Should You Convert Your Solar Panels To Solar Shingles?

Many technologists see solar technology moving from unappealing panels to solar shingles. As a part of your roof, they will look seamless. Many homeowners who had jumped from solar panels to shingles report enjoying much better aesthetics. Some mentioned that their homeowners’ association had approved using solar shingles rather than panels because they looked much better and discreet.

Unfortunately, solar panel to solar shingle conversions can be expensive. You’ve already spent a great amount on your existing panel system that supplies enough energy for your property. Solar shingles, while much more discreet and can achieve efficiency next to solar panels, are also expensive materials that require extensive labor. 

You will need additional labor to remove your existing panel system. Then, the solar shingle installation team will remove a portion of your roof material to place the shingles. These are the expenses you’re already handling before your roofers find a problem with your truss and sheathing, another expense you will add to the entire thing.

Should you convert your solar panels to solar shingles? We believe it’s an ideal choice – but we recommend maintaining a system that’s in an equilibrium and supplying enough energy for your property. Once solar shingles outperform solar panels in capability and dependability, you can consider tearing off your panels and roof for solar shingles.

Still, we believe solar shingles are the future of solar technology. GAF has recently assembled its second Timberline Solar Shingle manufacturing center. Read more about it below from Electrek.

GAF Energy, the sister company of GAF, the largest roofing and waterproofing company in North America, will build a 450,000-square-foot manufacturing facility in Georgetown, Texas, to meet growing demand for its “world’s first” nailable solar shingle, the Timberline Solar Energy Shingle, which launched in January.

The new factory, which will be GAF Energy’s second, will increase the company’s capacity by 500% and bring total production of its solar shingle to 300 megawatts annually. That will make GAF Energy the largest solar roofing producer in the world.

The Georgetown factory, which will be north of Austin and is expected to be up and running next year, will create hundreds of clean energy manufacturing jobs. GAF Energy’s first factory, in San Jose, California, was completed and began production in 2021.

Martin DeBono, president of GAF Energy, said:

We launched Timberline Solar because we believed that more consumers would choose solar if they had a more reliable, durable, and attractive option. The market has confirmed our belief – now we’re turning that belief into reality and building the future of clean energy here in the US. 

On January 6, a GAF Energy representative told Electrek about the cost, efficiency, and specs of its Timberline Solar Energy Shingle. On cost:

Timberline Solar is cost competitive with rack mounted systems and is more affordable than other solar roofs. It’s about half the cost of the Tesla Solar Roof.

The most affordable time to go solar is when you’re in the market for a new roof, by turning two home improvement projects into one. Plus, the solar helps pay for the roof by reducing your monthly utility bill.

GAF Energy president Martin DeBono says that replacing a $15,000 roof (not including solar) would probably cost $30,000 (before subsidies) with Timberline solar.

GAF Energy’s roofing partners do the pricing directly for the consumer and it depends a lot on the roof, shading, and a number of other factors. (Continue reading here to learn more)

You can always count on Roper Roofing & Solar to provide top-notch solar panel and GAF Timberline Solar Shingle installations (we’re a GAF Master Elite® roofing company) Contact us today to get started.