Tesla Wont Let You Go Off
While the shingles will withstand some impressive weather events, they do require a grid connection to power your home.
Unfortunately, If you experience a power outage, your solar shingles will stop producing electricity until the grid is back online – unless it is paired with a solar battery. This also means you cannot install an off-grid Tesla solar roof.
Frequently Asked Questions About The Tesla Solar Roof
While the cost of switching to solar is high, and the news and information surrounding Tesla Solar Roofs can be confusing or nearly obsolete, its important to research each product, company, and topic before making a decision. Learn more about the Tesla Solar Roof by reading these commonly asked questions:
Is Tesla currently installing solar roofs?
Depending on your location, Tesla will send its own installers or contractors to set up your system after purchasing a Solar Roof.
Are Tesla roofs durable?
Tesla claims that their shingles are three times stronger than the average roof tile and are built to endure all weather conditions. They have the highest fire rating and are built to withstand 110 mph winds , so you can feel confident even in extreme weather conditions.
How long will a Tesla Solar Roof last?
Tesla offers a 25-year warranty on the systems tiles, power, and weatherization. Plus, its inverter has a 12.5-year warranty, giving homeowners peace of mind regarding their investment.
Should You Install Gafs New Solar Shingles
Were going to be totally honest – were not crazy about how the GAF solar shingles look, which pretty much defeats the purpose of installing them. Because GAFs shingles stick out like a sore thumb on your roof, why wouldnt you just get regular solar panels that will be able to produce more electricity?
The good news is that GAF is a reputable company, so you can trust that theyre delivering a quality product. However, with that said, the solar shingles are brand new, making it hard to tell how they will actually hold up in real world conditions atop residential roofs.
What GAFs solar shingles really have going for them is their potentially low price and easy, streamlined roof-plus-solar-shingle installation. So even though the solar shingles produce less electricity and they arent the greatest looking thing you can put on your roof, if the price is right, it could still be worth it.
If GAF can really make their solar shingle installations fast, easy, and cheap, this might be the product that finally makes solar shingles a mainstream choice for homeowners looking to go solar. But for now, were still going to recommend at least getting quotes from local solar installers in your area before you jump right into installing GAF’s rooftop solar shingles.
See what local companies are charging for solar system installations
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Do Solar Shingles Perform Better Than Regular Solar Panels
A 6 kW solar shingle system will produce less electricity than a conventional 6 kW solar panel system. Why? Because they are installed right against your roof, just like regular shingles. This means they arent at the ideal angle for generating electricity, whereas solar panels are mounted on racking equipment that optimizes the tilt and angle of the panels to generate the most electricity possible.
Plus, solar shingles tend to get hotter than solar panels because there is no airflow between your roof and the back of the shingle. Believe it or not, the hotter solar cells are, the less electricity they can produce. So, between the installation angle being dictated by the slope of your roof and the higher likelihood of higher surface temperatures, solar shingles will operate less efficiently than solar panels.
How Much Will A Tesla Solar Roof Cost On My Home
Tesla has provided an online calculator that attempts to compute the cost of a Tesla Solar Roof based on a homes approximated square foot and number of stories. Single story homes are presumed to have double the roof surface area than a 2-story home with the same interior space. Here are some estimates on how much a Tesla Solar Roof will cost depending on the size of the home:
- 1.500 square feet $55,600
- 5,000 square feet $155,300
- 5,000 square feet $89,700
Solar Roof costs outlined are based on 60% solar coverage and does not take into account value of energy produced from the roof tiles themselves. The cost also does not factor in any local solar tax credits which varies by region.
Originally published post below:
Teslas new Solar Roof tiles are the hot topic of conversation right now. At the official reveal event, Elon Musk asked rhetorically, So, why would you buy anything else? In a new analysis, Consumer Reports tries to answer that question.
In the absence of pricing information from Tesla, Consumer Reports decided to make some assumptions of its own. People may quibble with them, but they at least establish a baseline that can be used to begin the discussion.
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Pros Of Solar Shingles
- More aesthetically appealing and sleeker compared to the bulky and somewhat unattractive traditional solar panels, and can blend in more easily with your existing roof design
- If you are building a new home or replacing your roof, solar power shingles could prove to be more cost-effective because you would save on the traditional roofing material and labor
- Solar panel shingles can usually be removed and reinstalled in a situation where you have to move your home
What Sets Gaf Energy Apart
“We’re part of the world’s largest roofing manufacturer. We have access to materials that typical solar companies don’t have access to,” said Martin DeBono, President of GAF Energy. “No one has ever specifically tried to make a solar product that a roofer can install. And we’ve done it, and our product goes on with just a nail gun. It goes on twice as fast as typical solar.”
Timberline Solar can be nailed to the roof just like a regular shingle, which GAF Energy says will reduce the complexity and cost of installation. At 17 inches tall and 64 inches long, the shingles are also larger than Tesla’s, meaning there are fewer parts to manufacture and fewer individual wiring connections, which the company expects will also decrease costs while increasing reliability.
However the larger and bulkier design also means that GAF Energy’s shingle doesn’t blend in as well as Tesla’s product, which is nearly indistinguishable from normal roofing material.
GAF Energy says its deep ties to the roofing sector will also help it save on sales and marketing expenses, since the company can attract solar customers from the large pool of people already coming to GAF for a new roof.
“The natural moment to actually put solar on a roof is that moment when you’re already about to replace your roof. It makes literally no sense to put brand new PV on an old roof that’s well into its warranty,” said David Winter, Co-CEO of Standard Industries.
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Tesla Solar Roof Vs The Cost Of A Traditional Roof With Solar Panels
According to RoofingCalc.com, a traditional roof like asphalt shingles can cost between $3.50 and $7.50 to install on a typical house. Most homeowners can expect to pay between $8,000 to $13,200 to install midrange shingles on typical 2,000 to 2,200 sq.ft. roof.
To install a 10kW PV solar panel system, it will cost approximately $28,000. Thus, the total cost of getting a new roof coupled with a 10kW PV system is approximately $40,000.
In other words, Tesla solar glass tile roof costs between 50% and 100% more than a traditional roof integrated with solar panels. The larger the roof size, the greater the relative and absolute difference in price between the two systems will be.
How Much Do Solar Shingles Cost
According to Solar Reviews, a solar roof costs somewhere between $14 and $19 per square foot. The labor costs associated with installation also need to be factored in.
For the purposes of comparison, solar panels cost somewhere between $4 and $10 per square foot. The cost of fitting a traditional shingle roofing system is somewhere between $1.50 and $5.50 per square foot for materials, plus $3 to $6 per square foot for installation.
Solar installations of any type aren’t a cheap option. However, over time, they may pay for themselves through the power they generate.
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Suntegra Solar Shingles In Review:
According to SunTegras product specs, their solar shingle system has a conversion efficiency rate between 14.4% and 15.9%. SunTegra shingles contain 16 solar cells each and offer 64 to 67 Watts of power output. Like other BIPV shingles, SunTegra mounts directly to roof decks and acts as the roof covering.
Costs & Warranty comparison for SunTegra solar shingles
- Install price: SunTegra doesnt list the cost on their website, but numbers circulating around the web indicate $3.65 per Watt.
- Product warranty: 10 years.
- Power output warranty: 25 years.
What Are Solar Shingles And How Do They Work
You can think of solar shingles like small solar panels that integrate with your existing roof shingles or a new roof . They work the same way standard types of solar panels do, but where solar panels are assembled on top of your roof, solar shingles are used to build a roof.
The most obvious benefit to this type of solar energy system is simple aesthetics while photovoltaic solar panels tend to be pretty obtrusive, solar shingles allow you to have a completely normal-looking roof.
Like solar panels, solar shingles absorb energy from the sun, some of which may be stored in a solar battery and some of which is converted into useful alternating current. This allows you to power appliances and devices throughout your home with renewable energy.
Note: Those who prefer the appearance of a “tiled” roof to a shingled one may wish to consider solar tiles. These work in roughly the same way that photovoltaic shingles do but integrate with roofing tiles rather than asphalt shingles. If you’re interested in finding out more about he cost of solar system installations, you can fill out the free quote form below.
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Installing Solar Shingles: How Many Do You Need
Installation of solar roofing shingles may take up to a week old shingles will need to be removed from the home, new shingles put into place, and the entire solar system connected through your inverter and solar battery.
Before the installation process begins, an installer will join you at your home to help you assess how many solar shingles you’ll need. There are a couple of factors that will determine how many shingles you need: The size of the shingles you select, the square footage of your home and the amount of energy you need to generate.
One thing to keep in mind is that most homeowners do not need to cover their entire roof with solar shingles you can intermingle them with traditional roof shingles to cut costs while still generating plenty of solar power.
Whats New With The Tesla Solar Roof In 2021
At the end of October 2019, Tesla launched the Solar Roof V3, the latest iteration of the solar roof tiles. Unlike its predecessors, the new Tesla solar roof product comes in one style and consists of fewer parts.
Elon Musk was confident that the rollout of the new solar tiles would be the best version yet. The company planned to ramp up production at their Gigafactory in Buffalo, New York, and partner with local installers to help deploy more solar roofs than they had in the past.
A little over a year later, Musk wound up eating his words, admitting that the company had made significant mistakes with their solar roof project in Teslas Q1 2021 call.
Things started to turn sour for the solar roof in March 2021, when Tesla updated its solar roof pricing, making it even more expensive than before. They kept the cost per watt of solar the same, but the cost of the inactive tiles went up and now varied based on the complexity of a homeowners roof.
Then, just a month later, Tesla increased solar roof prices yet again. The real kicker is that Tesla didnt just up their pricing for new solar roof orders: people who already signed contracts with Tesla saw their installation prices increase, as well.
In some cases, the new prices were 30% higher than the prices in their original contract! And the contract pricing issue wasnt remedied until September 2021, a whole five months later, and only after a class action lawsuit was filed against the company.
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Tesla Solar Roof: How Much Did It Cost Before
Musk claimed that, in 80 percent of cases, the new tiles would offer âa price point that is less than what the average roof costs plus solar panels.â
Research from Electrek after the announcement found a 9.45-kilowatt roof of 1,862 square feet cost $38,266. Once the Powerwall and repairs were factored in, it cost $54,866.
LinkedIn engineer Robby Valles in August 2020 that his 1,737-square-foot 7.37-kilowatt solar roof cost $34,067 before tax credits.
For comparison, HomeGuide lists the cost to replace a 2,000-square-foot asphalt roof as $10,460 at the high end. EnergySage lists the average cost of a seven-kilowatt solar system as $19,670 before tax credits.
This suggests Vallesâs roof may have cost slightly more than buying the two separately, although itâs hard to say as the price would vary depending on the house.
Tony Cho, who ordered a giant Tesla Solar Roof for his Florida retreat, told Inverse in January 2021 that it cost around 35 percent more than the price of panels and a new roof. Jason Lassen, who bought a Solar Roof for his Wisconsin home, told Inversein March 2021 the price was âalmost the exact sameâ as the cost of a good shingle roof plus solar.
What Exactly Are The Gaf Solar Shingles
Leading roofing manufacturer GAFs nailable solar shingles are designed with roofers top-of-mind in order to make installation a breeze. Image source: News Atlas
GAFs solar shingle design combines the conventional asphalt roof shingle material theyre known for with the monocrystalline solar cells of a solar panel.
The top portion of the shingle is made of asphalt, which means it can be nailed right to the roof like regular shingles – no racking or extra mounting equipment necessary. This makes it incredibly easy for roofing contractors to install them.
The bottom portion of the solar shingle is what will generate the electricity. When installed, that portion will overlap the asphalt material of the solar shingle before it. The shingles lay flush against your roof, staying right in line with the regular asphalt shingles covering the remainder of the surface of the roof.
All of the wiring is located on the side of the shingle, where they can be easily connected together to create a functioning solar electric system.
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Solar Shingles Versus Solar Panels
If you want to add solar power to your home, then you can choose between solar shingles and solar panels.
Solar shingles are more aesthetically pleasing than solar panels, but they also cost more. However, if you are already planning to replace your roof, then solar shingles may be a better long-term option.
Some of the things to consider with solar shingles and solar panels include:
Overall, solar panels are best for those who want maximum energy production at a reasonable rate. Solar shingles, meanwhile, are ideal for those who value aesthetics over functionality. As solar shingle technology continues to improve, however, solar shingles are becoming a better option for homeowners.
Ecohome Predictions For The Bipv Market
One very legitimate criticism of all Tesla products so far is the meeting of their own delivery-target dates. The Tesla solar roof is no different. Their competitors have a long head-start in the industry, but once a good number of Tesla roofs are installed in Canada and the US, and consumers get a look at them compared to the competition, we think it will be game over. And did you notice the warranty timelines? 30 years across the board is a noticeable improvement over combo 10 to 25 year warranties for different components from the Tesla solar roof competitors.
And this all begs the question – if they really do become the most sought-after roof, will they then be able to meet demand? Well, there is a Tesla masterplan for that too. Since as much as 70% of a roof wont need active solar panels, it makes no sense to tie up Tesla production facilities with producing inactive but matching roof tiles, so they will probably license that out to mainstream roof tile manufacturers instead. And, considering it is 70% of the roof surface, and it’s going to be in the premium roof covering market sector – and it has that magic “Tesla” name attached to it – which roofing product manufacturer wouldn’t be interested in producing the inert Tesla solar roof tiles?
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How Much Do Tesla Solar Tiles Weigh
Per Tesla, their new solar tiles will be approximately half the weight of a standard roof tile. This is a hard claim to make without defining the standard roof tile being used in this statement.
To understand the range of tile weights, lets look at this:
- Concrete Tiles between 9.5 12 lbs. per square foot
- Asphalt Shingles between 2.5 4 lbs. per square foot
- Spanish Tiles between 6 19 lbs. per square foot
- Slate Tiles between 7-10 lbs. per square foot
Our approximation when taking all of the solar tiles components into consideration is that the tiles will weigh about 15 20 lbs. This is a rough estimate due to Teslas ambiguity when discussing the weight of their solar tiles.
We reached out to one of our excellent roofing partners, Chandlers Roofing, to get their perspective on Teslas new solar product
Aesthetically the Solar Roof is beautiful, but well need to wait and see how Tesla will resolve taking it to market, says Trevor Leeds, President of Chandlers Roofing, Roofing is a different animal than solar. There are different variables that have to be considered like waterproofing and the roof-attachment method. Compliance codes for roofing are also much different than solar. Will Tesla figure out how to be a national roofing contractor? Is Tesla looking to assume this liability and overhead? All of these unknowns will need to be worked out.
