You do not need a full re-roof to need the panels moved. If a leak or repair sits under part of your array, a detach and reset of the affected section gives the roofer open decking where they need it, then puts the system back on and producing.
Phoenix Solar Removal handles partial and full detach and reset jobs for homeowners and roofing companies across Phoenix, Glendale, Peoria, Surprise, and Scottsdale.
When a leak under the array means the panels come off
Any roof work that needs a clear deck under the array qualifies for removal. That includes:
- A leak repair under one or two rows
- A partial re-roof on one slope or section
- Damaged underlayment or decking found under the array
- A full tear-off, where the whole array comes off
The roofer cannot properly repair what they cannot reach. Working around racking, or lifting a panel corner to peek under it, is how a small leak turns into a second repair.
Partial vs full - what changes
Partial jobs follow the same sequence as a full one. The difference is how much of the array is in play.
What stays the same: the system is still shut down at the inverter and locked out on the DC side before anything is touched. Even if only a few modules come off, the array is still one electrical system.
What changes: how many panels and rails come down, how much staging space you need, and how the reset is scoped. Anything staying in place gets pointed out to your roofer before work starts.
Say plainly in the quote request whether this is a partial or a full job. Unclear scope is a common cause of change orders and idle days.
Let the roofer define the work area first
Before booking the solar side, ask your roofer to mark which part of the roof needs to be open and why. That answer decides which panels come off.
If the roofer thinks the repair might grow once they see the decking, say so up front. It is easier to plan for a possible bigger section than to call the solar crew back mid-job.
What happens to the mounts in the repair area
Once panels, racking, and feet come off a section, the old penetrations there belong to the roof. Your roofer details them into the repair the same as any other penetration.
On reset, feet go back down with new flashing suited to the roofing surface, so the array is not the reason the repaired area leaks again. Remount details are on the solar panel reinstallation page.
Photos before anything moves
A leak repair often comes with questions later: what was under there, and was anything damaged before the work? The array is photographed before anything comes off, and the roof deck under it is photographed before tear-off. Those photos go to you.
If a panel in the work area was already cracked, or the system was not producing before the leak was found, mention it when you reach out. Pre-existing damage gets recorded at the start rather than argued about at the end.
The offline window on a partial job
The system is offline from disconnect until it is reconnected and tested, even if only part of the array came off. The house stays on utility power the whole time. You lose solar production for that window, not electricity.
How long the window lasts depends on the repair scope and the roofer's schedule, and it gets quoted with the job.
What to send
- Property address
- Rough panel count and which section has the leak
- What the roofer plans to open up
- When the roofer wants that area clear
- Photos of the leak area or interior stain, if you have them
FAQ
Can you remove just a few panels? Yes. Removal covers a leak repair or a partial re-roof, not only a full tear-off. Describe the scope in your quote request.
Do the panels that come off go back in the same spots? Yes. Panels are labeled for row and position and the wiring is tagged as they come apart, so each one goes back where it came from.
Who coordinates with the roofer? We work out timing with your roofing company directly, so you are not passing dates between two contractors.
Next step
Send the address, the leak location, and the roofer's timeline through the contact page. Phoenix Solar Removal will scope the detach and reset for just the section that needs it. The full removal sequence is on the solar panel removal page.