What is there to know about the Tesla solar roof?
Tesla made its biggest inroads into this market when it purchased SolarCity back in 2016 and boosted its solar installation capacity. Its share of the market has shrunk in recent years, but it’s still one of the largest solar installers in the United States. Beyond its traditional solar panel installations, Tesla offers a solar roof, which replaces a traditional roof with shingles that generate electricity. While it doesn’t look exactly like a regular roof, Tesla’s solar roof is definitely more discreet than solar panels. You’re going to get quality equipment from Tesla and be protected by a strong warranty. If you’re bothered by the look of solar panels and are replacing your roof already, a solar roof is a solution, but it comes with a huge price tag. You can get the same solar power production for far less money, even when you factor in the cost of a new roof. Tesla’s solar roof is cool, but the cost is a deal breaker.
Tesla is pitching solar roofs as a breakthrough of technology and design. While it’s not the first time someone has incorporated solar power into buildings design (the practice is called building integrated photovoltaics or BIPV) the Tesla solar roof is certainly the highest profile instance.
Tesla recently halted the installation of its solar roof!
When you order a Tesla solar roof, you aren’t getting solar panels to cover your roof, you’re getting a new roof made up of regular and photovoltaic shingles. The result is a covering that powers your house and keeps you dry all while looking like a normal roof to the average passerby.
The Tesla solar roof comes with a 25-year warranty against defects in the shingles and a 25-year warranty against your solar roof leaking. It’s also protected by a production warranty: Your solar roof will produce at 95% of its rated power after Five years and 85% after 25 years. This compares favorably with many manufacturer warranties on solar panels.
Is a Tesla solar roof a good deal?
Compared to other solar panels installations, a solar roof will be much pricier. The price may be more or less justifiable depending on the condition of your current roof. If you’re due for a new roof, you’ll be writing a large check for that anyway.
If your goal is to generate solar for the least amount of money possible, a solar roof isn’t for you. Tesla’s online estimate for a house in Dallas, Texas offered 12.46 kilowatts of solar generation and a Powerwall battery for $168,400. Tesla estimates 12 kilowatts of solar panels and a Powerwall at the same location will cost $26,966.
Another factor that could alter the price of your system is the complexity of your roof. Steep pitches, multiple levels and a lot of obstructions could drive up the cost. One of our Tesla solar roof installers stopped offering the product due to the complexity of these installations. I personally always thought the product was for a niche market, and Tesla’s most recent announcement that it is halting installations of its solar roof due to supply shortages in the global supply chains proved me right.
Contact Us!
It is important to contact us before you get a solar re-roof. Get your turnkey solar re-roof with solar system and battery proposal with ROI and financing options by e-mailing us your most recent electric bill, a picture of the electrical panel, and a picture of your roof today: info@beachcitiessolarconsulting.com
