Who Removes Solar Panels for a Roof Replacement, and What It Costs in Georgia
Getting a new roof with solar on it? Here’s who removes the panels, what affects the cost, and how one Georgia team handles it start to finish.
Your roof needs work, and there’s a solar array sitting right where the roofers need to be. It’s a common spot to be in, and it raises two fair questions: who’s qualified to take the panels off safely, and what goes into the cost? This guide walks through both, straight, with no runaround.
Removing solar panels from a roof isn’t a job for just anyone with a ladder. It involves live electrical connections, delicate equipment, and a reinstall that has to be done right so your system produces the way it should afterward. Here’s what to know before you book anyone.
The short version
- A “detach and reset” means your existing panels come off for the roof work, then go right back on the same roof. It’s temporary, not a new system.
- Hire a solar technician, or a company that does both roofing and solar, not a roofer working alone. It protects your panels, your warranty, and your production.
- There’s no flat price. Panel count, roof complexity, and whether your hardware can be reused all move the number, so every job is quoted individually.
- For a like-for-like reinstall you usually keep your existing utility approval (PTO). Whether a new permit is needed depends on your local county.
What “removing solar panels for a roof” actually means
When your roof needs a repair or a full replacement, your panels have to come off first, then go back on once the new roof is down. In the solar world, that’s called a detach and reset. Your existing panels, racking, and wiring come off, the roof work happens, and the same equipment goes back on the same roof.
Detach and reset vs. permanent removal
These are two different jobs, and it’s worth knowing which one you need. A detach and reset is temporary: your Solar Energy System comes back on and keeps producing power. Permanent removal is for homeowners taking solar off for good. Almost everyone dealing with a roof repair or reroof wants a detach and reset, not permanent removal.
Who can remove solar panels from your roof?
Short answer: a qualified solar technician, or better yet, a company that handles both the solar and the roofing side in-house. Not a roofer working alone.
Why a roofer alone isn’t enough
Roofers are great at roofs. But your panels are wired into your home’s electrical system, often at high voltage, and they have to be powered down and disconnected safely before anything comes off the roof. Handle that wrong and you risk injury, damaged panels, a voided warranty, or a reinstall that doesn’t produce the way it used to. Panels are also easy to scratch, crack, or knock out of alignment if whoever’s handling them doesn’t do this regularly.
One team for the roof and the solar
Here’s where a lot of homeowners get stuck: they end up refereeing between a roofing company and a solar company, each pointing at the other when something goes wrong. We built our service division to close that gap. At Custom Solar Solutions, the same in-house, factory-certified, NABCEP-certified technicians who know your system handle the entire removal and reinstall. No subcontractors, no handoffs, no “that’s not our part” when there’s a question. One team, one point of accountability, start to finish.
What it costs to remove and reinstall solar panels
This is the question most homeowners really want answered, and it’s the one national cost guides tend to answer with vague averages. Here’s a more useful way to think about it.
What drives the price
A few things move your number up or down:
- Panel count. More panels, more labor. This is the biggest factor.
- Roof pitch and complexity. A steep or cut-up roof is slower, more careful work than a simple one.
- Hardware reuse. If your existing mounting hardware is in good shape, it can often be reused. If it’s corroded, or your roof material is changing, you may need new parts.
- Storage. If the roof work takes a while, your panels need a safe, dry place to wait.
- What we find once the panels are off. Sometimes a roof reveals damage that was hiding under the array, or a panel shows wear worth addressing before reinstall.
Every job is priced individually
We don’t post a flat, one-size-fits-all price, because no two roofs or systems are the same. The factors above are exactly why. The only way to get a real number is a written estimate on your actual roof and system, so give us a call and we’ll get you one. No surprises, no shortcuts, everything in writing before any work starts.
The step-by-step removal and reinstall process
Here’s what the job actually looks like, so there are no surprises:
- Power down and disconnect. We safely shut down the inverter and disconnect the system from your home’s electrical panel before anything is touched on the roof.
- Detach the panels and racking. The modules and mounting hardware come off carefully and are set aside or moved to safe storage.
- Roof work happens. The repair or replacement gets done with a clear deck to work on.
- Reinstall. The racking and panels go back on the same roof, in the same spots, and the wiring is reconnected.
- Test and verify. We confirm the system is producing the way it should before we call it done.
- Handle the utility paperwork. More on that below.
You’ll always know what’s happening next. That’s part of the deal.
When you’d need to remove your panels
Reroofing or roof replacement
The most common reason. An aging roof under a solar array eventually needs replacing, and the panels have to come off to do it right.
Roof repair (not a full replacement)
Sometimes it’s a smaller job, a leak or a damaged section, and only some panels need to come off for access.
Storm damage and insurance-driven roof replacement
Georgia gets its share of wind and hail, and storm damage is a common trigger for a reroof. If your roof replacement is going through an insurance claim, every policy is different, and coverage isn’t something we can speak to for you. If you’ve got questions, give us a call and we’ll help you understand what the removal and reinstall involves. Either way, if a storm has put your roof and your solar in question, our storm-response team can help you sort out what needs to happen.
Do you need a permit or utility paperwork to reinstall?
It’s easy to lump these together, but they’re two different things.
Permits. Whether a fresh permit is required comes down to your local city or county. Some jurisdictions treat a detach and reset as routine maintenance and don’t require a new one. Others treat the reinstall like a new job and want a building or electrical permit pulled, even though your original install was already permitted. The only way to know is to check the local rules, and that’s something we do for you.
Utility paperwork (PTO). If you’re putting the same system back the way it was, your Permission to Operate generally still applies, so there’s usually no new interconnection application to file. That typically only changes if you use the downtime to grow the system, like adding panels or a battery, which can trigger new paperwork with your utility. In our area that’s Georgia Power, Cobb EMC, and other Georgia utilities.
Either way, we handle the red tape. We check what your jurisdiction and your utility actually require and take care of it, so there’s no wondering where things stand.
What about “free roof replacement with solar” offers?
You may have seen ads promising a free roof if you go solar. Our advice is simple: read the fine print and get every promise in writing before you sign anything. We don’t run free-roof promotions. What we do offer is a free consultation with one of our solar consultants, where you’ll get a straight answer about your roof, your system, and what the job really involves.
One Team for Your Roof and Your Solar
When your roof needs work, you shouldn’t have to referee two companies. Our in-house, factory-certified technicians remove your panels, coordinate the roof work, reinstall your Solar Energy System, and handle the utility paperwork, so you’re back online with no surprises and no shortcuts.
Schedule Your Free Consultation
Frequently asked questions
Who removes solar panels for a roof replacement, a roofer or a solar company?
A qualified solar technician, or a company that does both. Roofers aren’t trained to safely disconnect and reconnect a solar system.
Can I remove my solar panels myself?
It’s not recommended. Between the electrical work, the height, and how easily panels are damaged, DIY can cost you more than it saves and can void your warranty.
How much does it cost to remove and reinstall solar panels in Georgia?
Every job is different, so we don’t quote a flat price. Panel count, roof complexity, and what we find once the panels are off all change the number. The fastest way to a real figure is to call us for a written estimate on your system.
Does homeowners insurance cover removing solar panels for a storm-related reroof?
That’s between you and your insurer, and every policy is different, so it’s not something we can speak to for you. If you have questions about the job itself, give us a call and we’ll walk you through what’s involved.
Do you need a permit to take panels off and reinstall them?
It depends on your local jurisdiction. Some counties require a new permit for the reinstall and some treat it as routine maintenance, even if your original install was already permitted. As for reconnecting to the grid, if you’re putting the same system back, your existing Permission to Operate usually still applies, so there’s often no new utility paperwork unless you’re adding panels or a battery. We check what’s required and handle it either way.
Will removing and reinstalling my panels void the warranty?
Done by qualified technicians with a proper reconnection, it shouldn’t. Done wrong, it can. That’s the case for hiring people who do this regularly.
Can my old mounting hardware be reused?
Often, if it’s in good shape. If it’s corroded, or your roof material is changing, you may need new parts.
How long does the whole process take?
Every job is different, so the timeline comes down to the scope of the roof work. We’ll give you a realistic idea of what to expect before we start.
On this page
- What “removing solar panels for a roof” means
- Who can remove solar panels from your roof
- What it costs to remove and reinstall
- The step-by-step removal and reinstall process
- When you’d need to remove your panels
- Do you need a permit or utility paperwork?
- What about “free roof” offers?
- Frequently asked questions
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