Path-Q Solar
Which roof-repair costs should be included in solar payback when the repairs are completed at the same time as the installation?
Answer
Include only the incremental roof costs caused by installing or accommodating solar when calculating solar payback, while treating necessary roof maintenance or replacement that would have occurred without solar as a separate property cost. If the solar installation changes the repair scope, include the incremental difference and disclose the allocation.
Key points
- Separate pre-existing roof work from solar-related penetrations, reinforcement, flashing, or access work.
- If solar accelerates a roof replacement, the avoidable timing cost may be relevant to the solar decision.
- Include shared costs only with a consistent allocation method and show the sensitivity.
- The roof's remaining life can affect whether installing solar now is prudent.
What it depends on
- Whether the roof repair is required without solar
- Incremental solar-related roof work
- Timing and scope of the repair
- Roof service life and warranty
- Accounting treatment for shared costs
Risks and trade-offs
- Allocating the entire roof replacement to solar can understate solar returns.
- Excluding solar-caused costs can overstate returns.
- Installing on a roof needing near-term work can create future removal and reinstallation costs.
Information you may need
- Separate roof and solar scopes of work
- Roof inspection and remaining-life assessment
- Itemized repair and installation costs
- Whether the roof work would occur without solar
Your next step
What to do next
Prepare a base case that excludes unavoidable roof work and sensitivity cases that include incremental or accelerated roof costs.
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