Replacing a roof is straightforward. Replacing a roof with solar panels on it takes planning. This roof replacement with solar panels in Helotes started with hail damage to a home that already had a rooftop solar array. The shingles under and around those panels had to come off, which meant the panels had to come off first, and go back on afterward without leaks or lost production.
We coordinated the whole job with an experienced solar team: they removed the array, we replaced the roof from the deck up, and they reinstalled the panels on new flashed mounts. While we were there, we also replaced the weathered metal on the patio cover and the detached garage.
Project at a Glance
- Location: Helotes, TX 78023 (Bexar County)
- Cause: Hail damage, 15+ hits on a single slope
- Challenge: Rooftop solar array over the damaged roof
- Main roof: Full tear-off and new architectural shingles
- Also replaced: Metal roofs on the patio cover and detached garage
- Home protection: Catch-All debris netting
- Timeline: Inspected June 2025, re-roofed August, metal finished October
Hail Damage Under a Solar Array
Our free inspection found hail damage across the roof. On one slope alone we circled more than 15 hits in chalk and marked it BH=15+. Up close, the strikes had fractured shingles and knocked away the granules that protect them from the sun.
With damage on that scale, repairs weren’t realistic, and that included the shingles hidden under the solar panels. Leaving damaged roofing under an array is one of the costliest mistakes a homeowner can make: if it leaks later, the panels have to come off anyway, at the homeowner’s expense.
Coordinating Solar Panel Removal and Reinstall
Solar panels are electrical equipment, so we don’t treat them as something roofers move out of the way. Here’s how we sequenced the job:
- Solar removal. A qualified solar team safely shut down, disconnected, and removed the panels and racking before our crew started.
- Full roof replacement. With the roof clear, we tore off to the deck and installed the new roof, including the areas the panels had covered for years.
- New flashed mounts. The solar team set new mounts into the new roof, flashed so each attachment point sheds water instead of trapping it.
- Reinstall and reconnect. The panels went back on the new mounts and the system was reconnected.
The point of coordinating carefully is simple: one schedule, no gaps where the house is exposed, and a roof under the array that should outlast the panels on top of it.
Tear-Off with Catch-All Protection
During tear-off, our crew hung Catch-All debris netting from the eaves to the ground around the home. Old shingles and nails dropped into the netting instead of the flower beds, windows, and lawn. Synthetic underlayment went down across the deck as soon as each section was cleared.
New Metal Roofs on the Patio Cover and Garage
The home had two more roofs that needed attention. The patio cover was finished in old galvanized corrugated metal that had weathered and was collecting debris, and the detached garage needed a new roof as well.
We re-roofed both in brown corrugated metal to match the new shingles. Where the patio cover meets the house, new flashing ties the metal into the shingle roof so water can’t get behind it. Metal roofing is our specialty, and it’s a smart choice for patio covers and outbuildings: it’s lightweight, sheds water fast on low slopes, and stands up to Texas sun and hail. Learn more about our metal roofing services.
The Finished Project
This roof replacement with solar panels in Helotes left the homeowner with a complete set of new roofs: architectural shingles on the house, the solar array back in place on new mounts, and matching brown metal on the patio cover and garage.
If you’re in Helotes and dealing with storm damage without solar, see our other Helotes hail damage roof replacement.
Roof Replacement with Solar Panels: Common Questions
Yes. To replace the roofing under an array, the panels and racking have to come off and go back on afterward. Roofing around the panels and leaving old shingles underneath is a common shortcut that leads to leaks later.
We coordinate with an experienced solar team that safely disconnects, removes, and reinstalls the system. We handle the roof and the schedule, so the homeowner doesn’t have to manage two contractors.
If your roof is more than halfway through its expected life or has storm damage, it’s usually smart to replace it first. Removing and reinstalling panels later adds cost, so starting with a new roof avoids paying for that twice.
It often can when the roof is being replaced for a covered loss like hail, but it depends on your policy. We work with all insurance companies and document the damage with photos. Your policy and adjuster make the final decision.
Yes. Metal is often the best choice for patio covers, garages, and outbuildings because it’s lightweight, sheds water quickly on low slopes, and lasts. We can match the color to your main roof.
Yes. Along with Helotes, we serve San Antonio, Leon Valley, Boerne, Fair Oaks Ranch, and communities across the Hill Country and Central Texas.
Solar Panels and Roof Damage in Helotes? Get a Free Inspection
Have solar panels and a roof that’s damaged or getting older? We’ll inspect it for free, show you photos of everything we find, and give you a clear plan for the roof and the panels, with no pressure.
TX Specialty Roofing is fully insured, BBB accredited, a TAMKO Pro Platinum certified contractor, and works with all insurance companies.