Storm hit and your roof has solar panels? Standard inspectors don't touch it and solar installers only check the array. I document penetration sealing, flashing boot condition, standoff torque, and membrane compatibility — before and after solar work — so your roof warranty stays intact and the insurance packet is defensible.
Per-penetration sealant audit — butyl, polyurethane, silicone, and manufacturer-compatibility chart lookup
Flashing boot and standoff base displacement mapping after any 55+ mph NM wind event
Standoff torque check on a random sample (spec vs actual, ft-lb)
Hail-impact documentation on all non-array slopes (panels shed hail differently)
Membrane compatibility scoring for TPO / EPDM / foam / mod-bit + written corrective scope
Insurance-packet grade photos with slope maps and NOAA storm-event correlation
Full walk of every accessible slope, focused on the solar-array footprint and its perimeter. Per-penetration inspection: rail attachments, standoff bases, flashing boots, and sealant. Sealant compatibility check against the roofing membrane manufacturer's chart — flag mismatches that void the warranty. Standoff torque spot-check (random sample, in-lb / ft-lb per install spec). Adjacent-slope hail impact documentation (arrays actually deflect and concentrate strikes on nearby areas). Attic inspection under the array for any water staining, insulation compression, or new leak evidence. Written report with per-penetration photos, sealant type identified, corrective scope, and insurance-adjuster ready slope map.
Homeowners whose roof took a hail or wind event and has solar panels installed. Homeowners planning to install solar and want a baseline BEFORE any penetrations are drilled. Homeowners with existing solar noticing leaks or stains under the array. Buyers under contract on a home with solar and wanting a warranty-integrity check. Commercial owners with rooftop PV wanting periodic sealant and torque audits.
Post-Storm Solar-Safe Assessment — $549 (single-family, up to 25 panels) Before-Install Baseline Report — $349 Existing-Install Sealant / Compatibility Audit — $449 Commercial / >25-panel arrays — $795+ Insurance carriers routinely pay for the roof scope. I bill you; you submit; most carriers reimburse the assessment fee when a claim is opened.
Solar installers check that the panels are still attached. They don't document flashing damage, sealant failure at each penetration, membrane compatibility with new standoff sealant, or storm hail impacts on adjacent slopes — which is exactly what the insurance carrier and the roof warranty need. I document the roof; they document the array.
Many installers use butyl or polyurethane sealant that isn't compatible with TPO, EPDM, or foam roofs — it voids the membrane manufacturer's warranty and slowly attacks the substrate. I flag every mismatched sealant per-penetration, cite the manufacturer's compatibility chart, and give you a corrective scope to preserve the warranty.
Both. Before install: baseline the roof, score remaining life, verify the roof can support 20-25 more years so you don't tear off a paid-off solar array in 8 years. After install (or after any 55+ mph wind event / hail event on a roof with existing solar): document penetration seal condition, standoff torque, flashing displacement, and any hidden damage the installer's post-storm walk missed.
SMACNA sizing + downspout audit.
Bid + scope compared line-by-line.
Hail/wind + NOAA event correlation.
Map wet insulation before you recoat.
I've watched too many neighbors sign contracts they didn't understand for roofs they didn't need. That stops with a written report they own.