Solar companies don't inspect your roof — they measure it. Before you sign a 25-year solar contract, get an independent assessment of the roof underneath: remaining shingle life per slope, deck substrate for attachment, attic ventilation impact, penetration flashing plan, and the three-way warranty stack. Because paying to have panels removed and reinstalled in 8 years costs more than getting this call right today.
Per-slope remaining shingle/tile/membrane life scoring
Deck substrate audit (OSB thickness, truss layout, blocking) for lag-bolt attachment
Attic ventilation impact assessment (panel array shades 30–60% of roof airflow)
Penetration count + flashing-kit plan (typical install adds 12–24 penetrations)
Three-way warranty stack review: roof + solar + attachment kit
Re-roof-first vs solar-first go/no-go recommendation with timeline math
Full roof walk with per-slope remaining-life scoring (5, 10, 15, 20+ years). Deck substrate audit — sheathing thickness probe, truss/rafter spacing verification, blocking presence at planned attachment points. Attic inspection: current ventilation NFA math + projected impact from panel shading. Proposed panel-layout review against roof condition — which slopes should carry panels, which shouldn't. Penetration count and flashing-kit plan (Quick Mount, IronRidge, Unirac) with per-penetration compatibility review. Existing roof warranty review — does adding solar void it? (spoiler: often yes without prior manufacturer approval). Projected 25-year cost model: re-roof now vs re-roof later (with panel removal + reinstall). Written scope with clear go/no-go recommendation and re-roof timeline.
Homeowners with an active solar quote who want an independent second look before signing. Homeowners whose roof is 10–20 years old and considering solar. Homeowners with a recent hail event who want repair/replace decided before adding solar. Homeowners planning to re-roof AND add solar and want the sequence right. Buyers under contract on a home with existing solar (see also: post-solar install audit).
Verbal Walk — $99 Standard Pre-Solar Report — $349 Detailed w/ Per-Slope Life Model + 25-Year Cost Comparison + Warranty Stack Review — $549 Commercial or Multi-Building — Custom Most pre-solar inspections are $349–$549. Compared to a $2,000–$4,000 solar-panel remove-and-reinstall fee in 8 years, the math is easy.
Because solar installers cover panels; they don't cover the roof under the panels. If your shingle roof has 8 years left and your solar system has a 25-year contract, you're paying $2,000–$4,000 in a decade to have panels removed, roof replaced, and panels reinstalled. Nobody in the sales cycle will tell you this — the solar company doesn't know your roof age, and the roofer doesn't know about your solar contract. I score both and tell you what to do before you sign.
Deck substrate (are they landing lag bolts into ½" OSB or actual truss chord?), attic ventilation change caused by 18–24 panels blocking airflow, penetration count and flashing kit plan (typical 6.5kW install adds 12–24 new roof penetrations), remaining shingle life per slope, ridge/hip integrity for the panels' wind uplift load, and the warranty stack (roof + solar + attachment kit — three separate warranties that don't talk to each other).
Before, if your roof has fewer than 15 years of life remaining. Every credible NM solar-integrator will tell you the same. The extra cost of re-roofing under panels later is real: $2,000–$4,000 removal + reinstall on top of the re-roof itself. I score remaining life per-slope and give you a clear go/no-go recommendation on re-roof timing.
No. I don't sell solar, I don't sell roofing, I don't take referral fees from either. I'm paid by you for an independent assessment, period. That's the point.
Pre-listing & buyer due-diligence reports.
Reserve study + per-unit documentation.
Party-wall + shared-roof attribution.
Step, counter, cricket flashing audit.
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.