Do Clean Solar Panels Have Better Energy Production?
We are very often asked whether it is necessary to clean your solar panels. Numerous studies have come up with numerous answers to the question.
So, I would like to offer the following opinion:
It seems to be a matter of common sense that a cleaner panel would provide better production. However, in many studies this has been found to be not 100% accurate. The following is a link to a study from UCSD HERE.
So, what’s the answer? I think the best way is to research the issue and make your own determination. If, for example, the loss of production could have more value than the cost of cleaning, then by all means do it! Is it worth the cost and trouble and effort?
Always keep in mind, however, that, like everything else, there are numerous points to consider. Who will do the cleaning? Will they fall off the roof? Will they damage the roof? Do they have roof experience, just in case? Do they have insurance?
The answer to the question should, in reality, be very simple. But, like a lot of things with home ownership, there are always those unknowns.
Ask Raneri and Long Roofing and Solar! We’ll tell you the truth, always!
Can You Install a New Roof During the Rain?
One of a consumer’s prime concerns, and probably a roofer’s too, is the occurrence of rain, during a re-roof job. Is this a disaster? Is it inevitable that damage, either major damage or minor damage, must occur?
The answer is maybe, depending upon who is performing the work.
Generally speaking, an unlicensed party such as a handyman, or even a licensed party from another trade, (plumber, fireman, etc.) may not know how to react to this type of incident. Picture your home wide open, during a rainstorm. No good can come from this! Beyond that, a lot of the various trades won’t understand how crucial it is that the weather be closely monitored before the job commences.
So, the roof is half removed and the rain hits. What then?
Believe it or not, the inexperienced, unlicensed type of tradesman oftentimes will throw their hands up, claim that the rain is insurmountable, out of his control, and say something like “Well, we’ll just have to retry when the weather clears.” In the meantime, any number of damages can occur, such as damaged ceilings, soaked carpets, electrical issues, and on and on.Then, on top of everything else, you will find that there is no insurance to cover things.
What a nightmare!!!
Raneri and Long Roofing and Solar have served San Diego since 1986. We know how to monitor weather, deal with disasters, and, most importantly, are fully insured for both general liability and worker’s compensation insurance. Because we almost never require deposits, you can have complete peace of mind that all issues will be worked out to your satisfaction.
Call us! Raneri and Long Roofing and Solar will never let you down.
Do You Need a Quote on Solar Installation?
Pricing for solar can be tricky. The price you are quoted at the outset may not always be the final price at job completion. For example, some of the companies will price a job which has already figured in your Federal Tax Credit. In other words, an unscrupulous company will present that lower price on your estimate. Then, when you decide to sign the contract, they will add the tax credit, (currently 26%) to the final price proposal, making the job much costlier than you were initially led to believe.
What makes them think they can get away with this behavior? I’m not sure. Maybe they think they already sold you once, so they can do it again?
Anyway the lesson is to closely scrutinize any quote. If you ever do require any help wading through any solar or roof installation, please don’t hesitate to call us.
Raneri and Long Roofing and Solar. We’ll always tell you the truth!
Have You Heard of Tobacco Juicing on Your Roof?
Some years ago we got a call from a lady whose roof we had installed a few months prior. She reported that there was a brown, very thin, oily type of liquid running off the roof, down the wall and spreading over her patio concrete. Of course, we immediately responded to her call, took one look, saw the problem and reported it to the shingle manufacturer. I submitted photos and a sample of the shingle and the manufacturer reported that the issue was caused by “tobacco juicing.”
I at that time had never, after thousands and thousands of shingle roofs being installed by my company, ever experienced the issue and was mystified by it, so I googled the term “tobacco juicing” and found a great many articles detailing the problem.
The Asphalt Roofing Manufacturers Association states that it is a rare situation which can occur, during certain weather conditions, i.e. smog conditions, intense sunlight, heat and lack of rain. It normally occurs in the south or southwest region, but can occur anywhere.
The good news is that it is temporary, will not stain, and usually only occurs until it rains. Any of the residue can be hosed off and disappears.
When in doubt, ask Raneri and Long Roofing and Solar! If we don’t know the answer to the question, we’ll find out and let you know!
What is the 2021 Tax Credit for Solar?
Currently, as of this writing, the federal tax credit for solar is still available to consumers in the amount of 26%. This credit is scheduled to be reduced to 20% in 2022. Obviously, this is a very good time to buy solar.
I’m often asked if a homeowner is doing the solar and roof job at the same time, can the tax credit be applied to both the roof and the solar.
Honestly, like a lot of confusing tax questions, we strongly recommend that your tax questions should always be answered by your tax professional. No roofing or solar contractor is is qualified to give tax advice!I believe that the last thing anyone wants to do is draw a “red flag” for the IRS.
Please rely on Raneri and Long Roofing and Solar for honest answers to your questions.
Should You Clean Your Solar Panels?
Generally, unless you live in a very high dust area, storms, etc., it is mostly determined that the cleaning of solar panels is not really necessary. In fact, in Arizona, where dust and sandstorms occur regularly, the cleaning of solar panels yielded an approximate 1% increase in production.
Of course, if you consider the aesthetic aspect, clean always looks better that dirty.
Questions? Always count on Raneri and Long Roofing and Solar for honest and truthful information.
What is the Re-Roofing Process?
“Okay, so the time has come. We know we need to replace our roof. We know we should get several estimates. We know we should compare materials, warranties, etc. But what more should we know? What exactly is the re-roofing process?”
Well, with this article I would like to give you some information on what you can expect once you have made those initial monumental decisions.
Remember, it should be understood that roofing is major construction!
Let’s start with day one. In most cases the re-roofing process begins with the arrival of the roof removal crew. Normally they will need access to your driveway. The tear off generally will start on the back of the structure. The idea is that the torn off materials will be moved on the rooftop across the roof to the front edge of the property, normally the garage, where they will be deposited in either a truck or a dumpster of some kind. They will then be transported to the local landfill.
The roof is then cleaned off and all the original wood, (sheathing, starter boards, fascia, etc.,) is exposed. At this point any and all dry rot or termite damaged wood can be identified and can be repaired.
Once the wood repairs have been completed, the roofing supply yard, using a conveyor or forklift will load the materials onto the rooftop. The next step in the process is for the actual roofers to arrive.They will set up and then start the actual re-roofing process.
They will begin by installing the underlayment. This is the rolled material that provides the moisture barrier between the wood roof deck and the actual shingle, tile, etc. Next the roofer will install the proper starter component around the entire perimeter along with any re-enforcement of valleys, vent flashing, etc. Next comes the installation of any venting components, followed by the installation of the actual roof itself.
The final process is the cleaning of the gutters, if they exist, and the final cleanup of any of the roofing debris.
At this point, we can let it rain! I know the above sounds a little convoluted but my hope is that it can give you some semblance of the actual re-roofing process. I sincerely hope this information is helpful to anyone who is anticipating embarking on this journey. Call Raneri and Long! You can trust us!
Dave Hancock, President
Raneri and Long Roofing and Windows
Cell: 6192441618
Are Gutter Screens Worth It?
We see a lot of hype and advertising right now with regard to the installation of rain gutter screens. So the question is, are they worth it? Do they work? Well, the answer is yes and yes!
However, it should be noted that rain gutters and rain gutter screens may not permanently solve a drainage problem.
For example, during long periods of drought, or high wind, etc, lots of debris can accumulate on your roof surface.
Then, the heavy rains come!
The force of the water, coupled with gravity, can wash that debris down into the gutters, or, in the case of gutter screens, onto the tops of the gutter screens.
Either way, the effect of the debris is to wash, either into the gutters themselves, or to the tops of the gutter screens. After the rains, as the debris dries out, it solidifies, which can effectively cause the flowing water, during the next heavy rains, to “dam up.” This can cause another drainage problem, similar to, or potentially worse, than the original one.
Then there comes the question as to whether or not you will have to use your ladder to climb up on the roof, clean leaves and debris, etc.
Your honest answer of course, is yes! If not you, someone will have to perform the maintenance. I think the old adage rings true: “There is no free lunch!”
So, bottom line, while there is no question that screens can help to minimize the problem, common sense tells us that there is no way to avoid maintenance.
Questions? Ask Raneri and Long. We’ll always tell you truth.
Tile Roof Needs Work: Should I Lift and Relay, or Replace with New Tile?
So, your home is twenty or thirty years old and the tile roofing was done decades ago, perhaps the tile specs weren’t followed to the proper installation methods.
Now, as so often has happens, your twenty five year old roof has developed leaks.
You call any number of roofing professionals, and you get different opinions on how you should proceed to take care of the problems;
1) Lift and Relay Method
Lift the existing tile, install new flashing, using not one, but two (a base and a flexible flashing), replace the underlayment with not one, but two layers, install weather blocks to the ridges and hips, then reinstall the existing tile, replacing any broken tiles which have been discovered.
This type of job will usually carry a five to ten year workmanship warranty, with no guarantee at all to the re-used tile.
2) Brand New Tile Method
Remove and dispose of the existing tile, install new flashing, using not one but two (a base and a flexible flashing), replace the underlayment using not one, but two layers, install weather blocks to the ridges and hips, then install new tile to the entire structure.
This job, from my company will carry a fifteen year warranty on the workmanship, and a FIFTY YEAR warranty on the tile!
The jobs actually sound pretty similar; flashing and underlayment are removed, replaced properly, etc. Sure, the warranties are better with the New Tile Method, but is it worth the extra cost?
Absolutely!
Think about not today, but think down the road. Kids are gone, Life changes for whatever reason. Now, it comes time to sell the house.
In this day and age, inspections are increasingly becoming more and more thorough. In the process of selling the property, most likely a professional roofing contractor will be called to assure that all is well with the roof. So, up on the roof he goes.
In the case of a Lift and Relay Method, the first thing he notices is any color variations between the previously replaced broken tiles and the existing old tile. Next, he realizes the the old tile was reused. He thinks to himself “Hmm, this house is thirty five years old. That means that the roof tile is ALSO thirty five years old. The work on this roof looks great, but the tile is approaching the very end of it’s expected life. Man, this roof is of, from a real estate standpoint, almost NO value!”
Now, that same inspector goes on the neighbor’s roof, on which the New Tile Method was employed, takes one look, and says “Wow! This is a brand new roof! This roof fully passes inspection, from both the material, as well as the labor standpoint!”
Now, what is the cost difference between the two methods?
With Lift and Relay, you’re buying new flashing, new underlayment, taking a puzzle apart and putting it back together, replacing any broken tile with non matching product, leaving a sometimes “checkerboard” effect, then, after all the above, still ending up with a used, non-compliant, no value, roof.
The average cost of the above sub standard job, because of all the component replacement, the labor involved in moving the tile several times, the extra time/labor involved in the entire complicated method, for a twenty five hundred square for roof area is in the neighborhood of conservatively $10,000. and up.*
The average cost of the truly new roof, of great value and warranted for both labor and material, with the New Tile Method is, for the same square footage, in the neighborhood of $12,500. and up.*
Bottomline, for $2500 I think it should become patently obvious as to which job is the better choice.*
Having said the above, and having disclosed both the positive as well as the negatives, my company is always happy to provide options for both methods.
I think though, that when all is considered and digested, the New Tile Method will normally be the choice, once the differences are displayed side by side, as I have attempted to outline above.
Whatever you choose, you can be assured that Raneri and Long will ALWAYS provide the best available solution. Your satisfaction truly is our goal!
* All quoted numbers are subject to change without notice due to market fluctuations, etc.