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Solar panel removal and reinstall for a new roof
Getting the roof done? We isolate and remove the panels before the roofers start, store them safely, then refit, bird-mesh and test them on the new roof.
If your roof needs replacing or repairing and there are solar panels on it, the panels have to come off first and go back on afterwards. It’s electrical work as much as roofing: a solar array makes electricity whenever there’s daylight, and you can’t switch the panels themselves off.
Since 2025 we’ve removed and refitted the solar arrays on 21 homes in Welwyn Garden City during a housing re-roofing programme for Novus Property Solutions, working alongside the roofers. This page is how we do it. See the project write-up with photos.
When the panels need to come off
- A full re-roof or new tiles.
- Roof repairs under or next to the array: slipped tiles, leaks, felt or batten replacement.
- Chimney, flashing or gutter work that the array is in the way of.
- Moving or upgrading the array, or adding a battery at the same time.
How we remove and reinstall solar panels
This is the scope we work to on every house, and it’s split into two visits: one before the roofers start, one after they finish.
Visit 1: removal
- Isolate. Switch off and lock off the AC supply to the inverter, then the DC isolator, and check the system is dead on the AC side.
- Disconnect. Disconnect the array and make the panel leads safe, so nothing is left live on the roof.
- Clear and remove. Clear moss and debris from around the array for a safe working area, then lift the panels off.
- Clean and store. Clean the panels and strap them securely to the scaffold (or store them on site) so they’re safe while the roof is done.
Between visits: the roofers
The roofers take off the mounting brackets and rails, lay the new roof, and refit the brackets and rails in their original positions. Some roofers prefer us to do the rails; either works, as long as it’s agreed up front.
Visit 2: reinstatement
- Line up the rails. We set a string line along the rails so the panels sit flat and true on the new roof.
- Refit and reconnect the panels and the array cabling.
- Bird mesh. We fit bird mesh around the edge of the array so pigeons can’t nest under the panels.
- Test. Check the earthing and bonding, test the circuit (earth loop impedance and fault current), and check the inverter starts and runs.
- Certificate. You get an electrical certificate for the reconnection and a photo report of both visits.
Things to agree with your roofer
- Bring the cables out. The panel cables need to come back out through the new roof where the array goes. On one house the cables hadn’t been brought out on refit day, which costs a visit.
- Leave the scaffold up until the panels are back on and tested.
- Rails and brackets: who removes them, who refits them, and that they go back in the same positions.
- Broken tiles around the array: we flag them to the roofer rather than leave them under the panels.
- Dates: book the removal for just before the roofers start and the refit for as soon as they finish, so the panels aren’t off for longer than needed.
After the refit
Check the inverter display or app over the next few sunny days to make sure it’s generating as before. In winter, low light can stop an inverter starting at the end of the day, so judge it on a bright day. Keep your certificate with your original installation paperwork, and if your system has a warranty, check with the installer or manufacturer what they need to see.
If the system was faulty before the roof was done, it’s worth fixing while the scaffold is up: see solar PV and our solar repair in Bricket Wood.
Questions we’re asked
Can a roofer remove solar panels?
The panels are part of a live electrical system, so the disconnection, isolation and reconnection should be done by a qualified electrician or solar installer. Roofers usually handle the brackets and rails, and we work alongside them.
How long does solar panel removal and reinstallation take?
Usually two short visits: one to isolate, disconnect and remove the panels before the roofers start, and one to refit, reconnect, bird-mesh and test once the new roof is on. The gap depends on the roofers.
How much does it cost to remove solar panels for a new roof?
It depends on the number of panels, the roof and access, and whether bird mesh is wanted on the refit. We give a fixed price per house after seeing photos of the array, the inverter and the roof. The scaffold is normally the roofer's.
Where are the panels kept while the roof is done?
On our housing programme we cleaned the panels and strapped them securely to the scaffold. On a single house they can also be stored somewhere safe on site.
Will removing the panels affect my warranty?
Check with your original installer or the manufacturer. Keep the certificate and photo report we provide for the removal and refit with your installation paperwork.
Do you fit bird mesh when the panels go back on?
Yes, on request. On the Welwyn Garden City programme we fitted bird mesh around the full edge of each array when it went back on.
Written by SEGplc. Last updated 21 October 2026.
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