New roof and solar by single company worth it for tax credits and warranty? San Diego

[J.P.M.]

done

Thank you.

[SunEagle]

spam !!!

done

[J.P.M.]

one company for both is the right call for exactly the reason you said. San diego county roofing and solar is the obvious fit since solar is core to their business. Ask each bidder how many combined projects they have done and who actually does the solar work in house or subcontracted. Roof replacement alone is not tax deductible but the portion supporting solar installation can sometimes be included in your federal solar tax credit. Get itemized quotes and ask a tax professional before claiming anything.

spam !!!

[J.P.M.]

one company for both is the right call for exactly the reason you said. San diego county roofing and solar is the obvious fit since solar is core to their business. Ask each bidder how many combined projects they have done and who actually does the solar work in house or subcontracted. Roof replacement alone is not tax deductible but the portion supporting solar installation can sometimes be included in your federal solar tax credit. Get itemized quotes and ask a tax professional before claiming anything.

spam !!!!!!

[Calsun]

I was quoted roughly $3,000 to remove and reinstall the solar panels for a new roof so I decided to put on a new roof before installing the racking for the solar panels. Fortunately the best roofing company in my area is also the best solar installer who does residential as well as commercial installations. The company incorporated the cost of the roof and the racking with the cost for the panels and the inverter so we had one invoice and used it for our tax credits.

A second advantage for us was that at the time Sunpower only sold their high output panels through commerial dealers and the companies that only did residential systems could not get them. The roofer was able to buy the "commercial" panels and put them on my house.

Solar installers are not terribly concerned about roof leaks and there is a great deal of variation on how racks are mounted to roofs and how waterproof the penetrations will be for a period of 20 years.

[Kanypony]

Either the mounts should be installed by the roofers as they build the roof, or solar installers should come in and install the rails and panels. Or the solar installers arrive after the roofers finish. I own a solar and roofing top Indianapolis roof company for you. The roofers should install the mounts as they build the roof, or the solar installers should come in and install the rails and panels. Or the solar installers arrive after the roofers finish. The mounting technique is the most crucial component regardless of who installs it. Use an appropriate flashing plate, please.

[J.P.M.]

I agree. However a cost effective way around that would be to have the solar company mount the stanchions and/or the bolts and let the roofer install the flashing so the roofer can warrant the roof for leaks. There may need to be some coordination depending on the way the roof stanchions are fastened and flashed. You might save some money if the solar installer has no liability for leaks. If you have the skills to be the project manager you can also save some money as suggested earlier. As far as the IRS is concerned they only see one number on the form. Receipts and photos as backup in the case of an audit are all that might be necessary.

FWIW, I've run projects for a living and got good at defining subcontractor/vendor responsibilities before anyone gets on site. I handled the possible roof leak responsibility by having PV installer provide the standoffs and roof flanges and the roofer install them. That avoided he said/she said finger point. The roofer ownes his work and is responsible for it. Besides, the roofer does that stuff every day and the PV installers I've watched don't seem to have as good a grip on roof penetrations as an experienced roofer. Everyone was a professional and we all worked toward the same end goal, and it all worked out.

[Ampster]

One benefit of using the same company for both roof and solar is that you know who to contact in case of a roof leak. You won’t have the solar company pointing fingers to the roofing company and vice versus.

I agree. However a cost effective way around that would be to have the solar company mount the stanchions and/or the bolts and let the roofer install the flashing so the roofer can warrant the roof for leaks. There may need to be some coordination depending on the way the roof stanchions are fastened and flashed. You might save some money if the solar installer has no liability for leaks. If you have the skills to be the project manager you can also save some money as suggested earlier. As far as the IRS is concerned they only see one number on the form. Receipts and photos as backup in the case of an audit are all that might be necessary.

[J.P.M.]

One benefit of using the same company for both roof and solar is that you know who to contact in case of a roof leak. You won’t have the solar company pointing fingers to the roofing company and vice versus.

And a possible disadvantage is that if subcontracted through the solar vendor, you'll pay the additional markup the solar vendor adds on. I had half my roof redone before adding the array, did separate contracts, acted as project coordinator and it worked out well. Straight communication is the key. I got good work and a fit for purpose PV system for a fair price by staying involved and on top of the project. Going on 9 years so far and not a hint of a problem.

[RichardCullip]

One benefit of using the same company for both roof and solar is that you know who to contact in case of a roof leak. You won’t have the solar company pointing fingers to the roofing company and vice versus.

[petesamprs]

I understood that the IRS clarified this exact question given the historical confusion. See #2: https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/energy-...ns-and-answers

[J.P.M.]

Good advice, thanks.

You're most welcome.

[RegularDude]

See your tax advisor. The general consensus around here is that tax advice from a forum is pretty unreliable in the eyes of the IRS. Or, fortune favoring the bold, claim everything - just don't forget to take your checkbook to the audit as fortune also slaughters the foolish.

Having written that, it's generally felt (and written by the IRS somewhere) that the portion of a roof that needs repair as part of an alternate energy project at or under a rooftop array qualifies as a necessary repair and so that portion of the work may qualify as eligible for the solar tax credit (not a tax deduction as you seem to write).

When I had my work done, I had a partial roof replacement done on the half of the roof that the array that the array would be on. I contracted both separately and coordinated the two contractors who agreed to cooperate with one another. Having seen what can happen in my HOA, I also sat on the roof (out of the way) and watched all the work being done. I believe I got a good job from both contractors for a fair and long term cost effective price, but that would not have happened without my involvement.

I did not claim any roof improvement as a tax credit as it wasn't absolutely necessary at that time although I'm glad the work was done.

As for yelp/BBB/etc., such reviews are written by folks who probably know less than you do about what you're enquiring about except that maybe the salesperson smiled more at them. I'm not sure such information from such persons is of much use.
If you want to get screwed less by vendors, get informed and get your own information and get more quotes. You'll wind up with a safer, more fit for purpose system that may just cost a bit less in the long run.

Good advice, thanks.

[J.P.M.]

As I carefully explained I am a farmer. There is a Seven-year [7] depreciation on all solar equipment for farms. I dont know how to state this any more clearly.

I also explained that I know nothing about these tax credits or how they work.





If you say so. Again that is NOT my field of expertise.

So, your advice is incomplete, and since you claim no knowledge about tax credits, uninformed and so potentially misleading.

Look, as a fellow veteran (but not a Dolphin), and also being mostly raised on a farm, and having more than few retired Dolphin friends, I respect your service and your circumstances, but IMO only, spouting off about stuff when your knowledge is incomplete (and also pretty parochial - whether you take it into account or not, most homeowners are not in your situation), and rude if for no other reason than some of us now need to go around cleaning up your likely misleading mess, not to mention that some uninformed poster or any reader may take what you know nothing about as fact with potential for harm if acted on.

[J.P.M.]

Welcome.

I am a military retiree on pension, I live on a small organic farm. I can't swing a dead cat without hitting a tax write-off. From my perspective everything is a tax write-off.

The IRS requires that all solar expenses must be depreciated over a 7-year period. Every penny spent on solar must turn around and be written off completely over seven years.

It is the same with every bag of feed, or purchase of farming implements and tools.

I have also been told since forever that there are tax credits, etc. I have no idea of how those work. I have never taken advantage of any of those programs, since all solar expenses are clearly tax write-offs anyway.






That sounds like a good plan to me.

If I were you, I would also meet with your tax accountant [offer to take them out to dinner] and ask them if they have filed paperwork to get the tax credits for solar. If they are experienced in doing that, it would give my more confidence in proceeding.

Your tax advice about may be appropriate for farmers and/or business owners but pretty much inappropriate and might be considered misleading for a residential homeowner seeking opinions and/or advice about alternate energy tax credits.
Few residential homeowners are in your tax situation.