Twenty minutes of planning now saves $2,500 later.
Why think about solar during a re-roof
If there is any chance you will add solar in the next 10 years, integrating the planning into the re-roof is by far the cheapest path. Adding solar later to a freshly installed roof costs an extra $1,500–$3,000 because the installer must work around your warranty and either modify or void it.
What "solar-ready" means
Pre-installed rafter-aligned mounting blocks on the south- and west-facing slopes where the solar array would go. These are inexpensive ($35 each, four-block-per-rafter-spacing typical) and they preserve your roof warranty by giving the solar installer a known, sealed anchor to mount to.
Additional integration
A conduit pathway from the future array location down to the electrical panel, run during the re-roof. A dedicated penetration boot at the array location, properly flashed during the install rather than punched through later.
What we charge
$485 to make a standard residential roof solar-ready during a replacement. It is the highest-ROI item on our optional add-on list, and most Evanston homeowners considering solar in the next decade take us up on it.