Service
Solar Panel Removal Before Your Roof Replacement
A roof cannot be torn off with solar panels still bolted to it. Before a tear-off, a repair, or a leak fix under the array can start, the panels and racking have to come off the roof, get out of the way, and stay safe until the new roof is ready for them. That is true whether the panels sit over one small section of decking or cover the whole roof.
Phoenix Solar Removal handles that side of the job for homeowners and roofing companies across Phoenix, Glendale, Peoria, Surprise, and Scottsdale: the electrical shutdown, the physical removal, and the staging, so your roof is clear for tear-off and the system is ready to go back up once the new roof is on. We work directly with homeowners and as a subcontractor to roofing companies, whichever way the job comes to us.
Shutdown and Lockout on the DC Side
Before a single panel is touched, the system is shut down and locked out on the DC side. The inverter is powered down, the DC disconnects are opened, and the array is confirmed dead so there is no live current anywhere in the system while it is being taken apart. This is the step that keeps a crew safe on the roof, and it happens the same way on every job, no shortcuts.
- Inverter and combiner box powered down
- DC disconnects opened and locked out
- Array confirmed de-energized before removal begins
- Lockout tags placed so the system cannot be re-energized by accident
Panel and Racking Removal
With the system confirmed off, panels come down first. Each one is disconnected at its connector, unbolted from the racking, and carried off the roof by hand. Once the panels are clear, the racking and rails come off next, down to the mounting feet underneath them, and the hardware is kept together by row so it does not get mixed up with hardware from a different part of the array. Glass panels get handled as glass, set down rather than stacked hard against each other, because a cracked panel on removal day is a problem nobody wants to explain at reinstall.
Labeling and Staging
Panels do not go back up in whatever order is convenient. Each one is labeled for its row and position before it comes off the roof, and the wiring is tagged to match. Everything is staged on site, off the roof and out of your roofer's way, until the new roof is ready for it. On a larger array, that labeling is what keeps reinstall day from turning into a guessing game about which panel came from where. The label goes on with tape that holds up to being staged outside for weeks, not something that rubs off on the way to the yard.
What Happens to the Old Penetrations
Once the panels, racking, and mounting feet are off, what is left is the old penetrations in the roof deck. Those belong to the roof from that point on. Your roofer details them into the new roofing the same as any other penetration, which is exactly why the array needs to be off before tear-off starts, not worked around. We photograph the roof deck at this stage, so there is a clear record of its condition before tear-off begins, and that record is part of the file if a question ever comes up later about what was underneath the array.
Handoff to the Roofing Crew
Removal is scheduled around your roofer's timeline, not the other way around. Once the panels, racking, and hardware are off and staged, the roof deck is ready for tear-off. We coordinate directly with your roofing company on timing, so the solar system is never the reason a crew is standing around waiting on site. If you found us first, we will reach out to your roofer directly and work out that schedule between us. You get a written count of what came off the roof and where it is staged, so there is no ambiguity about what is waiting to go back up.
Questions
Straight answers.
Do you remove panels for roof repairs, not just full roof replacements?
Yes. Any roof work that needs a clear deck under the array qualifies for removal, including a leak repair or a partial re-roof, not only a full tear-off.
What happens to the wiring and mounting hardware once the panels are off?
Wiring is disconnected at the panel and tagged to match its position on the array. The racking and feet come off down to the roof deck, and anything staying in place gets pointed out to your roofer before tear-off starts.
Is the system shut off safely before removal starts?
Yes. The inverter is powered down and the DC disconnects are opened and locked out before any panel is touched, and the array is confirmed dead before removal begins.
Do you coordinate directly with my roofer, or do I need to manage the timing myself?
We coordinate directly with your roofing company on scheduling. You should not have to relay timing back and forth between two separate contractors.
Get a quote
Roof bid in hand? Get the solar number.
Tell us the address, roughly how many panels are up there, and when the roofer wants the deck clear. We will come back with what the solar side of the job takes.
Prefer to talk? Call (480) 660-2765 or email support@mdhomes.io.