Roof age, hail, and Colorado solar: getting the sequence right

## Why sequence matters If your roof has less than roughly 10 years of remaining life, installing solar on top of it usually means paying to remove and reinstall the array when the roof is replaced. That removal-and-reinstall cost is real and rarely included in solar marketing. ## The honest questions to ask - What is the current age of the roof, and what material is it? - Has it had a recent hail claim or replacement? - Does the installer coordinate with roofers, or leave that entirely to you? ## Hail and warranties Colorado's hail exposure affects module warranty terms and homeowner insurance. Ask your installer which module they are proposing, its hail rating, and how a hail-related warranty claim is actually handled. ## Insurance conversation Call your homeowner insurance carrier before signing. Ask how the solar system will be added to the policy, whether it changes your premium, and how claims work. ## A reasonable order of operations 1. Confirm roof condition and remaining life. 2. If replacement is close, coordinate roof and solar together. 3. Then finalize solar sizing and financing.