Has anyone investigated/installed the GAF solar shingles? I realize they are VERY pricey, but they have a lot of potential benefits. Install just like regular shingles, so little additional roof load, no nails/bolts thru the roof for solar panel mounting rails, good to 130mph winds, maybe easier to permit.
Downside, only 45watts per shingle, and the way I read it, have to be installed by a GAF certified installer who is specifically trained for this for the warranty.
I hope to be getting an Aptera solar EV, but want to garage it. It's supposed to allow something like watts of external solar input, so I was considering the solar shingles on the garage, just for the EV. Thought these might look and work a lot better than traditional solar panels mounted to the roof.
Your new roof might pay for itself! Get a great-looking roof, and a single warranty. Timberline Solar™ is made up of innovative shingles, not panels or heavy tiles.
Panels installed on a flat surface with no airflow behind it will get extremely hot. Heat adversely affects power. Folks that have bonded flexible panels to a vehicle roof discovered this the hard way - reduced performance and dramatically shortened life.
In full summer sun with W/m^2 on it, and perfect tilt to the sun, I'd be surprised if that 45W panel gets 35W, and I'd be surprised if solar shingles last more than 10 years.
...But they look nice
GAF is one of a few companies that have pursued Solar Shingles and they are doing very well with it... I'm surprised at the nonsense posted about shingles... Some more info here: https://solarmagazine.com/solar-roofs/solar-shingles/ and even more info here (current May ) https://www.forbes.com/home-improvement/solar/solar-shingles-buying-guide/
These are NOT DIY Installable and you won't find this product line at your local solar supply house.
They are tricky do to and can on be applied to certain roofs, not all.
Looking at the pictures, these solar shingles don't BLEND with the non-solar portions of the roof and that defeats the whole idea that they are easier on the eye than traditional PV. There must be some special treatment at the margins between the two materials. Personally, they don't look acceptable to me. Their low output, high connection count and clear issues involved with troubleshooting and repair make them a bad idea in my eyes. The Tesla solar roofing is a better looking product but the same inherent cons and high price should be a deal killer to most prospective customers.
If people would look at the info & photo's and even do a Wee Bit of Research (reading), you'd quickly discover that all solar shingle producers make Blanks. They kook like the solar shingle but aren't, they can be cut, drilled & allow for fitting (vent tubes, chimney's). They also make accompanying trims and finishing bits for JUST THIS PURPOSE ! You will NOT find such accessories & finishing components for Solar Panels.
Solar Windows are finally coming, it is in commercial production and some really great numbers to go with it.. These are for commercial building (towers etc) but will trickle into residential starting . Solar Siding is yet another item coming to public marketspace and is expected to be available in , proofing is presently underway.
Now think for a minute... If you are going to make a roofing product that will be installed on homes, some of which are Big Buck Monster Villa's, you WILL have a full line of products, with blanks & fillers plus trim pieces because without it, they'll never see a roof and certainly not when someone is droppingf 100K+ on the roof. That woudl be Business Suicide to have an incomplete product family...
GAF is one of a few companies that have pursued Solar Shingles and they are doing very well with it... I'm surprised at the nonsense posted about shingles... Some more info here: https://solarmagazine.com/solar-roofs/solar-shingles/ and even more info here (current May ) https://www.forbes.com/home-improvement/solar/solar-shingles-buying-guide/
What nonsense?
Not sure if generic marketing articles with affiliate links are the best way to educate.
Doing very well with it? What's GAF's 1, 5, 10 year performance and reliability data across multiple climates?
Why are they priced so high with silly installed "qualifying devices" tied to warranties? My guess is they know they're going to need to replace them every 7-10 years or so, and they have to price in multiple installations.
LOL... just looked up the almost worthless basic warranty:
So basically, after 1 year, and a panel/panel(s) fail, GAF could basically just send you replacement panels, and you're 100% responsible for their replacement costs.
This is NOT the warranty policy of a company confident in its products. It's the policy of a company with a new unproven product that is unwilling to stand behind it based on its own merit, but to encourage users to spend MORE up front to offset the anticipated higher-than-industry-standard failure rate to "pre-pay" failures.
IMHO GAF is garbage. I'll change my tune when this product is still in service 10 years from now.
3.5 stars... some REALLY unhappy customers.
The pic I attached above is from th GAF site. If they had matching (non PV) roofing material, they should be showing it off. Otherwise, the consumer isn't going to be aware of it. From what I've seen of the Tesla solar tiles, they do have matching dummy ties, but in my searching I can find nothing from GAF.
I don't have skin in the game, so I'd be happy to be proven wrong.
LOL... just looked up the almost worthless basic warranty
I wonder how much buying the "Solar Max Addendum" to get the 25 year warranty costs?
All Timberline Solar ES™ Shingles are covered by the Timberline Solar™ Shingle & Accessory Limited Warranty However, when a GAF Certified-Contractor installs any qualifying GAF Roofing System at the…
I didn't have to buy a warranty extension with my shingles or solar equipment when I installed it all in .
Rooftop solar is already 3x the price of utility-scale solar. The death of net metering can make them a money-losing proposition unless you buy batteries too. If PV shingles have worse cost & lifespan that makes payback even worse.
Suitable credits on your bill from community solar may be an alternative, but I'd expect similar killing off of credits like net metering.
I have seen solar shingles that blended well.
Those were nailed type. If a tile type was designed to mount so back open to attic, then venting could keep them cool enough.
I've been around this stuff for well over 30 years and without hesitation can state that:
Solar shingles have always had a bright future.... and they always will. (sorry I couldn't resist)
Bottom line to me is really basic: When your roof leaks who are you going to call? The two in-house guys that went to the GAF solar class 4 years prior are long gone and most likely no other roofer will touch it. When your solar needs some troubleshooting in year 2 or year 12 no solar technician will touch it either.
Rooftop solar is already 3x the price of utility-scale solar. The death of net metering can make them a money-losing proposition unless you buy batteries too. If PV shingles have worse cost & lifespan that makes payback even worse.
Suitable credits on your bill from community solar may be an alternative, but I'd expect similar killing off of credits like net metering.
I have seen solar shingles that blended well.
Those were nailed type. If a tile type was designed to mount so back open to attic, then venting could keep them cool enough.
Hmmm, maybe, maybe not so much, I think it really depends on what your electric rates are, and the price of rooftop solar is going to continue to fall, as the technology improves, and becomes more of a commodity. Also there are batteries, and there are batteries like you have. Batteries to smooth peaks don't have to be that expensive either.
Running solar shingles is gimmicky at best. It's drastically more expensive per watt, drastically harder to replace if there is a problem, useless if where you need to put them does not lend itself to solar. I am lucky enough to have a roof that faces due south, with no rooftop or environmental obstructions, that fits 32 very large panels cleanly. It would have been idiotic to put some weird solar shingle on it.
Frequently asked questions about Timberline Solar®
Why are GAF Energy solar roofs my best option for solar?
Timberline Solar®, integrated solar roofing from GAF Energy, is the first true solar roof. It incorporates solar technology into traditional roofing materials and processes, and uses the world’s first nailable solar shingle, which lays flush against the roof deck, providing durability and protection that look great. With constant utility rate inflation, Timberline Solar® was designed to be an affordable solar roofing option. If you’re using solar to power your home in lieu of electricity from the grid, your energy prices may be lower. This all means that your Timberline Solar® roof could save you money, allowing those savings to offset the cost of your new roof over time. And with solar roofing becoming more popular, it could even benefit your home resale value.
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How much does a solar roof cost?
Pricing of Timberline Solar® for the average home varies based on a number of factors, including the size and slope of the roof, the shading around the home, and how much sunlight reaches the roof throughout a typical day. A Timberline Solar® roof is designed to be affordable and is typically comparable to a new roof plus traditional rack-mounted solar. Timberline Solar® is currently available for residential installation, and may be available for commercial buildings in the future.
What are the benefits of solar shingles compared to rack mount solar panels?
Timberline Solar® is the first true solar roof on the market. It incorporates the world’s first nailable solar shingle, which roofers can install as easily as regular roofing shingles, with only a nail gun. The benefit of this roof-integrated solar system is its seamless, waterproof installation that mimics traditional shingle installation. With most residential solar systems on the market using rack mounted panels or tiles, these setups require specialized installation skills and structures that can require ballast and/or can puncture your existing roof with lag bolts. This could disrupt the waterproofing to your roof, possibly degrading your roof quicker. Plus, the smaller form factor of the Timberline Solar® Energy Shingle (ES) as compared to a solar panel allows for installation on more complex roof shapes such as dormers or hipped roofs.
Are solar shingles as efficient as panels?
Due to the unique design of Timberline Solar® as a complete roofing system, efficiency cannot be calculated in the same way as a traditional solar panel. The ES is made out of the same high-efficiency mono PERC cell technology found in Tier 1 solar panels, and depending on a home’s specific roof geometry, Timberline Solar® may fit more kW per roof than traditional solar panels.
Want more information on solar shingle manufacturers? Feel free to contact us.
Does my solar roof come with batteries or grid connection?
Timberline Solar® is designed to be operated in connection with the electric grid, and is compatible with many energy storage offerings on the market. AC-coupled batteries are designed to be added to existing solar installations at any time. Other energy storage systems may require unique equipment for existing solar installations. All options and features for energy storage are site dependent and unique to the particular energy storage system. Please verify with a licensed energy storage contractor in advance that the specifications are right for the installed solar components and the desired operation modes (backup, self-consumption, time-of-use load shifting, etc.).
What tax credits are compatible with GAF Energy Solar Roofs?
We encourage roofers and homeowners to consult their tax advisors on all available solar tax incentives.
Where is Timberline Solar® available?
GAF Energy’s strategic rollout process is well underway, with the immediate goal to bring Timberline Solar® to every state in the U.S. Our vision is energy from every roof. Our major markets right now focus on the Southeast, Midwest, Northeast, Mountain West, and West Coast of the US. We operate in states like California, Colorado, Texas, Florida, South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia, Maryland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and New York–and add new service areas regularly. Please contact us at www.gaf.energy/timberline-solar to find out if we are available in your area—we may very well be! If you are not in an active territory yet, we can alert you when we open service in your region.
What is maintenance like on my solar roof?
Timberline Solar® is warrantied for diverse weather conditions such as snow, rain, and wind, and the system is designed to require little to no maintenance. Seasonal rains should help keep the solar shingles clean of dirt and debris, but if not, homeowners can either gently rinse their shingles (only when they’re cool). Timberline Solar® provides excellent, durable protection from the elements while generating reliable clean energy for the home. It’s a roof, with power added, designed to protect your home from leaks and other weather-related issues. Timberline Solar® customers can monitor output and track their clean energy production by logging in to the GAF Energy customer portal. Solar roof monitoring puts data directly in customers’ hands and makes it easier to readily detect any issues.
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