Your roof is near the end of its life, and there is a solar array sitting on top of it. Where do you even start? Planning a roof replacement with solar panels comes down to one idea: two trades have to work on the same roof in a strict order, and the plan exists to keep those handoffs clean. The solar comes off, the roof is replaced, the solar goes back on. Everything else in this guide is about making each of those transitions happen without delays, damage or leaks.
The sections below walk through the decisions in the order a Robbins homeowner usually faces them, with a simple table at the end showing who owns each task.
Is it the right time to replace the roof?
The right time is usually when the roof needs it, not when the solar does. Shingles, underlayment and flashing wear out on their own schedule, and a failing roof under an array will not wait for the panels to age.
The panels themselves tend to keep working for a long time. According to the US Department of Energy, most systems sold over the last several decades lose only about 1% of their output per year, and the same page notes that during a roof replacement the panels and mounting system will need to be removed to complete the work. In practice, that means a healthy array normally comes off and goes back on; it does not need to be replaced just because the roof does.
Signs that the roof is ready to go include curling or missing shingles, granules collecting in the gutters, soft spots on the deck, and water stains on the ceiling, especially near the array. Leaks that show up around mounts deserve attention quickly, because water can travel along the deck before it appears indoors. If you are unsure, have a roofer inspect it and give a written opinion on remaining life.
Who should you call first, the roofer or the solar crew?
Call both early, but book the roofer’s window first and build the solar dates around it. The roofer controls the longest part of the job, and the detach and reset have to sit tightly on either side of the tear-off.
The roofer will want to know the array exists before quoting. Panels change how a crew stages materials, where it can walk and how much of the roof is open on day one. The solar side needs the roofer’s start date to schedule the removal, and it needs to know when the new roof will be finished to schedule the reinstall. Introducing the two early and sharing phone numbers between them removes most of the friction later.
What should be written into each quote?
Each quote should describe its half of the job in detail, so nothing falls into the gap between the two trades. The National Roofing Contractors Association advises homeowners to insist on a written proposal and to look for complete descriptions of the work and specifications, along with start and completion dates and payment procedures.
The roofing proposal
Look for the full scope of the reroof: tear-off, replacement of any damaged decking, underlayment, shingles and ventilation. Ask whether the roofer expects the deck to be completely clear when the crew arrives and how the area under the array will be handled.
The solar detach and reset quote
Look for the electrical shutdown, removal of modules, racking and conduit, how components will be labeled and stored, new mounts and flashing at each roof penetration, reinstallation, reconnection and a production check at the end. If a quote leaves out new flashing or testing, ask about it before you sign anything.
Do you need permits, and who pulls them?
Most roof replacements need a permit, and work should not start until it is in place. The Village of Robbins Building and Zoning Department states that permits must be obtained before work begins and that applications are submitted to Village Hall.
The roofer usually handles the roofing permit, but confirm it in writing rather than assuming. Electrical work on the solar side may raise its own questions depending on what is involved, so ask the solar crew what the village will expect for the reset. If you live just outside Robbins, in Midlothian, Blue Island, Posen or Crestwood, your own village sets its own rules, and it is worth a call to the building office there before you commit to dates.
What happens to the panels while the roof is off?
The panels should leave the roof labeled, inventoried and stored somewhere safe until the new roof is done. Every module, rail and clamp has a place in the original layout, and the system is wired in specific groupings, so tagging each piece is what lets it go back together the same way.
Storage matters more than it sounds. A reroof creates a messy work zone around the house, with falling debris, a dumpster in the driveway and ladders against the walls. Panels leaning against a garage wall in the middle of that are at real risk of cracked glass or damaged connectors. Ask where your components will be kept and how they will be protected from weather while they wait.
How do you keep the new roof from leaking at the mounts?
New flashing at every penetration is the single biggest factor in a dry roof under a reinstalled array. Each mount anchors the racking through the new shingles, and each one is a potential entry point for water if it is not sealed and flashed correctly.
On a Cook County home, that detail carries more weight in winter. Snow tends to collect on and below an array, and freeze-thaw cycles push meltwater into any weak seam. Reusing old flashing on a brand-new roof defeats much of the point of replacing it. Ask the roofer and the solar crew how they will agree on mount locations relative to new vents and seams, so nothing ends up in the wrong spot.
What should you check before the job is called finished?
The job is finished when the system is reconnected and producing again, and you have the records to show it. A production reading taken before the panels came off gives you something to compare against after reinstallation, keeping in mind that weather affects any single reading.
Collect the paperwork from both trades: the roofing permit sign-off, the roofer’s documentation, the solar crew’s photos, the inventory sheet and notes on what was replaced. If the system is leased or enrolled in an incentive program, check the lease agreement or program terms for anything that applies to removal and reinstallation, and confirm with the leasing company or your utility before the work starts.
Who owns each part of the job
| Task | Usually handled by | What to confirm |
|---|---|---|
| Shutdown and removal of the array | Solar detach and reset crew | Date set just before tear-off |
| Labeling, inventory and storage | Solar detach and reset crew | Where components are kept |
| Roofing permit | Roofer | Permit in place before work starts |
| Tear-off and new roof | Roofer | Completion date shared with the solar crew |
| New mounts and flashing | Solar crew, coordinated with the roofer | Mount layout agreed before shingles |
| Reinstall, reconnect and test | Solar detach and reset crew | Production check and records at the end |
The one decision that keeps the plan on track
The order is fixed, so the real risk is timing. If you make a single decision early, make it this one: get the solar dates set on both sides of the roofer’s window before the roofing deposit is paid. A roofer who arrives to find the array still in place loses the day, and a new roof that waits for reinstallation sits with open questions about who seals what. Locking in both ends of the schedule makes every other piece easier, from the permit to the final production check.
For Robbins homeowners who want the roof and the solar handled as one plan, Solar Panel Removal Robbins coordinates the roof replacement under solar panels together with the full solar panel detach and reset. You can learn more about how we approach each job on our home page.