The Short Answer
Roofs leak under solar panels mainly at the mounting attachments, where lag screws pass through the shingles into the rafters. Michigan's residential code requires those penetrations to be flashed and sealed, and a missed flashing, a screw that misses the rafter or sealant used instead of flashing will leak. The solar installer's workmanship warranty usually covers mount leaks; roof problems unrelated to the mounts belong to the roofer, and panels often must be removed for repairs.
Key Points
- Most solar-related leaks are at the mounts, the wiring penetration or the edges of the array, not through the panels themselves.
- Michigan's code says rooftop solar is installed to the manufacturer's instructions and its roof penetrations are flashed and sealed under the roofing chapter.
- Shingle warranties generally make the owner responsible for the cost of removing and replacing solar panels and other items installed over the shingles.
- Find out who installed the system and what their workmanship warranty says before anyone touches the array.
- A roof with only a few years left should usually be repaired or replaced before panels go on, because removing and reinstalling an array costs money every time.
Where Roofs Leak Under a Solar Array
Panels do not leak; they shed water like a second roof. The weak points are the holes made to hold them. A typical residential array sits on rails bolted to the roof through mounts spaced along each rafter, and each mount is a penetration through the shingles, underlayment and deck.
The other common points are where the wiring leaves the array and enters the attic, and the shingles directly around the array, which are walked on, knelt on and disturbed during installation. Damaged shingles in a busy work zone can leak months later, after a few freeze-thaw cycles open a crack.
Mount penetrations
The most common source
Lag screws through the shingles into the rafters, under a flashing or a sealed mounting block. Leaks come from a missing or misplaced flashing, sealant used in place of flashing, or a screw that missed the rafter and was left in the hole.
Wire penetrations
Conduit or junction box
Where cables pass through the roof deck into the attic. These need their own flashed fitting, not a hole with sealant around a conduit.
Disturbed shingles
Collateral damage
Cracked, scuffed or unsealed shingles from foot traffic and equipment during installation, especially if work was done in cold weather when shingles are brittle.
Underlying roof wear
Not caused by the solar
Ordinary leaks at a chimney, valley or vent that happen to sit under or next to the array. The panels just make them harder to see and reach.
What Michigan's Code Requires for Solar on a Roof
The 2015 Michigan Residential Code covers rooftop solar in a few places. Section R324 sets the general rules for photovoltaic systems, including listing of panels under UL 1703 and inverters under UL 1741. Michigan added its own Section R909 (adopted in the state's rules as R 408.30521a), which says rooftop systems shall be designed to carry their loads, the roof shall be built to support them, systems shall be installed in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions, and roof penetrations shall be flashed and sealed in accordance with the roofing chapter.
Section R907 adds that rooftop panels must resist the code's wind loads for the house's height and exposure and must have the same fire classification as the roof they sit on. Section R324.7 sets firefighter access pathways on many roofs: for example, panels kept at least 3 feet below the ridge, and 3-foot clear paths from eave to ridge on hip and single-ridge roofs, unless the code official approves otherwise.
Those pathways matter for repairs too. They are often the only places a roofer can stand and work without moving panels.
Code text summarized from the 2015 Michigan Residential Code. Your local building department decides how it is applied, and some cities have adopted later amendments; confirm with them.
Is It the Solar or the Roof?
The first job is figuring out whether the leak is coming from the solar attachments or from the roof itself. That decides who pays, so it is worth getting right before anything is taken apart.
- Step 1
Map the Stain to the Array
Measure the stain's location from two walls inside, then find the same spot in the attic. Note whether it sits under the array, beside it, or near a chimney, vent or valley.
- Step 2
Look for Screw Tips in the Attic
Mount screws go into rafters, so their tips are rarely visible. A screw tip poking through the deck between rafters is a sign a mount missed its rafter, and those spots often leak.
- Step 3
Check the Wire Entry
Find where the solar wiring comes into the attic. Water stains or rust around that fitting point to the solar installation, not the roof.
- Step 4
Photograph Before Anyone Touches It
Take dated photos of the stain, the attic deck and anything you can see from the ground. If the installer's warranty applies, they will want to see the condition before any other contractor works on the array.
- Step 5
Call the Installer First
If the leak is under or at the edge of the array, contact the solar company in writing before hiring anyone else. Work by another contractor on the array can affect the installer's warranty.
Who Is Responsible for a Leak Under Solar Panels
Three different warranties can be involved, and they cover different things. Understanding the split saves weeks of back-and-forth.
Solar installer workmanship warranty
Usually the first call
Covers the installer's own work, which typically includes the mounts and the roof penetrations they made. Terms vary widely by company, so read your contract for the length, what roof work it includes, and whether it requires you to use them for any panel removal.
Shingle manufacturer warranty
Covers shingle defects only
Shingle warranties generally exclude damage from equipment added later. CertainTeed's 2026 warranty, for example, excludes damage from equipment installed after the shingles and says removing or replacing overburden, including solar panels, is the owner's cost.
Roofer's craftsmanship warranty
Covers the roofer's own work
If the roof was installed or repaired before the panels went on, the roofer's warranty covers that work. It does not cover holes another contractor made later, and some roofers' warranties have conditions about other trades working on the roof.
Leaks unrelated to the array, such as a chimney or a valley elsewhere on the roof, are ordinary roof repairs no matter who installed the solar.
How Repairs Work When Panels Are in the Way
A leak at one mount can sometimes be fixed by the installer from the access pathway, by lifting a rail section, replacing the flashing and reseating the mount. A leak under the middle of the array, or a roof problem like rotted deck, usually means some panels have to come off.
Panel removal is electrical work as well as mechanical work: the system has to be shut down, panels disconnected and stored safely, and everything reconnected and tested afterward. That belongs to the solar contractor or a qualified electrician, not the roofer. The roofer's job is the roof: shingles, underlayment, deck and the flashing details around each mount once the attachments are reset.
- Step 1
Schedule Both Trades
The solar company removes the panels and rails over the work area, ideally on the same day or the day before the roofer arrives, so the roof is not left exposed.
- Step 2
Repair the Roof
The roofer replaces damaged shingles, deck and underlayment, and leaves the mount locations sound and ready for new flashing.
- Step 3
Reinstall With New Flashing
Mounts go back with new flashings integrated into the shingle courses, following the mount manufacturer's instructions and Michigan's requirement that penetrations be flashed and sealed.
- Step 4
Recommission and Document
The solar contractor reconnects and tests the system. Keep both contractors' invoices and photos, and confirm in writing whose warranty covers which part of the roof now.
Snow, Ice and Critters Around Arrays
Michigan weather adds a few array-specific problems. Snow slides off panels in sheets once the glass warms, and it can land on a lower roof, a porch roof or a gutter with more force than snow that melts in place. At the bottom of the array, meltwater can refreeze at a cold eave and feed an ice dam just like it does anywhere else on the roof.
The gap under the panels is also a sheltered space. Squirrels, birds and other animals nest there, chew wiring and drag debris into gutters and valleys. Leaves and pine needles collect under the low edge of arrays and hold moisture against the shingles. Critter guard mesh around the array perimeter is a solar contractor's job; clearing debris from the roof around it is part of normal maintenance.
Animal damage
Chewed vents, boots and entry holes, and why a wildlife pro comes first.
Animal damage to roofsPlanning Solar on an Older Roof
The U.S. Department of Energy's homeowner guide to going solar tells readers to consider the age of the roof and how long until it will need replacement. An array is usually expected to stay put for many years, and every roof repair underneath means paying to take panels off and put them back.
If the roof is within its last several years, a replacement before installation is often the cheaper path over the life of the system. If it is in good shape, a pre-installation inspection and any small repairs (a worn pipe boot, a loose flashing) are cheap insurance. Either way, ask the solar company in writing how they flash mounts on shingle roofs, what their workmanship warranty covers, and how they handle panel removal for future roof work.
In Michigan, connecting a system to the grid also involves your utility. The Michigan Public Service Commission says a customer must properly interconnect a distributed generation project with the utility before operating it and tells homeowners to check with their utility's interconnection staff first. Your city or township handles the building and electrical permits.
Who Usually Handles What on a Roof With Solar
| Problem | Usual first contact | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Leak at a mount or rail attachment | Solar installer | Workmanship warranty, if still in term |
| Leak at the wiring entry | Solar installer | Flashed fitting or conduit penetration |
| Leak at a chimney, valley or vent away from the array | Roofer | Ordinary roof repair |
| Rotted deck or worn shingles under the array | Roofer, with solar contractor for panel removal | Owner usually pays removal and reinstall |
| Animals nesting under panels | Wildlife control, then solar contractor | Critter guard is a solar item |
| Shingle manufacturing defect | Shingle manufacturer, through the roofer | Panel removal cost usually excluded |
General pattern only. Your contracts and warranties decide who pays in your case.
Leak Under or Near Your Solar Panels?
We can inspect the roof around and under the array from the attic and the roof, tell you whether the leak looks like a mount or a roof problem, and coordinate a roof repair with your solar contractor when panels need to come off.
Related Guides
Leaks Around Satellite Dishes and Roof Mounts
The same penetration problem on a smaller scale.
Learn MoreRoof Repair Warranties Explained
Craftsmanship vs manufacturer warranties and what voids them.
Learn MoreHow Roofers Find Leaks
Tracing, water testing and what a good diagnosis report contains.
Learn MoreRoof Leak Repair
Finding and fixing leaks on West Michigan homes.
Learn MoreQuestions We Hear
Do solar panels void my roof warranty?
Usually not by themselves, but they change what is covered. Shingle warranties typically exclude damage caused by equipment added after the roof was installed and make the owner responsible for removing panels for warranty work. A roofer's craftsmanship warranty covers the roofer's work, not holes made later by another contractor. Read both warranties, and ask the solar installer how their workmanship warranty handles the roof.
How much does it cost to remove and reinstall solar panels for a roof repair?
It depends on the size of the system, how many panels must come off, and the solar company's rates, so get a written quote from the installer or another qualified solar contractor. Ask whether the price includes disconnecting, storage, new flashings at each mount, reinstalling and testing. Then add the roof repair itself. Grouping roof work so panels come off only once saves the most.
Can a roofer take my solar panels off?
Panel removal involves shutting down and disconnecting an electrical system, and it may affect the installer's warranty if someone else does it. In most cases the solar installer or a qualified solar or electrical contractor should remove and reinstall the array, and the roofer repairs the roof in between. Check your solar contract before arranging it.
Should I replace my roof before installing solar?
If the roof has only a few years left, it is usually worth replacing or at least thoroughly repairing first, because every roof job under an array adds the cost of taking panels off and putting them back. The U.S. Department of Energy advises considering roof age and remaining life before going solar. A roof inspection before signing a solar contract gives you a clear answer.
Do I need a permit for rooftop solar in Michigan?
Generally yes. Rooftop systems are covered by the Michigan Residential Code and the electrical code, so cities and townships typically require building and electrical permits, and your utility must approve interconnection before the system runs. Requirements and fees vary by jurisdiction, so check with your local building department and your electric utility.
What This Page Cites
- 2015 Michigan Residential Code, Chapter 3, Section R324 Solar Energy Systems (R324.3 to R324.7), UpCodes (https://up.codes/viewer/michigan/mi-residential-code-2015/chapter/3/building-planning), accessed October 2026
- 2015 Michigan Residential Code, Chapter 9, Sections R903.2, R907 and R909 (R 408.30521a) Rooftop-Mounted Photovoltaic Panel Systems, UpCodes (https://up.codes/viewer/michigan/mi-residential-code-2015/chapter/9/roof-assemblies), accessed October 2026
- Asphalt Shingle Residential Products 2026 Limited Warranty, CertainTeed (https://pdf.lowes.com/productdocuments/250c3ee7-3990-4e2b-b4b8-d0e319b1c249/85880401.pdf), accessed October 2026
- Homeowner's Guide to Going Solar, U.S. Department of Energy Solar Energy Technologies Office (https://www.energy.gov/eere/solar/homeowners-guide-going-solar), accessed October 2026
- Distributed Generation, Michigan Public Service Commission (https://www.michigan.gov/mpsc/consumer/electricity/distributed-generation), accessed October 2026