Yes. If your asphalt roof in Connecticut is more than 10 years old, replace it before solar panels go on, or in the same project. Solar panels carry warranties of 25 years or more, and pulling them off later to fix the roof adds cost, time and lost solar savings.
I’m Adam H. Cooke, Managing Partner of Premier Improvements. I have spent 7 years in solar and roofing across Connecticut. I tell every homeowner the same thing at the kitchen table. The roof comes first. Here is why, what I install and how the warranties work.
Key Facts
- Replace an asphalt roof older than 10 years before solar goes on.
- Every Premier Improvements roof uses Owens Corning Duration shingles with full ice and water shield across the entire deck.
- Owens Corning Preferred Protection covers materials and labor, non-prorated, for up to 50 years, plus 10 years of workmanship.
- Roof and solar installed together carry our 25-Year Roof Penetration Warranty.
- CT Green Bank Smart-E loans run up to $50,000, and up to 25 percent covers non-energy work like a roof.
- Architectural shingle roofs run about $5 to $10 per square foot installed in Connecticut.
Should I Replace My Roof Before Installing Solar Panels?
I use a 10-year rule. If your asphalt shingles are older than 10 years, the roof goes first. A solar array covers your roof for decades. Your roof needs to last as long as the panels sit on it.
Here is what happens when you skip this step. The shingles under the array fail in year 12. The panels come off. The roof gets replaced. The panels go back on. That detour costs thousands and pauses your solar savings while the system sits on the ground.
Split jobs also split the warranty. The roofer blames the solar mounts. The solar company blames the shingles. When one team does both, one company stands behind every shingle and every penetration. That is why I sell a new roof and solar panels as one project.
What Happens to Solar Panels When You Need a New Roof?
If you already have solar and the roof is failing, the array has to come off. Here is how I handle it.
- We remove your panels, replace the roof and reinstall the system with new mounting brackets.
- We wait 30 days after the roof is complete before we reinstall, so the new roof settles.
- We price the removal and reinstall in writing after a free inspection.
- Some solar leases and PPAs require their own crew to touch the panels. Check your agreement first.
- Removing panels sometimes affects the panel warranty, so we check yours before we start.
How Long Does a Roof Last in CT?
No single number fits every Connecticut home. Our roofs take freeze and thaw cycles, ice dams, nor’easters and summer heat. Ventilation, flashing and install quality matter as much as the shingle itself.
For solar, I do not guess at remaining life. I use the 10-year rule because the array stays up for 25 years or more. A new Owens Corning Duration roof with Preferred Protection carries up to 50 years of non-prorated materials and labor coverage. That runs past the 25 to 40 years that premium panel product warranties carry.
Signs Your Roof Should Go First
- Your asphalt shingles are more than 10 years old.
- Shingles are curling, cracked or missing.
- Granules collect in your gutters.
- You see ceiling stains or damp decking in the attic.
- Wind or hail hit your street. Much storm damage never shows from the ground. Walk through my storm damage checklist.
- A roofer says the roof needs replacing within a few years. Panels mounted on that roof put your warranty at risk.
What Every Premier Improvements Roof Includes
I do not sell minimum-code roofing. Every roof we install is a complete system from the deck up.
- Owens Corning Duration architectural shingles
- Full ice and water shield coverage across the entire deck
- New drip edge and flashing
- Chimney flashing where applicable
- Ridge vent or proper ventilation
- Tear-off and disposal
- Magnetic nail sweep and a clean job site
Code requires ice and water shield six feet up from the gutter line. I cover the whole deck. Under a solar array, that extra layer protects every mount and every seam you will never see again.
Why I Use Owens Corning Duration Shingles
Premier Improvements is an Owens Corning Preferred Contractor. That status lets me register enhanced warranties a standard roofer does not offer. Duration is a Lifetime shingle, and under Preferred Protection it carries 15 years of wind coverage. We install the same shingle on every roof, so our crews know it cold.
Roof and Solar Warranties
Warranties are where roof and solar together pay off. Here is what you get when Premier Improvements installs both.
| Warranty | What it covers | Term |
|---|---|---|
| Owens Corning Preferred Protection (Preferred 50) | Non-prorated materials and labor | Up to 50 years |
| Preferred Protection workmanship | Installation workmanship | 10 years |
| Tear-off and disposal | Covered for covered defects | Included |
| Wind coverage on Duration | Lifetime shingle wind coverage | 15 years |
| Premier solar equipment warranty | Parts, labor and shipping | 25-year minimum |
| Roof penetration, new roof with solar | Leaks where racking attaches | 25 years |
| Roof warranty, solar on an existing roof | Roof under the array | 10 years |
| Premier workmanship, roof and solar jobs | Our labor and wiring | 10 years |
Preferred Protection transfers once, for a $100 fee, which helps when you sell. Owens Corning requires your contractor to register the warranty within 60 days. We register it after installation and hand you the confirmation.
Watch what voids a warranty. Another contractor drilling through the roof without approval does it. So does mixing shingle brands or reusing old flashing. Read my full roof and solar warranty guide before you sign with anyone.
Roof and Solar Cost Factors in Connecticut
| Item | Typical Connecticut range |
|---|---|
| Architectural shingle roof | About $5 to $10 per sq ft installed |
| Rooftop solar | About $2.68 per watt, average $32,379 for a 12.09 kW system (EnergySage, Oct 2026) |
| Home battery (optional) | About $1,153 per kWh before incentives (EnergySage, Jul 2026) |
| Remove and reinstall existing panels | Priced after a free inspection, includes new mounting brackets |
Your roof price depends on the size and pitch of the roof, the layers we tear off, deck repairs, and chimneys or skylights that need new flashing. I measure the roof and price it in writing. No guesswork.
Paying for a New Roof and Solar Together
- Smart-E loans from the CT Green Bank run up to $50,000 for owner-occupied one to four unit homes.
- APR is 6.99 percent for 5, 7 or 10 years, 7.49 percent for 12 years and 7.99 percent for 15 years.
- Up to 25 percent of a Smart-E loan covers non-energy work like the new roof under your solar.
- Hearth financing and cash also work for roof and solar together.
- The RRES program pays solar owners for 20 years through Eversource or United Illuminating.
- Connecticut exempts residential solar from property tax and sales tax.
One honest note. Standard roofs never qualified for the federal solar credit, and the federal 25D credit ended for systems installed after December 31, 2025. See every option on my financing page and run the numbers in is solar worth it in Connecticut.
The One-Project Timeline
Roof and solar together means one crew, one schedule and one point of contact. Here is the order we follow.
- Site visit and design. We measure the roof, inspect the attic and design the array in Aurora Solar.
- One proposal. You see the roof, the solar system and the financing on one page.
- Permits and utility paperwork. We file building permits and the Eversource or UI interconnection.
- Roof replacement. Tear-off to the deck, full ice and water shield and Duration shingles.
- Solar installation. Flashed mounts, IronRidge racking, Tier 1 panels from brands like Silfab and REC, and Enphase microinverters.
- Inspections and turn-on. We meet the town inspector and coordinate permission to operate with your utility.
No work starts before permits and utility approval. Want backup power too? Add a FranklinWH battery in the same project. Read my Connecticut solar battery guide for the 2026 incentives, or run your numbers in my Energy Storage Solutions calculator.
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I replace my roof before installing solar panels?
Yes, when your asphalt roof is more than 10 years old. Panel warranties run 25 years or more. Replacing the roof first avoids paying later to remove and reinstall the array.
What happens to solar panels when you need a new roof?
The panels come off, the roof gets replaced and the system goes back on with new mounting brackets. We reinstall 30 days after the roof is complete and price the work after a free inspection.
Does a solar loan cover a new roof in Connecticut?
Yes. The CT Green Bank Smart-E loan lets up to 25 percent of the loan go to non-energy work like a roof replacement when you add solar or a battery.
Will solar panels cause my new roof to leak?
Not when the mounts are flashed and sealed correctly. When we install your new roof with your solar, the attachments carry a 25-Year Roof Penetration Warranty.
Not sure if your roof should go first? I will look at it with you and give you a straight answer, with no pressure to buy. Book a free 30-minute call, send me a note through my contact page, or browse my solar and roofing FAQ.