Posts
9099
Joined
4/1/2008
Location
Mesa, AZ, USA
Edited Date/Time
11/17/2022 8:31am
So I have had some wind damage on my roof on one section in the east corner.
it's 20 years old 2nd layer asphalt shingles.
I need a new roof had about three estimates so far.
Getting the run around from the insurance company they just want to patch the wind damaged area even though the roof needs to be replaced. I also have water leaks in two different areas (one is the shop) that they seem to ignore.
So while they're dragging their feet I'm tired of water getting into my home and want to get the new roof installed and wait for the dust to settle with insurance but it doesn't look good anyway. My deductible is $1000 they're saying the corner patch repair is less than that and therefore will not cut a check.
The last guy that came out seemed pretty good had a better estimate than the others and then he also mentioned now would be a good time for solar as you get the federal rebate.
I checked and sure enough 2022 is the last year you get a good federal tax rebate.
I also figure having a new roof installed would be the best time to get solar.
From what I have read it's considerably cheaper than if you were to have gotten it in 2010.
So do any of you guys have solar, what are the pros and cons and do you have any regrets?
Thanks
it's 20 years old 2nd layer asphalt shingles.
I need a new roof had about three estimates so far.
Getting the run around from the insurance company they just want to patch the wind damaged area even though the roof needs to be replaced. I also have water leaks in two different areas (one is the shop) that they seem to ignore.
So while they're dragging their feet I'm tired of water getting into my home and want to get the new roof installed and wait for the dust to settle with insurance but it doesn't look good anyway. My deductible is $1000 they're saying the corner patch repair is less than that and therefore will not cut a check.
The last guy that came out seemed pretty good had a better estimate than the others and then he also mentioned now would be a good time for solar as you get the federal rebate.
I checked and sure enough 2022 is the last year you get a good federal tax rebate.
I also figure having a new roof installed would be the best time to get solar.
From what I have read it's considerably cheaper than if you were to have gotten it in 2010.
So do any of you guys have solar, what are the pros and cons and do you have any regrets?
Thanks
Oh yeah - I will never buy shingles again. Steel all the way.
That’s a pretty big tax credit, plus it’ll likely increase the value of your home as well.
I would still recommend dollar, it’s SDGE who screwed me over
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The confusing part to me was he also said I will not have to pay anything for 12 months.
I need to get this cleared up because he did not mention the solar thing till he had left and called me on the phone if I wanted it as an option.
But the last year for the big rebate really has me thinking about it I'm pretty sure I'm gonna go with it. My next door neighbor has it even though he's kind of a recluse so I need to talk with him.
Maybe if I was in my twenties or thirties I would consider it more but I'm 64 and having a lifetime roof the ROI might not be worth it.
Also with my wife's cancer I'm not sure how long I will live in this 4 bedroom split level basement home.
Yes I have barely researched it but I did see that it will increase home value so both those are win wins.
But I have some strategically placed trees in front of the 4 windows that face South, it's a basement home 2400 sq ft and we try to be conservative without wasting electricity.
I think our highest SRP Electric bill in August was around $220 per month.
I can't understand why the insurance companies don't give an incentive for steel. They last forever.
On the solar, make sure you thoroughly check out how your utility treats net metering, and how they deal with excess production if you produce more than you use.
Jobs are created, utilities are reasonable, power surplus...tell me I'm stupid?
NOT.
They absolutely should do stuff like that. And do all they can to encourage home owner level solar installs. That would be an easy solution to worries about future generation and grid shortfalls. And current big problems in some areas like rolling blackouts.
Makes too much sense, apparently.
Solar was one of the best things we did to our house. In Cali, you're nuts to not do it. Do NOT lease, buy your panels. In our case, it pays for itself in about 7 years. But as soon as you add it, it increases the value of your home. There is no cons to putting in solar. We only pay about 10-12 bucks a month for the "regulatory" fees.
Hoping the battery costs come down at some point so we can just not use the power company at all.
As for installation. We have a tile roof. It was about 30 or so years old. The company we used does both roofing and solar. We had them pull up all the old tiles and the "tar" paper on the section of roof where the panels would be installed so the roof could be inspected. (This was one whole side of our roof from peak down)
Roof was good....they put down new tar paper, put all the tiles back and installed the panel grid last. That was one of the reasons we went with a solar/roofing company. That way there was no pointing fingers if the roof had issues after install.
The company we used is veteran owned and they did an awesome job. https://www.sempersolaris.com/
Cost us about $21k. Then there was the tax break/rebates, which pushed cost down to 17K. It's been installed for 5 years now. The inverter is warrantied for 12 years....I forget what the panels warranty are....but it's a long time. A neighbor who had his system installed 10-12 years earlier paid close to $50k...and our systems are roughly the same size. He's had no significant degradation of the panels in 15 years.
Don't know what the costs are now. Worth every penny for us.
I see OP is in AZ....your electricity (from what I hear) is way cheaper than Commiefornia....so your break-even to recoup the costs will be longer.
I can't imagine what our bill would be without solar now.
Our PUD charges $0.023 for usage, but they pay customers $0.09 for excess energy that they put back into the grid (wind or solar). Pretty good deal if you generate a lot more than you use.
Pit Row
There's a pretty cool solar calculator I used and it came up with these numbers so yes it would take much longer for me to break even. It's a 2 story home with multiple tiered sections and two patios
Having the asphalt shingle roof install is going to be about $18,000 as well. So add in the Solar and costs are going up.
Like I said earlier if I was younger and I'm not sure on my future and on how long I will live here which is a bummer for sure cuz I Luv the home and location.
I want it, in my 1972 build house, but each time I've looked into it, I've encountered shysters that just want to get your Gov rebate, and rip you off.
I thought of going through our current Electricity ''Provider's" set up for Solar ( just a bloody 're-seller' - the sale of the electricity production facilities and the electricity grid, and thence the sale to ''providers'' really has shafted we consumers, with every type of Gov asset Sell Off) , but they were featured in a week long News report on even the Big companies ripping off / dudding consumers.
I'm about to try again. My Electricity bill just went up by 50%, last quarter, what with the price gouging / windfall profits companies are making at the moment.
Something that I've found stunning, is in some places in the US, you are not allowed to collect rainwater?
WTF?
I've seen the argument that it takes from the ground water , but that seems like taking a point, multiplying it by a sh*tload, and running with it by companies, or people getting back handers / or who are under the control of said companies. I've capacity for around 16+K liters from our roof collection, and have set up grey water collection for our 'first use' in jungle of a Garden, so we use buggerall piped in water. All set up years ago, during droughts that had quite severe water restrictions in OZs biggest City.
As the poem goes, here in OZ we are a "Land Of Drought And Flooding Rain". Always one extreme to another.
I'm pretty sure many Council areas require Solar and Water Collection here, in New Builds. It just seems so bloody logical.
Those trees you mentioned on the south side of your house, if they are going to shade the solar that's a big no-no.
The credit isn't a rebate, and you can only get back up to the amount you paid in federal taxes. E.g someone that's retired with low income and virtually no income tax isn't going to benefit much from the credit while someone that gets a large sum taken from them by the feds will be able to get back the full solar credit amount in the first year.
I don't know about in your area, but in the last year or two the value of an owned solar system is now being added to the home's value- that was not the case a few years ago and certainly isn't the case with a leased or PPA system.
For some folks, solar is simply fantastic. High electricity costs, and loads of sunshine year-round makes it an easy decision.
There are others that it's downright silly for. If your home only has good sunshine for half the year and the cost of electricity is low, then don't waste your cash.
Obviously there are others that are in a grey area- might be beneficial, might not really be. Maybe they're in an area with really high electricity costs, but there are trees shading the solar area and they're moving in 3 years... Meh.
I'm going to PM you my number if that is ok?
I have a few questions.
Trees: With the house facing South I have four windows and the trees shade those windows but not the roof.
Checked my SRP bill, highest was in August at $210. My next door neighbor who has a larger home and just got solar last year has a small pool.
he said his highest bill used to be $400 and now it's $200 but he also said he paid $30,000 for solar panels that he financed which he suggested.
I don't like financing anything.
Like I said earlier if I was much younger it would be an easier decision for ROI but I'm 64 and have a future uncertain with my wife's cancer.....
If Matt is willing to advise you on this then take him up on it.
Living in Las Vegas it made sense for us to get solar with the constant sun.
My advise would be to make sure to shop around. I quoted Ion and Sunrun as they are two of the major national installers. Then I quoted smaller non national installers. I found better deals were to be had with the non major players. The company I went with is much better reviewed than the national companies with panels that are also better reviewed. They were cheaper but on top of that offered a cash discount, Ion and Sunrun do not. Like you, I hate financing. So all said and done, I paid $17k ($12,800 after I got my tax credit back) to run a 2400sq two story home.
Most all panels now days have a 30 year warranty, I’d say run away if it’s any shorter. Roof penetration warranty was 15 years I think along with the inverter warranty.
Ours should pay for itself within 6-8 years.
Definitely do not lease, it makes selling your house tough. Not many people want to buy a house with panels they have to take over a lease on.
With my current situation and high bill was only $210 it doesn't make sense to spend $30K (what my neighbor paid a year ago). Neighbor has a larger home and a pool he does not use and his High bill was $400!
Appreciate Matt, the Vital Brain Trust pulled through once again! 👍
Thanks Matt.
That pump eats a lot of juice. If your high bill is $210 during A/C months, you must have a well insulated house plus low rates. Rates in California are not just high, they're insane.
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