Getting Bids for a New Roof and PV System: What Homeowners Need to Know
Lance Luke
8/22/20265 min read
If you are planning to reroof your home and install a photovoltaic, or PV, system, do not treat them as two unrelated projects.
The roof and PV system will eventually become connected. The solar contractor will install equipment and attachment points on the new roof. If the work is not properly coordinated, you could end up with roof leaks, damaged roofing materials, a voided warranty, or two contractors blaming each other when something goes wrong.
Here is the protocol I recommend homeowners follow when obtaining roofing and PV bids.
Start With an Evaluation, Not a Price
Before asking contractors for prices, determine what your property actually needs.
Document the roof’s age, roofing material, previous repairs, active leaks, drainage problems, and remaining warranty. If the roof is old or has visible problems, consider obtaining an independent roof-condition assessment.
You should also evaluate whether the roof structure can support the proposed PV system. The condition of the roof deck, framing, drainage, and existing penetrations may affect both the roofing and solar work.
For the PV system, gather at least 12 months of electric bills. Also consider whether your future electrical usage may increase because of air-conditioning, an electric vehicle, additional appliances, or other improvements.
The objective is to define the project before contractors begin selling you their preferred solution.
Treat the Roof and PV System as One Coordinated Project
You may hire one contractor to manage both scopes or use separate roofing and PV contractors.
Either approach can work.
A combined contract may provide clearer responsibility because one company manages the overall project. Separate contracts may provide better price competition, but the homeowner must make sure the two contractors coordinate their work in writing.
Someone must be responsible for coordinating:
The PV layout
Solar attachment locations
Roof penetrations and flashing
Permits and inspections
The construction schedule
Roof warranty requirements
Repairs if leaks occur
Do not assume the roofing and PV contractors will work these matters out themselves.
Obtain Multiple Bids
I recommend obtaining at least three roofing bids and three PV bids.
Require each contractor to inspect the property in person. Be cautious about accepting a final price based only on satellite measurements, photographs, or a telephone conversation.
More importantly, give every bidder the same written requirements. If each contractor is bidding on a different scope, comparing the prices will tell you very little.
One contractor may include roof-deck repairs, upgraded flashing, permits, and disposal. Another may exclude all of those items and appear substantially cheaper.
The lowest number is not necessarily the lowest final cost.
What Every Roofing Bid Should Include
A roofing proposal should identify exactly what the contractor is providing.
At a minimum, it should include:
Measured roof area
Removal of existing roofing
Roofing manufacturer and product
Underlayment
Flashing at walls, valleys, edges, vents, and other penetrations
Drainage and ventilation work
Roof-deck or sheathing repairs
Unit prices for concealed damage discovered after tear-off
Required structural repairs
PV-compatible mounting and flashing requirements
Permits and inspections
Property protection and cleanup
Start and completion dates
Workmanship and manufacturer warranties
Exclusions, allowances, and optional work
Pay close attention to concealed-damage allowances. A proposal that says the contractor will “repair damaged wood as necessary” without stating a price can lead to expensive change orders.
Ask for a unit price per sheet of damaged sheathing, per linear foot of framing, or for any other repair that cannot be accurately determined until the existing roof is removed.
What Every PV Bid Should Include
A PV proposal should provide more than the system price and an estimated monthly payment.
It should identify:
Number and model of solar panels
Total system size
Inverter or microinverter manufacturer and model
Battery manufacturer, capacity, power rating, and warranty
Proposed panel layout
Mounting and roof-penetration details
Wind-design requirements
Electrical-panel or service upgrades
Estimated first-year energy production
Shading, orientation, and system-loss assumptions
Annual panel-degradation assumptions
Monitoring equipment and fees
Permit and utility-interconnection responsibilities
Estimated schedule
Equipment and workmanship warranties
Roof-penetration warranty
Cost to remove and reinstall the panels for future roof work
Cash price and financed price
Interest, financing, and dealer fees
Ownership of the equipment and available incentives
Ask whether the projected energy production is guaranteed or merely estimated. If it is guaranteed, the proposal should explain what happens if the system does not produce the promised amount.
Do not evaluate a PV proposal based only on the salesperson’s estimate of monthly savings. Future utility rates, household energy usage, financing costs, shading, and system performance can all affect the actual savings.
Settle the Roof-Penetration Issue Before Signing
This is one of the most important parts of the project.
Before selecting either contractor, get written answers to the following questions:
Who determines and approves the solar attachment locations?
Who installs and flashes the attachment points?
Will those attachments affect the roof warranty?
Who is responsible if a leak develops near an attachment?
Who repairs roofing damaged during the PV installation?
Who pays to remove and reinstall panels for a covered roof repair?
Who documents the completed flashing and concealed conditions?
Who will the homeowner contact when a problem involves both systems?
The roofing and PV contractors should agree on the attachment and flashing details before work begins.
In most cases, the roof should be completed and accepted before the PV equipment is installed. However, structural blocking, attachment bases, or other components may need to be incorporated while the roof is being replaced.
That sequence should be planned—not improvised in the field.
Verify the Contractors
Before considering a bid, verify the contractor’s qualifications.
Check:
Exact legal company name
Active contractor license
License classification appropriate for the work
General liability insurance
Workers’ compensation insurance
Bonding, when applicable
Complaint and disciplinary history
Proposed subcontractors
Local experience
Comparable completed projects
References from previous customers
Experience obtaining permits and utility approval
Make sure the business named on the contract is the same business whose license and insurance you verified.
In Hawaiʻi, homeowners can check contractor information through the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs. Do not rely solely on a license number printed on a proposal. Confirm that the license is active and belongs to the company offering to perform the work.
Compare the Entire Scope
When reviewing the bids, compare the following:
Completeness of the work
Roofing materials and installation details
Solar equipment and projected production
Flashing and waterproofing methods
Warranty coverage
Contractor qualifications
Cash and financing costs
Exclusions and allowances
Project schedule
Long-term service and repair responsibilities
If one proposal is much lower than the others, determine what is missing before assuming it is a bargain.
A low bid can become the most expensive bid after omissions, change orders, repairs, and warranty disputes are considered.
Hold a Joint Meeting Before Awarding the Work
Once you identify the preferred roofing and PV contractors, bring them together before signing the final contracts.
Review the PV layout, attachment points, flashing method, roof-access routes, electrical routing, equipment locations, construction sequence, inspections, and warranty responsibilities.
Document every important decision and attach those requirements to the contracts.
Do not rely on statements such as:
“We do this all the time.”
“The other contractor will handle it.”
“That will be worked out later.”
“The warranty should cover it.”
If the responsibility is important, put it in writing.
Protect Yourself in the Contracts
The contracts should include:
Complete scope of work
Equipment and material specifications
Drawings or approved layouts
Fixed price and clearly defined allowances
Permit and inspection responsibilities
Start and completion dates
Progress payments tied to completed work
Written change-order requirements
Conditional and final lien releases
Cleanup and property-protection requirements
Warranty procedures
Final inspection and closeout requirements
Avoid paying the entire amount upfront. Payments should correspond to materials delivered and work actually completed.
Final payment should not be made until the required work, inspections, corrections, warranties, manuals, photographs, and closeout documents have been provided.
Be Careful With Tax-Credit Claims
Homeowners should independently verify every tax-credit or incentive claim made in a sales proposal.
For installations completed in 2026, contractors should not calculate savings using the former federal 30% Residential Clean Energy Credit. The IRS states that this federal residential credit ended for expenditures after December 31, 2025.
Hawaiʻi currently has a Renewable Energy Technologies Income Tax Credit without a stated repeal date, but eligibility and credit calculations should be confirmed with a qualified tax professional.
A contractor can explain an incentive, but the contractor should not be your only source of tax advice.
Final Thoughts
A new roof and PV system can represent a substantial investment in your home. The best protection is not simply collecting several prices. It is making sure every contractor bids on the same clearly defined work.
Evaluate the roof first. Obtain multiple detailed bids. Verify the contractors. Coordinate the roofing and PV work before construction begins. Most importantly, establish in writing who is responsible for every attachment, penetration, leak, warranty, and future repair.
Good coordination at the beginning can prevent years of finger-pointing and expensive repairs later.
— Lance Luke
National Building Expert
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