Originally Published as: Solar Shingles 101 Are solar shingles a prospective add-on to your roofing offerings?
Saving money on energy bills is always appealing to homeowners, who often look to highly efficient appliances and quality insulation to help with that. Another option is solar energy. This isn’t news of course; people have been cutting down on their energy bills with solar panels for decades. What is more current in the industry is roofing that incorporates electricity-generating technology right into the shingles.
Now you can take advantage of this trend to upsell solar shingles as part of the roof package. People like the aesthetic as, instead of intrusive panels attached over the roofing, these shingles meld into the roof. Further, customers can shrink their carbon footprint and turn a traditionally depreciating roof into an asset that saves them money.
Solar shingles have been on the market for the last decade or so, and CertainTeed was among the first companies to develop them. We interviewed CertainTeed’s Andrew Wickham, Senior Director of Product for Solar, to find out the basics.
Solar Shingles Design
How do these shingles work? They work like traditional solar panels, and they are largely designed like traditional panels, except they are shaped into shingles and wrapped in a composite material that does not allow moisture in. Durability can vary depending on the solar shingle chosen, but CertainTeed’s Solstice® Shingle features Class 3 impact resistance meaning it can withstand weather extremes including hail. It passed wind resistance testing with wind velocity of 110mph, class F, and the TAS 100 wind-driven rain test which involved winds of 110mph along with water streaming at 8.8 inches per hour aimed at the solar shingled roof’s eaves. These tests qualified the shingles to obtain Florida High Velocity Hurricane Zone authorization.
Comparison to Traditional Solar Panels
Often the cost of a roof incorporating solar shingles is comparable or slightly more than the cost of a conventional roof with solar panels installed over it. The cost of course depends on the product chosen, the labor required, and the markup the roofer chooses.
Installation can be done by a solar tech, or you can choose to install the system yourself. A homeowner can’t install the system itself. If you choose to install the solar shingles and hire an electrician to handle the electrical work on the ground, you are setting the price point. Training on solar shingle installation should be accessible through the vendor per Wickham. Licensed roofers are encouraged to apply for CertainTeed’s Credentialed Contractor Program.
“CertainTeed offers free training on our solar shingles through online videos,” Wickham said. “Further we have trainers that go to the customer’s jobsite to train them on installation.”
Solstice Shingles have a 19.85% efficiency rating, which is pretty comparable to traditional solar panels which often have an efficiency rating in the low 20s. The shingles are rated 70 watts.
“When it’s rated 70 watts, that is how much energy the panels output,” Wickham said. “People get confused and think that they will only get 19.85% of the 70 watts,” he said. “You have to explain to them that the 19.85% efficiency rating refers to the percentage of the sunlight the panel is exposed to that is captured and turned into solar energy.”
Warranties
Warranties are usually between 15 and 30 years on asphalt shingles, and in CertainTeed’s case their shingles, whether solar or asphalt have a solid 25-year warranty on manufacturer’s defects and labor. It is best if the whole roof needs replacing at the same time because homeowners may not want to have to replace a portion of the roof, then a few years later have the professionals back to fix the rest of the roof.
If the inverter has a problem and certified solar shingle roofers installed the inverter, CertainTeed stands behind it.
Integrated solar systems have an advantage over conventional solar panels; they avoid the possibility of shingles being harmed during the installation of the solar panel rack and thereby revoking the roof’s warranty.
Another consideration with solar energy is that solar panels’ power output slowly declines over the years. CertainTeed guarantees that these shingles will at minimum perform in this manner: 98% of labeled power output during the first year. Thereafter, the power output will decline annually by no more than .055% for 24 years. This means that in the 25th year of operation, a power output of at least 85% of the original labeled output would be achieved.
Installation
Some solar shingles can require specialized flashing, underlayment, and may be more complex to install, while others can be much simpler. CertainTeed’s Solstice Shingle is screwed in,
allowing roofers to install it with standard roofing tools, and crews can be trained fairly easily. It is designed to install alongside the asphalt panels and, therefore, can be installed on just a portion of the roof if desired.
Solar Shingle Repairs
Though the product and installation be of the highest quality, sometimes something goes awry. When one Solstice Shingle requires repair, all of the solar shingles are affected Wickham said. This is due to the wiring system. When one solar shingle goes out, you must replace it, and you will have to remove the shingles above to do so. If under warranty, the labor for this repair would be covered. Many solar panel systems also require faulty panel replacement for the system to work, especially if the system is older. It depends on how a system is wired and whether it has modern microinverters or DC optimizers.
Shining a Light on the Future
CertainTeed entered the solar arena in 2010 with its Apollo series of solar tiles and shingles. The Solstice product line of panels and shingles were then introduced in 2023. In 2024, the company started its partnership with SunStyle, which was originally a European product with a beautiful aesthetic which actually integrated the solar energy generation into the shingle. Now Solstice Shingle has made installation faster and easier while providing a new aesthetic that helps the shingles to blend in with the asphalt shingles.
These exciting solar products could help your company expand your footprint in energy efficient products that many customers are looking for today. And there’s more to come.
Wickham said the CertainTeed team expects the next generation of solar shingles to bring repair improvements, making it easier to remove one shingle without disturbing the rest of the shingles. Further down the line, they are hoping to create solar shingles that will work with different types of roofs such as composite or metal. The future of solar roofing looks bright. Now is the time for homeowners to take advantage of the federal solar tax credit, which is set to expire at the end of this year.
