Who Can Remove Solar Panels From Your Roof?

Solar panel installers can handle removal, too

roof with solar panels on sunny day
Photo: myphotobank.com.au/ Adobe Stock
roof with solar panels on sunny day
Photo: myphotobank.com.au/ Adobe Stock
Audrey Bruno
Written by Audrey Bruno
Contributing Writer
Updated September 6, 2024
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Solar panels are worth it, but, like anything, they’ll eventually need to be removed or replaced. When that day comes, you’ll be less stressed if you already know who can remove solar panels from your roof. Both roofers and solar panel contractors can get the job done, but which you hire will depend on your particular needs—like if you’re getting rid of your panels for good or are simply looking for a replacement. 

Benefits of Hiring a Solar Panel Technician to Remove Solar Panels

There are several reasons you may need to remove solar panels. Maybe there’s a problem with the shingles underneath that needs fixing, or perhaps you’re looking to upgrade your solar setup to a newer model. In any case, solar panels are extremely delicate, and even a little bit of mishandling can cause irrevocable damage. 

Companies that remove and reinstall solar panels are the best fit for a job like this because they have all the tools and knowledge to take them down without a struggle. Hiring a solar panel contractor near you ensures there won’t be damage during the removal process. Solar panel techs are also equipped to repair your solar panels if they need it and reinstall them after the fact. They can also replace them with a new system if you’re opting for an upgrade.

Can I Remove Solar Panels on My Own?

Working on a roof is risky as it is, but the fact that solar panels are so easy to damage makes this a project you should always leave to the pros. Along with the dangers involved with working at perilous heights, electrical shocks are another threat when it comes to solar panel removal. Not to mention, solar panels won’t harm your roof on their own, but they might if you’re handling them improperly—all of which could leave you with costly repairs you probably hadn’t planned for.

Can I Hire a Roofing Company to Remove Solar Panels?

man removing solar panels from roof
Photo: Tony Skerl/ Adobe Stock

The good news is that roofing companies are qualified to remove solar panels, but they might not have the means to put them back in place when all is said and done. That’s fine if you’re getting rid of the panels permanently, but not if you plan on putting them back on. 

That’s because installing solar panels isn’t as simple as placing them on top of your shingles and calling it a day—they need to connect to each other and to your home’s system to work properly, all of which requires advanced electrical work. So, even if a roofer can remove the panels, you’ll still need to hire a solar technician to put them back on.

How Do Pros Remove Solar Panels From a Roof

Here’s how the pros go about removing solar panels from a roof in a safe and secure way.

  1. Protect themselves: A licensed solar panel technician will always wear gloves, goggles, helmets, and other protective gear before starting a risky project like this. 

  2. Shut down electricity: Turning off the power grid ensures that electrical shocks won’t happen while working. 

  3. Have the necessary permits: Roof work always needs to obey local building codes and often requires special permits, all of which an experienced pro will already have or know how to get. 

  4. Disconnect panels: Once all the preliminary work is done, the pros will get up on the roof via ladder, and begin unfastening the screws one panel at a time. 

  5. Delicately remove panels from roof: Working as a team, solar technicians will then gently move panels from the roof to the ground, taking care to gather wires and avoid damaging the roof. 

  6. Store them safely: Once they’re all down on the ground, the pros will wrap and secure each panel and store them where they can’t be harmed.

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Learn more about our contributor
Audrey Bruno
Written by Audrey Bruno
Contributing Writer
Having lived in California, New York, Germany, and now France, Audrey Bruno is no stranger to making a home in strange places. Whether she’s in a studio apartment in a bustling city or a house in the quiet countryside, her years of exploring the world of home improvement inform the way she approaches every space. Her writing covers a vast array of home and lifestyle subjects and has appeared in publications like Domino and SELF.
Having lived in California, New York, Germany, and now France, Audrey Bruno is no stranger to making a home in strange places. Whether she’s in a studio apartment in a bustling city or a house in the quiet countryside, her years of exploring the world of home improvement inform the way she approaches every space. Her writing covers a vast array of home and lifestyle subjects and has appeared in publications like Domino and SELF.
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