The 7 Best Solar Roof Options for 2023

Tesla may have been the first company to introduce a full solar roof, but they weren’t the first to make solar shingles. Here, we give you the basics of solar roofs, as well as our top picks for the best solar roof options, including Tesla, with pros and cons for each.

How a solar roof works

Tesla introduced its solar roof in 2016, shaking up the solar industry forever. But how does a solar roof work?

The Tesla roof uses tempered glass shingles to replace all the standard shingles on your home’s roof. Some of these shingles are also solar panels, meaning that nearly every inch of your roof could, in theory, generate electricity. 

Because most roofs have a few spots that don’t get much sunlight, Tesla Roofs also include a few inactive panels. These look the same as the solar shingles but don’t produce energy, which helps to keep down the cost of installation and saves resources.

Tesla Roofs are the only full solar roof currently available, but they’re not the only option for going solar without solar panels. In fact, the first solar shingles were brought to market in 2009 by DOW Company, and several other companies also make solar shingles.

What’s the difference? Solar shingles are just that: shingles. They’re designed to either integrate with your existing or new roof shingles or tiles or to sit on top of them. Either way, the look isn’t quite as seamless as a full Tesla Roof. 

The benefits of a solar roof

There are many benefits to going solar, and solar roofs and shingles offer all these and more.

The look

Solar roofs provide all the benefits of a rooftop solar array without dramatically changing the appearance of your home. That’s because solar shingles are designed to look as much like regular roof shingles as possible. Most solar shingles can be integrated into an existing tile or shingle roof, or can be laid over top as a sort of second skin for your roof. Even if they’re attached on top of your roof’s regular tiles, the profile of solar shingles is a lot lower than with mounted solar panels. 

With a Tesla Roof, all the tiles look the same, regardless of whether they’re active solar shingles or inactive tiles. This makes a solar roof or solar shingles a great fit for homeowners who don’t like the look of more conventional solar panels. A solar roof may also enable homeowners to benefit from solar without invoking the ire of homeowner associations.

Cost-effective roofing and solar combined

A new roof can be a costly proposition, as can a solar installation. What if you could combine the two and save some cash? 

If your roof is due for an upgrade, consider a solar roof. Sure, it will cost more than a regular roof, but it will typically cost less than a regular roof plus a conventional solar array with similar power output. 

A high-performance roofing solution

Worried that a solar roof won’t be as good as a regular roof? There’s no need for concern. These roofing shingles perform just like regular shingles, only they produce electricity while keeping your home watertight and safe from the elements.

The key here is that solar shingles combine solar cells with the roof sheathing. In more conventional solar arrays, solar modules are mounted on top of shingles (or other roofing material).

Effective use of space

Solar shingles can be a great way to go solar if you have a small roof that makes a standard solar set-up difficult or even impossible. For the same reason, solar shingles can be a good choice for a roof with awkward space constraints, such as dormers, skylights, and so forth. 

After all, a shingle is far smaller than a solar panel. This means you can squeeze a few shingles onto a small area and maximize your rooftop real estate. You might even decide to skip your rooftop entirely and instead install a solar roof on your garage, shed, or an auxiliary dwelling, especially if these get more sun exposure than your home.

No external wiring

Standard solar panel installations require external wiring that connects the mounted solar panels to the inverter and main service panel inside your home. With a solar roof and most solar shingles, all the wiring is internal and hidden. This reduces the risk of damage from wind, rain, birds and other wildlife, and so forth.

Standard solar arrays also have to be mounted on top of roofing material, which usually means drilling into the roof. Some metal roofs allow for solar modules to be clicked into place, but regular roof shingles and tiles require solar installers to penetrate the roofing material, which can cause damage and create weak spots.

These problems are unlikely if you use an experienced and skilled solar installer, but they’re still a risk with regular arrays.

Some solar shingles are direct to deck, acting like both a solar panel and a roofing shingle. Others attach to existing roofing shingles or tiles. As such, the potential for damage to an existing roof varies greatly between differing solar roofing options.

Easier to repair and replace

Another key benefit to solar shingles is that they’re lightweight and relatively easy to repair and replace. If one or two get damaged, you can quickly replace these with fresh solar shingles or inactive shingles as needed. It’s much harder and more costly to replace or repair an entire solar panel.

Solar shingles are also built to withstand rain, snow, and wind. And if something does go wrong, most companies offer a good warranty, so you can get your shingles replaced for free. Tesla even offers a lifetime warranty for its physical shingles, which is great if you’re planning on staying in the same home for a long time. If you think you’ll move home in the next 25 years or so, though, that lifetime warranty might not be all that useful, given it’s hard to take your solar roof with you (unlike solar panels).

Are there any downsides to solar roofs?

So far, so good, but what about the disadvantages of solar roofs?

Cost and efficiency

As discussed, solar shingles aren’t cheap, despite being more cost-effective per watt. Compared to the price of a standard rooftop solar installation ($15,000 to $40,000), the Tesla solar roof has been reported as ranging from $30,000 to nearly $100,000. What’s more, Tesla has shifted its prices dramatically, and without warning, several times, catching customers off guard. Tesla also now insists that solar roof customers buy the Tesla Powerwall battery, which raises the cost even more.

Tesla isn’t the only name in town, though, and you definitely pay a premium for the brand.

High-efficiency shingles from other companies tend to be less expensive and just as efficient as Tesla’s shingles, but they’re all less efficient than the best solar panels. In general, a solar shingle typically produces between 13 and 63 watts. They need high sun exposure and a good slope to meet their maximum output, though. 

Lifespan and flexibility

Solar roofs and shingles also have a shorter lifespan than most regular solar panels. While a standard solar panel can usually keep producing electricity at around 80% of original output for 25 years or more, solar shingles usually maintain that level of output for just 20 or so years. They also produce less electricity to start with.

One other downside of a solar roof is that it can be hard to take with you if you move. Unlike solar panels, solar roofs are custom-made to fit your home. Solar shingles or DecoTech integrated panels may be able to go with you if you move, depending on the type of roof at your new home.

Other downsides to solar roofs

While solar roofs are increasingly popular, you might not be able to find a skilled installer in your area. In contrast, conventional solar installers are easy to find, which also means the labor cost of an installation is typically lower than for a solar roof.

The same goes for solar shingles. While there are more installers for these than for Tesla Roofs, it’s still very hard to find a credentialled installer in most places, especially if you live outside of a big city.

Finally, you’ll want to consider the environmental cost of installing a solar roof. Chances are you’re interested in these products because you want to live a greener lifestyle. Sending your current, perfectly respectable roof to a landfill just so you can install a solar roof isn’t very sustainable.

The best solar roofs: our top picks

1

CertainTeed

Leaf Score

Highlights: Solar shingle option with an impressive amount of experience in the roofing industry making products that integrate well into your existing roof, negating the need for a total roof upgrade.

View on CertainTeed

Affiliate disclosure

CertainTeed has been offering solar shingles for longer than Tesla and has more than one hundred years of experience in the roofing industry. The company currently offers two designs for solar roofs: 

Apollo Shingle 11 can be installed as part of a new roof or with an existing asphalt roof. These shingles are all-black and can be placed in strips or patches on part or most of the roof. Each shingle measures 46.75 inches wide and 17 5/8^th inches deep.

Apollo Tile II is suitable for concrete tile roofs. These tiles have a black laminate look and come with a custom frame color to match various earth-tone concrete tile colors. Each tile measures 47 inches wide and 17.25 inches deep.

What we like about CertainTeed solar roofs

Unlike with a Tesla Roof, you can easily integrate solar shingles from CertainTeed into your existing roof. This avoids the need for a total roof upgrade and makes for a much lower cost installation. (In some situations, Tesla might be able to add its Solar Roof on top of your existing roof.) 

A CertainTeed solar roof is typically a lot less expensive than a Tesla Roof. CertainTeed solar shingles are also more widely available in the U.S. The company has been in the roofing business for more than a century and has hundreds of service personnel ready to install its solar shingles. With no waitlist and more roofing experience than any other solar shingle manufacturer, CertainTeed is a great choice if you need a new roof or just want to add a few solar shingles to get started.

CertainTeed makes its solar shingles and tiles in the U.S.  Every installation includes fire-resistant underlayment (where relevant), flashing accessories, starter strip and wind clips, home run wiring, an optional string inverter, and an optional monitoring system.

Both types of solar shingles are easy to install as they use the same low-tech system as regular asphalt and concrete tiles. That is, your installer will attach the shingles to the roof’s sheathing using standard deck screws. This makes for a far speedier and more straightforward installation than with more complex solar shingles.

The tiles are also easy to maintain, with open space under the modules and built-in wire clips allowing for easy wire management and installation. 

Specifications

CertainTeed uses higher-efficiency solar technology than most solar shingle companies (and is transparent about specifications!). Every active tile has 14 high-efficiency monocrystalline silicon solar cells. These tiles have a power rating of 70 watts each, which is higher than most solar shingles. The efficiency rating of Apollo Shingle 11 is 17.2%, while Apollo Tile 11 has a 17.8% efficiency rating. 

CertainTeed shingles are very lightweight and just as flexible as regular shingles. The Apollo Shingles weigh just 2.7 lbs. per sq. ft., which is around the same as a standard asphalt shingle. The Apollo Tiles weigh 3.1 lbs. per sq. ft., which is far less than a concrete roof tile.

While lightweight, these solar shingles can withstand an impressive 250 lbs. per square foot. They’re also resistant to water, fire, and wind and even carry Florida Building Code High Velocity Hurricane Zone rating (Vult 194mph).

The Apollo Shingles 11 and Apollo Tiles 11 have a power temperature coefficient of -0.37%. While nowhere close to the coefficients of REC solar panels, this is actually fairly similar to many of the best solar panels. Not bad for a solar shingle or tile packed tight to a roof!

Both types of roofing materials have an operating temperature between -40 and 194 degrees Fahrenheit (-40 and 90 Celsius). 

CertainTeed also offers a comprehensive warranty that covers all system components. This includes a 25-year warranty on power output and a 10-year warranty covering the inverter, all other system components, and a 110-mph wind warranty.

Given the company’s long history, there’s also a good chance CertainTeed will be around to honor that warranty in 25 years. If you work with a CertainTeed-credentialed solar installer, the professional installation of your system is also covered for up to 25 years. You can even transfer the warranty if needed, which is a huge plus when trying to sell your home.

What we don’t like about CertainTeed solar roofs

The main downside to CertainTeed solar shingles is that they’re not a ‘hidden’ solar installation. While these tiles and shingles can be integrated, the color mismatch with non-solar shingles and tiles is very obvious on most roofs. That said, if a low profile is your main concern, CertainTeed is a great choice.

The second key downside to CertainTeed is that the company doesn’t offer any specific pricing information on its website. To get a sense of how much your installation will cost, you’ll need to contact the company or find a local installer that works with these shingles or tiles.

It’s reasonable, however, to assume that a fairly standard installation would cost somewhere between a full Tesla Roof and a standard solar panel setup. The cost will largely depend on the size, shape, and type of roof, its age, and whether you plan on replacing the whole roof, integrating a few solar shingles, or packing as many solar tiles or shingles as you can into the space you have.

2

Tesla Solar Roof

Leaf Score

Highlights: Seamless, sleek, and inconspicuous design with a brand name attached at the cost of a lengthy waitlist, and a pricetag to match.

View on Tesla

Affiliate disclosure

Tesla first presented its Solar Roof in 2016, wowing onlookers with its sleek, futuristic look. These days, there are at least four styles of Tesla Solar Roof tile to choose from. Each roof is custom-made and incorporates glass solar tiles, glass roofing tiles and architectural-grade steel tiles. 

The three types of tile are indistinguishable from each other, creating a seamless design. All of the tiles act as roofing material, though only some generate solar power. This helps avoid wasting resources by installing solar shingles in areas of your roof that get very little sun.

See also: How much does a Tesla solar roof cost?

See also: Tesla solar panel installation case study

Once you place your Solar Roof order, Tesla asks you to upload a recent utility bill. This helps the company size your solar roof according to your electricity needs. Tesla will also schedule an on-site assessment to determine the complexity of installing a solar roof. The more mounting planes, obstructions (chimneys, skylights, vents, and fans), and peculiar pitches, the trickier and more expensive the roofing project.

Tesla Solar Roofs include the shingles themselves, all the wiring and the inverter, and a Powerwall battery to store excess energy produced by your array. This provides backup power should the main electricity grid go down.

What we like about Tesla Roofs

The best thing about a Tesla Roof is that it’s a full roof. Unlike most other companies making solar shingles, Tesla offers the full package and a seamless, inconspicuous design. If money is no object and you want a full roof upgrade, a Tesla Roof is a great choice.

Other good things about Tesla roofs include a generous 25-year warranty for defects in design and materials from the date of installation. Tesla also offers a weatherization warranty which states that “Your Solar Roof will remain in place and prevent damage to your home caused by the passage of wind and rain through your Solar Roof for 25 years”.

Tesla also offers a module warranty promising that your Solar Roof will still operate at 95% or more of its Rated Peak Power at the 5-year mark, with production declining by no more than 0.5% annually for the next 20 years. All-in, that puts operating capacity at 85% or more after 25 years. Pretty good!

Despite these warranties, Tesla Roof tiles are built to last. The shingles are tested for durability by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) and hold up well against wind, hail, fire, and rain. You can also choose to install a Tesla Roof on top of your existing roof, assuming it meets certain conditions. 

Tesla also uses higher-efficiency monocrystalline solar cells for its shingles. 

What we don’t like about Tesla Roofs

Tesla Roofs are expensive. There’s no getting around the fact that you pay for the name. To make matters worse, Elon Musk announced on Twitter in April 2021 that “Tesla Solar Panels & Solar Roof will only be sold as an integrated product *with* Tesla Powerwall battery.” So, if you were looking for just a Tesla Roof, your cost outlay just got a lot higher (and you’ll need somewhere to store that battery).

The idea is that solar power from the Tesla roof would feed exclusively to Powerwall and that Powerwall will then interface with utility meters and a home’s main service panel. The trouble, of course, is that some customers want a grid-connected system without battery storage. After all, batteries are expensive, require regular maintenance, and typically need replacing every 5-15 years.

This also gets to another downside of a Tesla Roof: inflexibility. Sure, the shingles themselves might be quite flexible, but the system isn’t. The whole thing is designed for seamless integration with other Tesla products, meaning you’re going to struggle to MacGyver anything. If you do, you’ll likely invalidate any warranties. So, if you’re thinking you might want to eventually go off-grid, hook up a generator, or even add a wind turbine or microhydro system, a Tesla Roof, inverter, and Powerwall system can make that far trickier. 

Tesla Roofs can also take a while to install, especially if your roof is complex. This means greater disruption and a higher installation cost. And that’s assuming you can install a Tesla Roof where you live. Some homeowner associations won’t allow these roofs and even if they do, you might be on a waitlist for years before finding out your roof isn’t suitable. 

Installers are also hard to find, with Tesla Roofs most readily available in California and a handful of other test markets. 

Finally, Tesla continues to be shady about the specifications of its solar roof. It has never published efficiency ratings or temperature coefficients, for instance, which are important factors when choosing solar equipment.

3

SunTegra 

Leaf Score

Highlights: Low-profile solar shingle option that can integrate into existing rooftops, but with significantly larger shingles.

View on Suntegra

Affiliate disclosure

SunTegra is another good option for a solar roof. This company, like CertainTeed, offers solar shingles that can be installed in an existing roof or as part of a full roofing package. 

SunTegra offers both asphalt and concrete tile options for solar roofs. Like CertainTeed’s Apollo systems, these tiles can be placed on, or integrated into, a new or existing roof. 

The shingles are significantly larger than CertainTeed’s shingles at 53 5/8^th inches wide and 23 1/8^th inches deep. The tiles are also a lot larger at 52 3/4^th inches and 16 7/8^th inches.

While there’s no pricing information available on SunTegra’s website, the company offers free, no-obligation estimates based on where you live and your home’s solar potential.

What we like about SunTegra 

SunTegra, formerly known as Integrated Solar Technology (IST), is fully dedicated to solar solutions. The company’s founder, Oliver Koehler, previously worked at BP Solar and SunPower and branched out to provide more innovative solar solutions for homeowners, buildings, and businesses. 

While a smaller business than CertainTeed, SunTegra is expanding rapidly in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico. There is currently no waitlist for a SunTegra installation, so this is a great choice if you’re looking to add a few solar shingles or tiles to your roof right away.

SunTegra solar tiles and shingles are rated to withstand 112 lbs. per sq. ft. and a maximum wind speed of 130 mph. The operating temperature range is the same as CertainTeed’s at -40 and 194 degrees Fahrenheit (-40 and 90 Celsius).

SunTegra’s tiles and shingles are barely visible from ground level, thanks to their low profile. The lightweight design avoids the need for structural engineering and building permits. SunTegra also claims that their installation process is much simpler and faster than for Tesla or Forward and uses “50% fewer parts than conventional rack-mounted systems.” Integrated wiring makes for fast and easy installations and maintenance.

SunTegra also plans to introduce new solar products for garden and patio spaces and for the sides and facades of commercial and community buildings.

What we don’t like about SunTegra 

While low-profile, the all-black aesthetic is very apparent on most roofs. If you’re looking for something more seamless, a Tesla Solar Roof or Forward installation is your best option. 

SunTegra is only a solar company; it doesn’t offer a full roofing service. As such, if you need to replace your roof, you’ll have to coordinate installations with two companies. Both products come with a 10-year product warranty and a 25-year power output warranty, which is less generous than the warranties offered by CertainTeed, Tesla, and Forward.

SunTegra’s solar tiles have 16 monocrystalline cells each and a power output of 64 to 70 W. Their efficiency ratings are 13.9%, 14.5%, and 15.1% for the STT 64, STT 67, and STT 70, respectively. These are much lower than most solar panels. In fact, you may need to cover 50% more of your roof to produce the same amount of electricity as a standard solar array.

The solar shingles are more efficient than their tile counterparts but less efficient than CertainTeed’s shingles. There are three shingle models available, with outputs between 105 W and 114 W. The higher wattage is because all of the shingles have 24 monocrystalline cells. The efficiencies, however, are just 15.9%, 16.6%, and 17.2% for the STS 105, STS 110, and STS 114 respectively. 

SunTegra’s solar tiles and shingles also have a poorer temperature co-efficient (-0.404%) than CertainTeed’s products. If you live somewhere very hot, these tiles are unlikely to be a great option currently.

Based on reports in the press, SunTegra shingles appear to cost around 15% more than conventional solar panels, or about $3.65/Watt. For a 5 kW installation, then, this would amount to $18,250. However, because the tiles and shingles are less efficient at converting sunlight into electricity, their payback period would be longer than a standard solar panel system.

4

Forward Solar Shingles

Leaf Score

Highlights: The very first complete solar roofing solution offering a metal solar roof as a viable and attractive alternative to the Tesla Solar Roof.

View on Forward

Affiliate disclosure

Forward began life in New York State through an unsuccessful Kickstarter, around the same time as Elon Musk started talking about his Solar Roof idea. So, while Forward is still far smaller than Tesla, this company actually pipped Musk to the post in publicly launching the first complete solar roofing solution. 

Fast forward to 2022 and the now California-based company offers its Metal Solar Roof as a viable and attractive alternative to a Tesla Solar Roof. This galvanized metal standing seam type of roof comes in eight colors and must be installed as a complete roof solution.

Forward uses tempered glass-metal monocrystalline solar roof panels on portions of the roof exposed to the sun. On shaded areas or other parts not suited to solar, Forward uses roll-formed metal with a baked-on enamel in a similar color and matching style.

If you’re interested in a Forward roof, you can pay a deposit of $1,000 to reserve a spot on the waitlist. The company then offers a free consultation that includes hard numbers on anticipated total costs and expected energy output. You have a 90-day window to decide to move ahead with your order, during which time your price is locked in.

If the product doesn’t seem like a good fit after the consultation, your deposit is returned in full. If you go ahead, you’ll get an expected installation date and regular updates through an assigned representative. You can also opt to change the color of your roof up to a month before installation is scheduled.

Forward offers a 30-year weatherization warranty and the roof is guaranteed for 40 years. 

What we like about Forward 

The solar sections of a Forward roof are made with tempered glass over high-efficiency solar cells. These sections are the same size and shape as a standing seam metal roof. The cells are designed with a transparent optical layer below the glass (to let sun in) but look opaque when viewed from the ground below. This makes for a more modern, seamless aesthetic than solar shingles or tiles from CertainTeed or SunTegra.

Forward is the only solar roofing company currently offering an integrated solar roof based on a metal standing seam design. This makes Forward a good fit not only for homes but also for barns, garages, and even industrial type roofs.

Forward solar roofing can be installed in just two to three days and is suitable for roofs with at least a 1:12 pitch. This makes Forward a good fit even for flatter roofs which may be unsuitable for other types of solar shingles. All of the wiring runs through your attic space and you can ask for optional snow guards to prevent snow from shedding in areas such as over doorways.

Forward combines inactive and active roofing components with pricing at $9.75 per square foot for non-solar portions. The solar sections come in at $3.75 per Watt, with an energy density of 19 W per square foot. For a 5 kW solar roofing system, then, you’d be looking at a cost of $18,750 for the solar cells. Assuming this occupied around 263 sq. ft. of a 1200 sq. ft. rooftop, the total cost would come in at around $17885.75 ($18,750 plus $9135.75).

Forward acknowledges that asphalt shingles are a major problem for landfills. So much so, the company has partnered with emerging asphalt recycling facilities to repurpose the asphalt shingles it removes and turn these into road surfacing material.

What we don’t like about Forward

Forward isn’t very forthcoming with technical specifications or other important details. For instance, it doesn’t reveal the efficiency ratings of its solar cells, though it claims to have a higher energy density than standard solar panels. 

According to Forward, its roof offers more efficient use of roofing space to increase opportunities for electricity production. Given the eight color options, however, it’s worth noting that each one would block a different part of the visible light spectrum, which would affect the cells’ ability to create electricity.

Forward also offers no information on its temperature coefficient, nor any additional information on its warranties. It’s also not clear how robust the roofing material is against hail, wind, snow, water, or fire.

Finally, even six years after its Kickstarter, Forward is still only installing solar roofs in a test area around San Francisco. One might surmise, then, that the current waitlist is quite lengthy. In fact, Forward actually recommends reserving your spot years in advance of when you think your roof might need replacing. Basically, if you’re interested in a Forward solar roof, don’t wait until your roof leaks to get in line.

5

GAF

Leaf Score

Highlights: Subsidiary of a major U.S. roofing company offering industry award-winning solar shingles capable of being nailed directly onto your roof.

View on GAF

Affiliate disclosure

GAF Energy is a subsidiary of Standard Industries, a major U.S. roofing company. This newcomer (launched 2019) to the solar scene now offers Timberline solar shingles, introduced at CES 2022 and recipient of numerous industry awards. These shingles can be installed with a nail gun directly onto your roof, making for quick, easy, and inexpensive residential solar installations with no need for specialist training.

In fact, GAF Energy’s Timberline Solar shingles are very similar to the company’s non-solar Timberline asphalt shingles. These shingles are available in four shades of grey to better match your existing or new roofing shingles. The Timberline Energy Shingle weighs 10.1 pounds (4.58 kg) and measures 64 ¼ inches by 17 ⅛ inches by 1 inch deep. They can be installed on roofs with a pitch greater than 2:12 and at a maximum altitude of 13,123 ft. (4,000 m). They operate within the temperature range of -40F to 122  degrees Fahrenheit (-40C to 50 Celsius).

The company’s usual warranty also applies to the solar shingles, with some optional upgrades and additions if a GAF certified contractor installs your system. This includes 25 years of coverage against manufacturing defects that cause leaks and for solar power output, as well as 15 years of coverage against wind damage up to 130 mph. Optional upgrades include a 1- or 10-year electrical workmanship warranty, a 15-year wind warranty, and 25 year solar power generation coverage. There’s also an option for 10 or 25 years of coverage for third-party electrical components.

While GAF doesn’t list any prices on its website, the company president has said that replacing a typical $15,000 non-solar roof with a Timberline Solar Roof would cost in the region of $30,000, or about half the cost of a Tesla Roof.

What we like about GAF

GAF’s nailable shingles (a world first, seemingly!) offer a simple, inexpensive option for installing solar on your rooftop. The shingles both generate electricity and provide all the regular roofing protection customers have come to expect from Standard Industries.

GAF makes its Timberline Solar shingles in the U.S. and uses local GAF-certified roofers in most communities. That means one company designs, manufactures, sells, and installs the roofing tiles. The company also offers its GAF Energy homeowner portal where customers can track clean energy production and detect any issues early.

GAF offers a robust warranty and provides roofers all the support services they need to help with permitting, installation, and any troubleshooting after installation. 

A new roof incorporating Timberline shingles can be installed in just a few days, instead of a week or two for a Tesla roof. This is part of the reason why GAF is already on its way to installing more solar roofs than Tesla. The other reason being that the company has so much existing reach when it comes to roofing in the U.S. (Astonishingly, one in four U.S. roofs comes from GAF’s parent company.)

Interestingly, GAF chose to position the electrical components and wiring on top of the Timberline shingle, rather than underneath, like other solar shingles. This makes for easier servicing, but does make me wonder if they’ll also need servicing more often. That said, each shingle measures nearly 20 inches longer than a typical Tesla Solar Roof shingle. Overall, that makes for less wiring and fewer electrical components that can go wrong.

GAF’s Timberline solar shingles are also different from CertainTeed and SunTegra’s shingles in that they use mono PERC cells instead of monocrystalline PV cells. Theoretically, this makes them more efficient even at high temperatures. Indeed, the company president has said that the “mono passivated emitter and rear cells (PERC) we use are, on average, 22.6% efficient.” If true, that would make these the most efficient solar shingles on the market today. 

Mono PERC cells have a top layer that absorbs sunlight and a dielectric passivation film on the bottom side that absorbs any scattered light. Overall, this makes for greater light absorption and internal reflectivity, and a higher energy density. 

GAF’s warranties are quite generous and chances are the company will be around to honor them, even in 25 years. If you do choose a GAF Timberline solar roof, make sure to read the small print for the warranties. You’ll notice there’s a one-time option for homeowners to transfer the warranty’s lifetime coverage components to a second owner, as long as certain conditions are met. 

What we don’t like about GAF

Despite the mono PERC cells and ease of installation, Timberline solar shingles only have a power output of 45 W per square foot. This is a lot lower than CertainTeed’s shingles. 

The operating temperature range is a little smaller than for other solar shingles, meaning they are unlikely to be suitable for very hot climates. We also don’t know the temperature co-efficient for these shingles.

While it’s great that these shingles have been put through their paces by accredited laboratories, it seems they are on the lower end for impact resistance. The solar shingles are rated Class 1 (Class 4 have the highest resistance).

6

DecoTech

Leaf Score

Highlights: Working in partnership with GAF, DecoTech offers direct-to-deck solar panels that are integrated directly onto your existing roof as opposed to being installed on racks, accomplishing a solar roof look and feel without necessarily being a full solar roof.

View on GAF

Affiliate disclosure

DecoTech offers low-profile solar installations in partnership with GAF. DecoTech started offering this kind of solar set-up in 2017 and is a great choice if you’re already replacing your roof.

While not technically solar shingles, these direct-to-deck solar panels are integrated into the roof instead of being installed on racks. The result is a very low-profile solar panel installation with all the protective qualities of roofing shingles.

DecoTech uses standard-sized solar panels in its integrated solar roofing system, unlike the shingle-sized solar shingles used by SunTegra and CertainTeed. These 60-cell solar panels are the same types of panels as a standard rooftop solar array mounted on racks, it’s just that DecoTech takes a different approach to installing them.

DecoTech works with GAF to create a solar panel product that becomes part of the roofing process. The racking and wiring is hidden and the whole panel is set lower in the roof than standard panels mounted on top of the roof. The process is very similar to installing a skylight, with the roofing material stripped down, the modules inserted in a proprietary interlocking frame, and that frame attached in the center of the roof. The roofers then fill around the panel insert with regular roofing shingles, making everything watertight.

What we like about DecoTech

The main benefits of a DecoTech installation are a low-profile look and higher efficiency than solar shingles. This is because DecoTech uses standard silicon solar panels with 17% efficiency. Solar shingles from SunTegra and CertainTeed range from just 13.9% to 15.9% efficiency, largely because the way shingles are mounted makes it harder to keep them cool and efficient. 

The roof and solar are all covered under one warranty, with an option to upgrade to a lifetime warranty. The warranty also guarantees that your panels’ power output won’t decrease by more than 0.7% annually after their first year. This is standard for the solar industry, but not for solar shingles.

The two systems are both installed by the same GAF-certified roofers, which means you’ll get an experienced roofing crew and plenty of support if anything goes awry. There are also some advantages to the type of installation in that the roofing crew will already be on-site and can assemble much of the solar array on the ground. This reduces the need to negotiate with separate solar and roofing companies and helps save the roofers time assembling modules on the roof.

All in all, DecoTech is a good choice if: you’re replacing your roof or building a new home and want to go solar; you’re keen on solar panels rather than solar shingles, and you really want a low-profile look.

What we don’t like about DecoTech

The downsides to a DecoTech installation include a slightly more complicated installation. While these are technically solar panels, their installation takes longer than a rack-mounted solar array. Indeed, DecoTech is likely only a good option for new roofs or replacement roofs. 

DecoTech’s solar roof option is as close to a standard solar panel system as you can get, but much lower profile.

DecoTech doesn’t offer pricing information publicly but has said that installations would initially cost about 10-15% more than a new roof plus a standard solar array. These costs were expected to come down as the rollout of DecoTech roofs expanded, allowing for economies of scale. However, because every roof is different, it’s not possible to tell if these cost savings have emerged. So, you may still be paying a premium for a rooftop solar array with a low-profile look.

7

Luma Solar Roofs

Leaf Score

Highlights: Known for its low-profile, luxurious-looking aesthetic, Luma Solar offers upgradeable solar shingles that pass myriad tests at the cost of being a little difficult to arrange an installation with.

View on Luma Solar

Affiliate disclosure

Luma Solar was founded in 2007 and claims to have made the first solar roof shingles in the U.S. The company’s other major claim is to have created upgradeable solar shingles, meaning you can replace the solar cells without having to rip up your roof.

Perhaps the biggest draw for Luma Solar, though, is its seamless, luxury aesthetic. Even before Tesla got around to revealing its Solar Roof, Luma had already created an almost perfect integration of active and inactive solar shingles.

The complete solar roofing system blends solar shingles with non-solar metal shingles and installs like traditional metal roofing. The design allows for good air flow to keep the solar cells cool and efficient, and houses wire harnesses under the solar shingles, with just one penetration required into the roof deck for the wires. 

The “Luma Solar Kits” can be integrated with all roofing material and each shingle has an exposed area of 52.5 inches by 14.65 inches. The company also partners with battery storage providers to make installation of a complete system simpler for homeowners. The partners currently include Generac PWRCell, Sonnen, LG Chem, and Enphase. Luma will also install an inverter and offers monitoring and consumption data through your smartphone.

Luma offers a 25-year limited power warranty at 80% and a 5-year limited product warranty, with a limited lifetime warranty for the structural component of the metal shingles. The shingles carry the following certifications: UL 1703 Certified (US/Canada Listed), UL 580 Approved, ANSI/UL 790 Fire Rating: Class C, Miami-Dade Hurricane Rating: Class 5+, TAS 125-03: Wind MPH 200+, Salt Spray Exposure Rated, and ASTM G 155-05a / B117-07a.

What we like about Luma Solar

As mentioned, Luma Solar offers an integrated solar roofing system, not just solar shingles. This makes a Luma solar roof a good option if you don’t like the look of regular solar panels or the combination of asphalt or concrete tile and solar shingles. You can also choose to integrate a Luma Solar Kit into your existing roof, which makes for a more flexible and potentially cheaper installation. With Tesla, you’re limited to a full solar roof only.

Luma Solar shingles each boast 16 monocrystalline cells and have a power output of 80 watts and a stated energy efficiency of 21%. This makes them more energy-dense and efficient than most solar panels. The shingles can also withstand fire, sea spray, and Category 5 hurricanes, making them a good fit for areas where conventional solar panels are too risky.

It’s also nice that Luma offers a range of battery storage options. Unlike Tesla, where you’re limited to the company’s Powerwall battery storage system, with Luma you can choose between at least four options.

Finally, one major advantage to installing a Luma solar roof is that there’s an option to upgrade the photovoltaic cells. This helps to protect against massive increases in solar cell efficiency in the future.

What we don’t like about Luma Solar

The trouble with Luma Solar is that the company is very choosy about who it works with. Luma readily admits on its website that it won’t work with every homeowner, which may be why there are reports of potential customers trying to contact Luma and never hearing back. 

This also means there’s no pricing information available for Luma Solar. It stands to reason that this kind of integrated solar roofing system would vary enormously in price depending on the size, type, and shape of a roof, and any awkward angles and obstructions.

Luma offers little information on the limits on its lifetime warranty, and the 5-year product warranty is very short, even for the solar industry. For such an expensive, luxury product, I would expect a far more generous warranty. After all, Tesla offers a 25-year product warranty for its solar shingles!

Luma shingles have an operating temperature range of -40 to 185 degrees Fahrenheit (-40 to 85 degrees Celsius). This is around the same as CertainTeed’s operating range.

Every Luma shingle weighs 19.8 lbs., which is quite light for a solar shingle. They can withstand mechanical forces of 2,400 Pa for static wind loading and 5,400 for static load snow loading.

Other solar roof companies to watch

The solar roofing industry is taking its sweet time to really get going in the U.S. In the last few years, greater efficiencies in solar shingle technology, cheaper pricing, and a growing number of certified installers, have begun to make solar roofs a more attractive option for homeowners.

Elsewhere in the world, solar roofs are also picking up steam. In Sweden, the company Sunroof is making beautiful solar roofs with a low carbon footprint and high efficiency ratings. I have my eye on them for entry into the North American market.

In Germany, SolteQ won the German Sustainability Award in 2021 for its interlocking solar tiles. These are installed direct-to-deck and come with a 40-year performance warranty. They’re also made in-house in a carbon neutral facility. SolteQ offers a wider range of solar roofing options than any other company on the list above. These include several options for asphalt roofs, Mediterranean tile roofs, historic buildings, bespoke facades, and more. The company is relatively new to the U.S. but does have representatives ready to answer questions if you like the look of its products.

Solar roofs FAQ