I've seen people who were quoted $35k for replacing their roof with a non-solar roof and $50k for a roof with solar shingles. Because the solar shingles were an integral part of the roof the whole roof counted for the 30% federal tax credit, bringing that $50k down to $35k.
If they had went with the non-solar roof with a separate solar system installed on top of it the tax credit would only cover that system because the roof is not part of the system.
I think it would have been interesting to know more — if it was difficult to replace panels, if there were issues with shading / inverters, or hail resistance or something like that. (Those issues led me to switch to planning a ground mount)
There’s a small premium — maybe around 5% per watt — for going with solar shingles instead of panels. But in return, you get a few practical advantages:
Better aesthetics (they blend in)
Higher wind resistance
Simpler logistics (one contractor instead of two)
And most importantly, you’re not voiding your roofing warranty by drilling dozens or hundreds of holes into your shingles and rafters
It’s definitely not for everyone, but for people already needing a new roof, it can make a lot of sense.
I am the original owner of my construction "builder grade shingles" that were 16 years of age and beginning to fail, yes a horrible builder I knew but had NO options for the location owned by them. Being construction industry aware I knew from the get go what my shingles were however I also had been positioning for pv since day one but never found a solution that I accepted, panels being the only thing to a point. Then along comes BiPV in the form of solar shingles and this all made sense exactly as joistandvolt lists and more.
I obtained 3 pure roofing replacement quotes for my 2200 sq ft typical roof; 18K Amish folk, 26K Local guy, 36K Big national chain.
So I NEEDED a new roof and HAD to spend at least 18k with the clock ticking. I had the option to spend 26k as well as 35k but what would those higher costs get me in the situation of ONLY a roof? In 2020 I then asked myself what a Tesla solar roof would cost since I already had to purchase a new roof and so my year long journey started that I absolutely would do all over again for new construction or a replacement roof.
This was an up and down time for Tesla Energy for those working with them. Canceling signed contracts and more yet being a data guy and having a decade of recordings from our families resource consumption numbers; water, electric and more, my speculated energy finance math calculations from a decade of real world expenses made the choice a no brainer in who to pay.
My solar shingle quote all in with 2 PWs was 70k, 213 pv v3 shingles @ 58.8 watts per. After all Federal and Maryland kicks backs our all in cost for our new localized generation and storage of electricity roof was 45K. Hindsight justifications aside had I chosen the big national brand I was all in already for 36K so for 9K more I got a solar glass roof, machine gun sounds in a hail storm, no concerns from wind as several neighbors already have made claims, ample power for the sump pump as other neighbors have already flooded, free excitement of death in winter when shoveling under the avalanche roofs, drive by looky loos taking pictures, neighbors asking me what's on my roof, and as a lifelong gardener no more pounds of asphalt crap to clean from my roof water capture tank every year either. Oh and since nearly all only care about the financial aspect those are laughable in our favor as well obviously. Starting with a greatly reduced electric bill based on the Sun's intensity but we still NEED the grid to dump our overage production to our neighbors yet being a dual EV family and a PV home we no longer buy petrol but do charge at Wawa on occasion.
Definitely ANYONE needing a roof, new construction or a replacement, should seriously consider localized generation and storage of a critical resource everyone alive requires daily. As the U.S. Energy and Commerce meetings have forewarned for many years, which is now coming to fruition as reality, that nearly all are experiencing higher prices and degraded uptime too. Who do you think cares about you when the lights go out? Energy is the foundation of our security yet few can see this with the lights on but once it goes dark that foundational need is easy to see.
Stay Healthy!
theturtle•9mo ago
sshine•9mo ago
dzhiurgis•9mo ago
Powerwall seems expensive but it has integrated inverter so you paying about 20% premium compared to cheapest gear.
kcplate•9mo ago
You made what would have actually been a quality comment look totally childish by including these 10 words.