How much does a roof replacement cost?

The cost of a roof replacement depends on a number of factors and can vary greatly from one home to the next. By far, the largest factor in determining the price of a roof replacement is the square footage of the roof.

How to calculate a roofing cost estimate

Roof replacements can vary widely—the typical range in the United States is between $5,000 and $11,000, but one source puts the high-end for potential cost as high as $45,000.

Roofing companies calculate their base price by the “square.” A square is a 10-foot by 10-foot area of the roof (100 square feet). So, for example, if your roof is 2000 square feet, it would be counted as 20 squares.

In addition to the number of squares, additional factors that affect the price of a roof replacement include:

• Pitch or slope of the roof
• Type of roofing material (shingle is cheaper than slate, tile, or metal)
• Condition of the underlayment (or materials underneath the roof material)
• Number of layers
• Geography: roofing prices in the Northeast and on the West Coast are typically higher than in the South, for example.
• Number of vents, chimneys, skylights, and other similar features.

Do I need to upgrade my roof (or re-roof) to get solar?

Most homeowners do not need to re-roof before going solar but it is necessary in some cases. Whether or not your roof can support solar depends on a number of factors and any good solar installer will ensure all necessary conditions are met before installing solar on a home (at Vivint Solar we verify all of these elements before starting every solar installation). Some of the most important factors that are considered, include:

Roof Age

As roofs age, they deteriorate. They may lose shingles, have cracked tiles, lose granularity, crack and wither, and no longer protect the home from water damage. Depending on the roofing material, the lifespan of a roof can range from 10 years to 50 years (or more). It is important to replace expired materials, especially if work, such as the installation of a solar energy system, is to be done on the aging roof.

Roof Damage

Fire damage, water damage, or weather damage can all compromise the integrity and durability of a roof. If the roof is damaged beyond repair, it is in the best interest of the home to replace the damaged roof with a new, high quality, watertight roof.

Roof Incompatibility

In some situations, a roof might be in good condition but still be incompatible with a solar energy system. The following factors influence rooftop solar compatibility:

- Shingle layers: If a shingle roof has more than two layers of shingles, it may not be possible for a solar energy system to be installed properly. Those extra layers prevent installers from being able to guarantee that it will be watertight, so the installation would not pass inspection. In the event a roof has more than two layers of shingles, it is best to replace the existing roof before installing the solar energy system.

- Existing roof material: Certain materials are not compatible with solar mounting systems and increase the risk of water damage. If your roof is comprised of one of these incompatible materials, it will require replacement with a compatible material before installing the solar energy system.

- Roof tilt: Solar energy systems require a mounting system for installation, which generally requires the angle of the roof to be within a certain range (depending on the existing material—shingle, tile, etc.). If the angle of a roof is lower than the minimum angle allowed for the existing material, there are other materials that can be installed to allow for the system to be mounted properly.

Benefits of a roof upgrade

- Value: A roof upgrade will improve your home’s curb appeal and energy efficiency. And according to Remodeling Magazine's 2019 Cost vs. Value Report, a new roof can increase home resale value by a national average of over $15,000.

- Longevity: Different roof materials have different lifespans, but all of them eventually expire. Installing a new roof can provide peace of mind for many years.

- Safety: A quality roof will help to protect your home from water damage and more effectively guard against other natural elements.

Does Vivint Solar provide roofing services?

Yes. Vivint Solar employs roofing professionals in California, Connecticut, Illinois, and Massachusetts to offer roof upgrades for homeowners going solar. We also facilitate roofing services through third-party contractors in all other United States areas where we operate to meet roofing needs for homeowners who are going solar with Vivint Solar.

What kinds of roofing upgrades does Vivint Solar provide/facilitate?

- Bad felt replacement (for tile roofs only): On tile roofs, felt is used to protect the decking of the roof. When this felt is in poor condition or damaged, it will need to be replaced prior to a solar energy system being installed. In this case, the tiles are removed, securely stored, then reinstalled once the felt is replaced.

- Common repairs: Less time or labor intensive repairs to the roof can be done at the time of installation. These types of repairs include:

• Replacing missing ridge caps
• Replacing missing or loose shingles
• Removing moss

- Comp Out (for tile roofs only): Some tile roofs cannot support the weight of solar panels so, in those situations, we simply remove the tiles where the solar panels will be placed and install composite shingles in those areas. Solar panels are then installed on top of the shingles. Once the solar panels are installed, tiles are added back around the edges of the system to sit flush with it. Many homeowners actually prefer the flush look over placing panels on top of sturdy tiles.

- Overlay (for composite shingle roof types): As mentioned earlier, solar should not be installed on top of more than two layers of shingles. But in cases where only one layer of shingles exists, and those shingles are damaged or old, we simply add a new layer of shingles over the existing layer.

- Tear-Off (for all roof types): A tear-off is just what it sounds like—we take off the existing roof, down to the decking (plywood), then replace it with an entirely new roof.

Financing options for Vivint Solar roof upgrades

We try to make clean energy options as obtainable as possible so we offer great rates and multiple financing options for roof upgrades paired with a Vivint Solar energy system. The financing options depend on the upgrade type and solar plan you’re interested in:

- Solar Loan: If you’ve chosen a Vivint Solar loan plan to finance your home energy system then the cost of the roofing upgrade can be rolled into that loan.*

- Solar PPA/Lease/Loan: If you’ve chosen a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA), lease, or loan plan and want to pay outright for your roofing upgrade, you can enjoy the convenience of paying through your Vivint Solar Account Center.**

- Solar Purchase: If you’ve chosen to pay for your Vivint Solar system with cash, you can roll the cost of the upgrade into the cash pay contract for the entire solar energy system.