Roofs built to carry solar · San Antonio, TX
A roof designed to sit under a solar array for 25 years or more: structure checked, mounts flashed into the membrane, fire pathways laid out and a surface that will not need to come off under the panels. We build the roof and work hand in hand with your solar installer.
Under a minute. A project manager calls you back within 2 business hours.
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The roof outlives one array only if it is planned with the array. That planning is our part of the job.
Worn roofs replaced first, so panels never have to come off for a re-roof.
Remaining roof life, moisture scan and a written opinion your installer and lender can use.
We bring in a structural engineer to confirm the roof can carry the array and wind loads.
Attachment points and conduit penetrations flashed into the roof by roofers, under the roof warranty.
Existing panels taken off, the roof replaced, panels reset with your solar contractor.
Leaks around racking and wire penetrations traced and repaired without voiding warranties.
Panels last 25 to 30 years. The roof under them should last at least that long and be easy to keep watertight.
Roofs under solar · bar = service life
Clamps grip the seams, no holes. Outlasts two arrays.
Thick white sheet with protection pads under racking.
Tough under foot traffic around the array.
Only if the roof truly has 25 years left. Rarely the case.
How arrays attach
Weighted frames on protection pads, few or no holes. Needs structural capacity for the ballast.
Posts bolted to the structure and flashed into the membrane by the roofer.
On standing seam metal, clamps grip the seams. No penetrations at all.
We use attachment parts the roof manufacturer approves, so the roof warranty stays in force under the array.
What we plan with your solar installer, engineer and the fire code before the first panel goes up.
| Roof life | At least the life of the array, 25 to 30 years; replace older roofs first |
|---|---|
| Structure | Engineer confirms dead load; ballasted racking often adds about 4 to 7 psf |
| Wind | Racking and ballast designed to ASCE 7 loads for the building |
| Fire access | Clear pathways and setbacks around arrays, edges, hatches and vents per the fire code |
| Attachments | Manufacturer-approved flashed mounts or seam clamps; no pitch pans |
| Protection | Slip sheets or pads under racking; walkway pads to inverters and combiner boxes |
| Conduit | Run on supports and through flashed curbs, never laid loose on the membrane |
| Drainage | Arrays laid out so they do not block drains or trap water |
| Warranty | Roof warranty kept in force under the array with approved details |
Age, moisture scan and remaining life, in writing, before any solar contract is signed.
Array layout, pathways, attachment type and conduit routes agreed on one drawing.
A structural engineer confirms the roof can carry the array, ballast and wind.
New roof installed with mounts, curbs and conduit penetrations flashed in as we go.
Your solar contractor installs the array on a finished, warrantied roof.
We walk the finished array together and record every penetration for the warranty file.
Pros
Cons
Five quick questions. No email, no form.
Is it a standing seam metal roof in good shape?
Is the current roof more than 10 years old?
Does the roof leak now?
Has an engineer confirmed it can carry the extra load?
Do you plan to add solar within 3 years?
Your answer
Answer the questions
We will tell you honestly if another system fits better.
Get a free assessmentBuildings in San Antonio with big daytime power use and big roofs.
Roofs with less than 10 years of life left should be replaced before any panels go on.
2026 prices. A solar-ready roof is a normal re-roof plus the details below.
Solar-ready details on a new roof
+$1 – $3/ sq ft
On a 40,000 sq ft re-roof: about $40k – $120k extra
What moves the price
| Scenario | Price |
|---|---|
| New TPO roof firstTear-off, R-25 insulation, per sq ft | $9.50 – $14 |
| 80-mil membrane upgradePer sq ft | +$1 – $2 |
| Flashed solar mountEach, installed by roofers | $100 – $300 |
| Structural engineer reviewLetter and calculations | $1,500 – $5,000 |
| Remove & reset panelsPer panel, with the installer | $200 – $300 |
| Leak repair under arrayPer visit | $650 – $3,500 |
We plan roofs for solar across CPS Energy’s territory and the New Braunfels Utilities area.
Something else? Ask a project manager.
If the roof is more than about 10 years old or leaks, usually yes. Panels last 25 to 30 years, and removing and resetting an array to re-roof later typically costs $200 to $300 per panel plus downtime.
They can if the mounts are not approved by the roof manufacturer or are installed by someone else without notice. Using approved, roofer-flashed mounts and telling the manufacturer keeps the warranty in force.
Standing seam metal, because clamps attach to the seams with no holes and the roof outlasts the array. For flat roofs, an 80-mil white TPO or PVC with protection pads under the racking.
Many can, but it needs checking. Ballasted arrays commonly add about 4 to 7 pounds per square foot. A structural engineer confirms the capacity before the layout is final.
CPS Energy has offered commercial solar rebates for small businesses, schools and non-profits, and the federal commercial solar credit now has tight deadlines: projects that did not begin construction by July 4, 2026 generally must be in service by the end of 2027. Check current terms with CPS Energy and your tax advisor.
No. We build and warranty the roof and flash every mount and penetration. Your solar contractor installs and wires the array, and we coordinate the schedule with them.
We scan the roof for moisture, estimate its remaining life and send a written opinion your solar installer and lender can use.
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