array, label everything, and store the panels safely on-site for the duration of the roofing work.
4. Roofer Does the New Roof
With the roof clear, your roofer completes the tear-off and new roof over the next several days.
5. Reinstall & Re-Flash
We remount the panels and rails on the new roof, re-flashing and sealing every penetration so it stays watertight.
6. Rewire, Recommission & Inspect
We reconnect the electrical, bring the system back online, confirm production, and handle the permit final inspection.
We Work With Your Roofer — or Refer One
Already have a roofing company lined up? We coordinate directly with them so the two trades hand off cleanly and there's no scramble on the day of the tear-off. Don't have a roofer yet? We can refer a roofing partner we've worked with, so you get one organized project and a single point of contact instead of trying to schedule two crews yourself.
A Reroof Is a Smart Time to Check Your System
Because the array is already down, a roof replacement is a convenient moment to look at older equipment while it's accessible. In most cases we simply reinstall your existing panels — if they're in good shape, there's no reason to replace them. But if your system is older, we may recommend bringing it up to current code on reinstall (for example, adding rapid-shutdown devices, or fresh flashing and mounts), or addressing anything worn while it's off the roof. We assess each system case by case and tell you what we'd recommend before reinstalling — never a surprise.
Permits
Reinstalling a solar array generally requires an electrical/building permit and a final inspection from your city or county. We pull the permits the job requires and meet the inspector so you don't have to. Permit fees charged by the jurisdiction are passed through to you and are not included in our estimate.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I have to remove my solar panels to replace my roof?
Yes. In almost every case the solar panels and their mounting rails have to come off before a roof can be replaced, then go back on once the new roof is done. Roofers can't properly tear off and re-shingle the deck underneath a live solar array, and they aren't licensed to disconnect and reconnect the electrical side. The panels are removed first, the roofer does their work, and a licensed solar/electrical contractor reinstalls and recommissions the system afterward.
Who should remove the solar panels — my roofer or a solar company?
A licensed solar and electrical contractor should handle the panel removal and reinstallation, not the roofing crew. Taking panels down means disconnecting DC and AC wiring, the inverter or microinverters, and the rapid-shutdown system — that's electrical work that legally requires a C-10 license in California. Pacific Edge is a licensed C-10 contractor (CA #1143455); we remove the array, coordinate with your roofer, and reinstall and re-energize it correctly so your warranty and PG&E interconnection stay intact.
How much does it cost to remove and reinstall solar panels for a new roof?
It depends on your system size, the number of panels, your roof type and pitch, and whether any mounts, flashing, or code upgrades are needed on reinstall — so we don't publish a flat price. We give a fast, no-obligation estimate: send us your system details (or a couple of photos) and we'll get you a number, or call (650) 451-8464. Note that city/county permit fees are billed separately and are not included in our estimate.
How long are the panels off the roof?
We typically remove the full array in about a day and store the panels safely on-site. Your roofer then completes the new roof over the next several days, and we return to reinstall, rewire, and recommission the system once the roof is finished and ready. The exact timeline depends on your system size and the roofing schedule; we'll lay it out in your estimate so removal and reinstall line up cleanly with the roofing work.
Do you work with my roofer, or can you recommend one?
Both. If you already have a roofing company, we coordinate directly with them on timing so the panels come off before the tear-off and go back on after the new roof is complete. If you don't have a roofer yet, we can refer a trusted partner we've worked with — so you have one organized point of contact for the whole project instead of juggling two trades yourself.
Will removing and reinstalling my panels void the warranty?
Not when it's done by a licensed professional. Improper removal — bent frames, pinched wiring, reused worn flashing — is what creates leaks and warranty problems. We remove, store, and reinstall your panels to manufacturer and code standards, and our reinstallation workmanship is backed by our own warranty. We also re-seal every roof penetration so the new roof stays watertight where the mounts go back through it.
Do you pull permits for solar removal and reinstallation?
Yes. Reinstalling a solar array generally requires an electrical/building permit and a final inspection from your city or county, and in some cases the utility is notified as well. We pull the permits the job requires and meet the inspector. Permit fees charged by the jurisdiction are passed through to you and are not included in our estimate.
Can you reinstall my existing panels, or do I need new ones?
In most cases we reinstall your existing panels — if they're in good condition there's no reason to replace them. Because the array is already down, a reroof is also a convenient time to assess older equipment and address anything worn, or to bring an aging system up to current code (such as adding rapid-shutdown devices or fresh flashing and mounts). We assess your system case by case and tell you what, if anything, we'd recommend before reinstalling.
Replacing your roof and need the solar handled?
Get a fast, no-obligation estimate to remove and reinstall your rooftop solar — or call (650) 451-8464.
Get an Instant Estimate