Solar panels and roof repairs

Andreadoria

Can anyone help with advice please? I had solar panels installed in nov 22. Recently there was water coming in through the light fitting in upstairs bedroom. Roofers who came to inspect said that the problem was probably under a panel but also the roof tiles were in bad shape. Seems the roofer who did the roof 6 years ago was a cowboy….. Looks like I need a new roof!!! How do I go about this - the roofers who inspected didn’t want to deal with the panels. Should I try getting the solar installer (solarfast) to check the roof under the panels? Surely they should have told me if the roof was in a poor state before installing the panels? I don’t know what to do for the best. 

macman

The installers are not roofers. They would have checked that the roof could support the weight of the panels. If it leaked, or was likely to start leaking, that is not their problem. 
You will have to get the installers, or another company, to remove the panels. Then have the roof done, and get them reinstalled.

Chloe_G

I know someone who had solar panels installed which then caused two leaks in the roof.  The solar panel company came back and arranged repairs to the roof both times and acknowledged the damage to the roof had been caused by the solar panel installation.

ThisIsWeird

Andreadoria said:

Can anyone help with advice please? I had solar panels installed in nov 22. Recently there was water coming in through the light fitting in upstairs bedroom. Roofers who came to inspect said that the problem was probably under a panel but also the roof tiles were in bad shape. Seems the roofer who did the roof 6 years ago was a cowboy….. Looks like I need a new roof!!! How do I go about this - the roofers who inspected didn’t want to deal with the panels. Should I try getting the solar installer (solarfast) to check the roof under the panels? Surely they should have told me if the roof was in a poor state before installing the panels? I don’t know what to do for the best. 

Hi Andrea.

The situation is made a bit more complex by the work done by your previous roofer. What exactly did that 'cowboy' roofer do 6 years ago - a repair, or a full recover? If the latter, are you sure you need a new roof?

Your current roofer - what did they say about the previous work? Why are they saying you need a completely new roof? Actual explanation.

IF your roof had been in decent condition prior to the panels, then the chances are much higher that the installation of the panels caused the leak (although obviously not certain). So, your first port of call in that case would be the PV installer, who should come out and check what the cause is.

If, however, the roof was a bit dodgy in any case, although still watertight when the panels were installed, then it could have been caused by yet another broken tile, or other natural and expected issue not related to the PV panels.

So, in your boots, I'd like to know why the current roofer is saying the 6-year old roof needs renewing. There will be 'reasons', and these reasons should be made understandable by layfolks.

If it looks as tho' you do need a new roof, then the first step on this path should be to get three quotes from reputable, local roofers. (How did this go wrong 6 years ago?!)

What to do? You will need a PV specialist to remove and replace the panels in any event, so I'd suggest that you ask the installer for this. (Tbh, this doesn't need a specialist, and is completely DIYable as long as you know what you are doing). But, expect 'roofers' to say "No way, pal" to this. So, contact the installer, tell them your roofers says the leak is under a panel, but you don't yet know the cause. "Obviously, if it's due to the installation, then I'll expect you to sort it, or cover the cost. Of course, if it's due to my roof being dodgy, then I wouldn't expect you to cover the cost, but I'll still need someone to remove and replace the panels, and I'd like you to do that job, pleeeez." 

You'll need scaffolding, I presume? I'd try and get a rough agreement from the PVer as to what they'd be prepared to contribute IF the leak was their fault, BUT the whole roof needs redoing anyway. You may suggest, for example, "If it turns out the actual leak was the installer's fault, since I'm having a new roof in any case - and I'll be paying for scaffolding as part of this - perhaps, since you've escaped the scaffolding cost, you'd be happy to remove and replace the panels for now't?"

But - three quotes to confirm you do need a new roof, and to compare prices (make sure each clearly outlines what's included - lead flashings, ridge tiles, valleys, etc etc if needed.)