More and more homes around Australia have solar on the roof, but the roof itself still needs looking after. Tiles crack, metal rusts, paint peels, pointing fails, and sooner or later, someone needs to jump up there and fix it. The big question I get asked is: when do solar panels have to be removed for roof work, and when can tradies safely work around them? In this article, we’ll explore that – when & by whom!
How Solar Panels Are Mounted On Your Roof
It helps to know what’s actually up there.
Most rooftop solar systems are mounted on rails that are fixed to the roof using brackets. On tiled roofs, brackets usually sit under the tiles and hook onto the rafters or battens. On metal roofs, they’re often screwed through the sheet into the structure below, with flashings or seals to keep it watertight. Then you’ve got cabling, isolators and conduit running across and under the array.
All of that means you can’t just “slide panels out of the way” for roof maintenance. In many cases, proper access means removing at least part of the system.
Roof Jobs That Usually Need Panels Removed
There are a few types of work where trying to work around the panels is more trouble than it’s worth and can lead to problems later. In most cases, panels need to come off for:
- Roof painting and full roof coatings
- Roof restoration and major repairs
- Fixing damage directly under or around the solar array
With roof painting and coatings, tradies need a clear surface. They’ll be pressure cleaning, prepping, repairing and then spraying or rolling coatings across the whole roof. If you leave panels in place, you risk overspray on the frames and brackets, coating build-up around feet and flashings, and missed areas under the rails. It might look fine from the ground, but it’s not great for long-term performance or appearance.
Roof restoration is similar. Whether it’s a tiled roof being re-bedded and re-pointed, or a metal roof having sheets replaced and rust treated, you want the person doing the work to see and access everything properly. If your panels are sitting over a line of cracked tiles, loose ridge capping or a rust patch, they need to come off so the roofer can actually fix the problem.
Then there’s damage underneath or around the array. I’ve seen storm damage where water got in behind flashings, wet insulation under the panels, sagging battens and leaks tracking into the ceiling. In those cases, lifting the panels and rails is the only way to see what’s really going on and fix it properly. Patch jobs done around a solar array nearly always come back to bite you.
Roof maintenance that can often be done around solar panels
Not every job means pulling the whole system off the roof. There are plenty of smaller maintenance tasks that can usually be done with the panels left in place, as long as the tradies know they’re working around electrical gear.
Common jobs that can often be done around solar include:
- Roof cleaning using soft washing techniques
- Gutter cleaning and basic debris removal
- Gentle roof cleaning and soft washing away from wiring and junction boxes
Gutter cleaning is a good example. Most of the time, someone can move along the gutter line clearing leaves and muck without needing to touch the panels at all. They just need to be careful about where they step and avoid leaning on the frames.
Soft washing and gentle roof cleaning can also be done around solar, as long as it’s done with a bit of care. High-pressure blasting right up against panel edges, wiring or flashings is a bad idea. A lower-pressure, controlled clean around the array is a much better option for both the roof surface and the solar system.
Minor repairs like replacing a few tiles or screws well away from the solar array, or small flashing touch-ups that don’t involve the panel mounting points, can usually be done without removal. The key is that nobody should be moving, loosening or improvising around the brackets, rails or conduit.
I would still recommend avoiding DIY and engaging an expert for these types of jobs. A company that has the safety knowledge and equipment to be up on roofs! Insurance is also a must! Even as someone who is pretty comfortable being up on roofs, I always rely on professional roof cleaning in Sydney for my property in Castle Hill.
Planning roof work when you already have solar (or are about to get it)
Ideally, you think about the roof before the panels go on.
If your roof is already older, patchy or showing early signs of wear, it can be smart to get any restoration, repainting or major repairs done first. That way, you’re not paying someone to remove and reinstall the system a few years down the track just to access problem areas.
If you already have solar and know you’ve got big roof work coming up, it’s worth planning the sequence properly. Often the most efficient approach is:
- Electrician removes and makes safe the solar system (or the affected part of it)
- Roofer or painter completes the required work
- Electrician reinstalls, tests and commissions the system again
When the panels are off, it can also be a good time to tidy up the layout, replace ageing rail hardware or even upgrade parts of the system if they’re getting on a bit.
Who can remove solar panels?
This is a really important point: solar panels should only be removed and reinstalled by a licensed electrician experienced with solar systems.
Even when a system is switched off at the inverter, the panels on the roof are still generating DC electricity whenever there’s light on them. If someone who isn’t qualified starts unplugging connectors, cutting cable ties or shifting rails around, there’s a real risk of electric shock, fire, or long-term system damage.
There are also warranty and insurance issues. If an unqualified person interferes with the wiring or mounting, you can end up with a system that’s technically non-compliant. That’s not where you want to be if there’s ever a fault, a fire, or a claim.
Roofers, painters and cleaners should work alongside a sparkie. Their job is the roof; the electrician’s job is the system. When they respect those boundaries, everyone’s safer and the result is better.
Costs, Timing and Safety
Removing and reinstating panels does add time and cost to a roof job, and it’s better to be upfront about that. Good communication between you, the roofer and the electrician makes a big difference. Getting everyone booked in the right order means the system isn’t sitting disconnected for longer than necessary, and the tradies aren’t standing around waiting for each other.
Safety-wise, anyone working near solar needs to understand there’s live equipment on the roof. That means no standing on panels, no using them as anchor points, no dragging ladders or tools across them, and being aware of where cables and junction boxes are located. A bit of respect for the system goes a long way.
Bringing It All Together
Roofs and solar panels are meant to last a long time, but neither of them can be ignored. Some jobs – like full roof painting, major restoration and repairs under the array – almost always mean panels need to come off. Others, like gutter cleaning and gentle soft washing, can usually be done carefully around the system.
If you remember one thing, make it this: only a licensed electrician should remove or reinstall your solar panels. Plan your roof work and solar together, treat them as one system, and you’ll get far better long-term results.
From my point of view, anything that keeps both the roof and the solar system in good shape for years is worth the effort. After all, there’s not much point generating clean energy if it’s dripping into your ceiling every time it rains.