Adam Cooke | Connecticut's Honest Solar Guy
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New Roof and Solar Packages in Connecticut
If your asphalt roof is more than 10 years old, I replace it before the panels go on, in the same project. One crew, one schedule, one proposal and one company behind every shingle and every mount.
Quick Facts
- Owens Corning Duration shingles on every roof
- Full ice and water shield across the entire deck
- 25-year roof penetration warranty with roof and solar
- Smart-E loans cover up to 25 percent for the roof
The Short Answer
Should I Replace My Roof Before Solar?
Yes, if your asphalt roof is more than 10 years old. Solar panels carry warranties of 25 years or more. Your roof needs to last as long as the panels sit on it.
Skip this step and here is what happens. 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.
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 the whole roof. Read the full guide in New Roof Before Solar in CT?.
Signs
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.
What You Get
What Every Roof and Solar Package Includes
No minimum-code roofing. A complete system from the deck up, plus tear-off, disposal, ventilation and a magnetic nail sweep.
Owens Corning Duration
Full Ice and Water Shield
New Flashing and Drip Edge
Flashed Solar Mounts
Warranties
Roof and Solar Warranties Together
| Warranty | What it covers | Term |
|---|---|---|
| Owens Corning Preferred Protection | Non-prorated materials and labor | Up to 50 years |
| Preferred Protection workmanship | Installation workmanship | 10 years |
| 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 |
| Premier workmanship | 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 and hand you the confirmation. See every term in my warranty guide.
Cost
New Roof and Solar Cost 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, with 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 and price it in writing. Get a starting number with my instant roof estimate or plan both together in the roof and solar planner.
Is there a free roof with solar in CT?
I have not seen a Connecticut program that pays for your roof. A free roof offer folds the roof cost into the solar price or the loan. Ask for the roof price on its own line before you sign.
Financing
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.
- 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.
How It Works
The One-Project Timeline
- 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 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 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 home battery in the same project. See more roof work on my Connecticut roofing page.
FAQ
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 I 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.
Does a roof replacement qualify for the solar tax credit?
No. Standard roofs never qualified for the federal solar credit, and the federal 25D credit ended for systems installed after December 31, 2025.
Will solar panels cause my new roof to leak?
Not when the mounts are flashed and sealed correctly. When we install a new roof and solar together, our 25-year roof penetration warranty covers leaks where the racking attaches.
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Send me 12 months of electric bills and I will run the real numbers on your home. Book a free 30-minute call, or reach me through my contact page. No pressure and no sign-today price.