The Problem With Tesla’s Solar Roof

Exploring the Solar Roof Problem - Where Are They? Go to brilliant.org/Undecided to sign up for free. And also, the first 200 people will get 20% off their annual premium membership. Tesla and Elon Musk have been on a mission to make their Solar Roof tiles the go-to solution if you’re considering a new roof plus solar panels. Why buy and install two separate products when you can make one that does both? I don’t know about you, but my neighborhood has a lot of solar panels, but is still looking a little scrimpy on the solar roof front. So what happened? Increased prices, installation times that still take the better part of a week, and new solar roof tile and shingle competition that may beat Tesla on price and installation time. There’s some interesting solar tile and shingle competition out there now, like new solar roof shingles that got a lot of buzz at this year’s CES. But where are they?
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[@UndecidedMF]

So what do you think of solar roofs? Go to brilliant.org/Undecided to sign up for free. And also, the first 200 people will get 20% off their annual premium membership. If you liked this, check out Exploring How This Plant Could Replace Concrete: kzbin.info/www/bejne/o6mamGpvf81pbM0

[@LiftPizzas]

I like the idea, but the people selling them are the type of sleazy scumbags who sell garbage on infomercials. When you have to resort to those types of tactics it's because you know the product is not worth anywhere near what you're trying to sell it for. Also, a 30 year guarantee only works if the company still exists in 30 years. Good luck with that.

[@ovdtogt1]

Clay roof tiles never have to be replaced. I have 2 sloping roofs, one facing west and the other east. I waited until I had put up 2 rooftop dormers with flat roofs and installed the solar panels on that all facing south.

[@dedwardskbd]

Gaff. Gaffe? Oh, he means G.A.F. Like the G.A.F. ViewMaster.

[@Myrddnn]

The only thing holding solar roofing off is the difference between R&D scale and consumer product manufacturing. They simply cannot make the tiles/panels fast enough for the demand already out there. The companies involved, including Tesla, all need to look at major capitol investment for manufacturing at scale. Tesla already knows how to do this. I think the only problem here is that Elon has too much on his plate and hasn't put the time or resources into it to make it happen.

[@michaell170]

My only complaint with your video is the touting of things like 30 year guarantees. Very few companies are around 30 years later so I would not put too much stock into those claims. For example LG recently announced they are leaving the pv panel market.

[@OtterBeSwimming]

I have been working on building a new home for the last 2 years. I immediately thought of Tesla roofing and put down a $100 deposit. They gave me a quote of $50,000 for the Tesla roof, $40,000 more than a roof from my builder. When permitting was approved I sent the final drawings to Tesla and the new quote was $100,000. I got my deposit back. I also had reached out to GAF for their solar roof. A year ago they said we don't install any new solar roofs in Georgia at this time. Then they said they would install in Georgia but despite repeated attempts to reach them I could never get GAF to respond to me. Probably too much interest though I had talked to a GAF roofer locally who said he would love to work with me to get experience installing the GAF solar roof. But the house now has a $10,000 roof on it and I will look at adding solar panels instead of a solar roof. I tried but just couldn't do it.

[@aussie2uGA]

Georgia is tough for sure. I’m in Alpharetta and would love to see some Tesla roofs pop up.

[@rcollinge5818]

PV systems are hard to sell in North Georgia. The PV sales process can not sell their PV system cheaper than the existing power companys. We should be thankful that the dam in Buford is generating cheap HYDRO power .

[@fuckthisksksjjksdfjd]

It would if been good to get a metal standing seam room because you can basically clip the panel racking to the roof with no penetrations.

[@SaveMoneySavethePlanet]

Wonky lead times like this are to be expected for early adopters of a new tech so I don’t fret too much about that. The doubling in price from Tesla though…that seems really ridiculous. I wouldn’t think too much of it, but that company in particular seems to have encountered this with multiple products (model 3, cyber truck, etc.) This is what ultimately makes me highly skeptical of every Tesla announcement these days. They seem to care more about getting people hyped than about actually delivering on their promises. I’ll gladly buy any of their products once they’re actually on the market for a while and have a proven track record, but I won’t be preordering their stuff any time soon.

[@ScoobyFermentation]

Pretty much sums up the current state of solar roofs in a nutshell across the country. I can barely convince my installer to use the new IQ8 microinverters, and they are hardly unproven.

[@aliciawaller8095]

This panel can put out close to 100 watts kzbin.infoUgkxOqI2yqX0XVrhR2BMJciTWrHJpG8FhJyg when positioned in the appropriate southernly direction, tilted to the optimal angle for your latitude/date, and connected to a higher capacity device than a 500. The built in kickstand angle is a fixed at 50 degrees. Up to 20% more power can be output by selecting the actual date and latitude optimal angle.The 500 will only input 3.5A maximum at 18 volts for 63 watts. Some of the excess power from the panel can be fed into a USB battery bank, charged directly from the panel while also charging a 500. This will allow you to harvest as much as 63 + 15 = 78 watts.If this panel is used to charge a larger device, such as the power station, then its full output potential can be realized.

[@karldavis7392]

I love how he gave the actual answer in the first few seconds, rather than holding it back as a teaser. Instant thumbs up.

[@SSGoatanks]

Toyota's 2023 Prius offers a $610 Solar Panel Roof Upgrade to passively charge the car while it's parked outside - really wish Tesla can offer something similar for their new EV's instead of making people purchase solar home system with powerwalls.

[@jasonkay42]

Thank you for making this video! I’ve been researching solar panels vs. roofs, as I’d love to have a solar roof, but my standard roof still has an estimated 25 years on it. I appreciate you laying everything out and highlighting the industry-leading manufactures-as well as differentiating them from each other. Once again, just as when I bought my Model 3, your channel has proved invaluable!

[@GeekIWG]

Traditional solar panels have the advantage of allowing you to more easily start small with just a few panels, and then add more as money becomes available.

[@SaveMoneySavethePlanet]

Yup. Also, you can add a bit more if your electricity demand increases. Like if you switch to an EV or an electric range/oven. If the efficiency rating of the tiles were the same as the panels then I’d be a bit more excited about them.

[@paulogden7417]

This notion is complicated by the permitting process, the utility approval process, and the sizing of the feed wires to your panels. Its not too easy to just add a few solar panels even if you do it yourself.

[@andydimezza2229]

That’s true for most people, but for farmers and businesses that usually have multiple buildings but limited land to put solar on, roof solar is a great boon… when it becomes available…

[@2nd3rd1st]

Tesla Solar Roof is modular by design, in theory you can add or remove power generating tiles while keeping a high endurance long lasting roof.

[@daniel17319]

Do you have any advice were to get solar panels?

[@johnpatrick1588]

Years ago when Tesla had their calculator website it was estimated my Tesla roof would cost $110,000 in sunny south Florida. For comparison, an architectural shingle roof was $16,000. My yearly electric bill was about $2k a year. I bet my insurance company would like a chat with a new $100k in hurricane country. Even my property tax office would probably want a chat about a $100k improvement to the home.

[@geraldfrost4710]

So, $94k investment to yield a $2k benefit? How much extra power would you sell to the grid?

[@barongerhardt]

@@geraldfrost4710 A lot depends on the roof size, but angle and obstacles are a factors too. Some quick math, Florida power at $0.12/kwh comes to about 45 kwh/day. Given a 5 hour/day solar equivalent, they would need at least a 9 kw system. With the losses of ac/dc conversion, storage round trip, ... another 10-20% should be budgeted. The video quoted Luma at $4.50/w. For that price the roof would be around 22kw. Call it double what is needed and sell the rest back. You aren't going to get the same rate for net negative power, nor get negative taxes and fees. Say you get $0.06 / kwh, it would be worth about $1k/yr. You will still need to make up a base hookup fee, so that might cost $200, or so, per year. Year end net should be around $800, with very large error bars.

[@internettoughguy]

So you basically don't break even until 55 years in and even then...you'll need to replace components after a few decades. You won't recoup any of your investment within your lifetime. Seems like a waste of money to be honest.

[@paulogden7417]

@@internettoughguy My solar "roof" in Phoenix will break even in 9 years. Its a shade structure using conventional solar panels. See my comment above.

[@internettoughguy]

@@paulogden7417 That's because it didn't cost you $100K. It all comes down to how much the initial investment is. After a certain dollar amount it becomes pointless.

[@redtankgirl5]

I live off grid in Canada and when deciding on my solar I had to put in many considerations. One of the factors that was a deciding one that I feel was of high value when it came to getting the full production all year round. I pole mounted my solar panels for easier access to clear snow in early morning and fill battery banks by early afternoon on a not optimal sun day. If you have some land and you live where snow will be an issue for many months I recommend access to those panels.

[@UNUSUALUSERNAME220]

Great point. The insistence is that ALL of these systems NEED to be on the roof, or a part of the roof. If you have limited space or building restrictions that may be your only option. The panels that everyone thinks are bullet proof and tough as nails, are fragile (to an extent) and would be easier to maintain if they were on the ground at a manageable height. These systems serve you best when you have the space and the knowledge concerning the maintenance and repair or replacement of them. It sounds like you have what you need, where you need them. If most people who thought they knew alot about these systems found out how little they actually knew, it would be a rude awakening for them.

[@percyfaith11]

How many KWH does your system produce per panel in Dec, Jan, and Feb in Canada?

[@Route66Wanderer]

@@percyfaith11 A single solar panel does not put out a killoWatt. Depending on manufacture and size, 150-300Watts is what a single panel outputs with optimal sun exposure.

[@PrayerefireDS]

Not sure if people will realize that the picture of the "house in Iowa" at 10:54 is literally the house in Grant Wood's painting "American Gothic" with the old farmer with the pitchfork and his daughter standing in front. This iconic house can be visited in Eldon, Iowa.

[@aaronself2411]

Thats actually super cool. Thanks for sharing that!

[@Impackon]

Here in the Netherlands it is (nearly) all regular large solar panels. Solar tiles are rare here. 22 solar panels with 9 kW converter and installation cost me about € 7.500

[@user-wc1kq1lc7t]

Good setup Jan! Here in Arizona, USA, I have a 10 panel 3KW system which cost $9,000 after rebates. The system also came with a Level 2 car charger, but no battery. My solar production goes to the power company which credits me at the same rate it charges for the power they supply me. Fair deal. I enjoy the savings, but money aside, I love the deal because of the benign environmental impact. Hope you do too. Best to you in the Netherlands.

[@autobootpiloot]

That is how it works in the Netherlands to. Home batteries are uncommon here for that reason.

[@Morkvonork]

@@autobootpiloot In Germany its full retard. Because its crazy bureaucracy most people opt for zero net output and buy power from the grid if the sun does not shine. Also above 10 kW you have to form a company to tax your solar production.

[@mnomadvfx]

@@Morkvonork Taxing people for energy converted by solar panels they've already paid for..... 😒 Is it any wonder fossil fuel lobbyists so easily get their way so often?

[@Impackon]

Yup I do it also for the environment🙂 After about two years of use I need to buy around 1.500 kWh annually. My converter has around 2.,5 kW capacity left so maybe I will buy 6 additional panels to become zero on the meter 👍😏

[@densealloy]

Efficiency has to be factored in as well . Depending on your homes' layout buying a whole roof can be a waste of money compared to a traditional set of panels that are oriented properly. Its really important to compare different systems and your specific requirements to maximize ROI.

[@SaveMoneySavethePlanet]

Exactly. I’m happy to have more options on the table just to get more quotes. I’m sure there are homes where solar shingles will make sense while others will want panels. More options is almost never a bad thing.

[@Jackissoocool]

Yeah, the further from the equator you are, the more one side of a solar roof is a total waste. I do solar installation in the midwest for a living, and we don't put panels on the north side of a house. You're just blowing money on space that won't generate enough to ever offset its cost.

[@davidelliott5843]

North facing roofs would be installed with normal shingles/slates. South facing with solar slates. They might look different from your personal drone but you can never see both sides from the ground so would anyone care?

[@thewolfdoctor761]

@@davidelliott5843 That would make sense for my house.

[@richardprice5978]

@@Jackissoocool what about west facing only ? for the midwestern or SLC ut usa 🇺🇸?

[@johnc7144]

Actually the 1st integrated solar roof was installed by my company CSI in 1979. It was solar thermal not photovoltaic. The solar panel was laid between rafters 24 inches on center generally about 16 ft long. We did several hundred of these systems generally 300 to 600 sf for space heating in New England. Worked great. My 5000sf office in NH was 100 percent solar for over 25 years

[@amunesamson5691]

Would love to discuss more with you on this. Can we work together to achieve a solar roofing sheets?

[@scottkolaya2110]

It's amazing that GAF didn't just make matching shingles that you can cut to go with the solar shingles. If they did that, their system would really blend in with the roof and not look so slapped on 11:31.

[@Manks08]

With the problem of tiles heating up, I wonder if they could be combined with a solar water heater sollution to make use of the heat and remove it from the tiles. Though, a "Water Cooled Roof" sounds like a Linus Tech Tips project.

[@Bardghost_Isu]

IIRC Linus has said that he found something like that to be a possible project, I don't know if he was planning to do it himself or had found actual tiles that double up like that though.

[@OutdoorLonghair]

They already make them, they're called PVT (Photo Voltaic Thermal). Can't remember who makes them but they are the most efficient option available.

[@feraudyh]

There's a French company in Marseilles that makes them. It's called DualSun.

[@MDP1702]

It is definitely possible, but often isn't worth the extra cost, especially considering that replacing a broken tile/panel is a much more difficult job generally.

[@guygillmore2970]

The main problem is that by the time the solar thermal is hot enough to give useful heat it is already too hot for the PV.

[@mfhberg]

If I get a new/old house that needs a replacement roof I'd give it a good look. Otherwise its got to be solar panels and a good roof orientation.

[@USNEM]

Solar panels are too good to pass up. They look good and produce a lot of power. Check out Aptos Solar. All black premium panels for a great price.

[@JBoy340a]

And ensure that you don't have too many trees shading the roof.

[@knightwolf3511]

@@JBoy340a or of most of your roof is pointed the wrong way

[@KrolKaz]

Solar isn't worth it and takes decades to break even, and by then you'll need to replace them anyways with whatever the new and more efficient technology is hot. They also degrade extremely fast and make your house look very ugly and harder to sell.

[@tissuepaper9962]

@@KrolKaz hey, buddy, you might want to come up with some new anti-solar talking points that didn't come out of 2010.

[@andycanfixit]

Had to replace a roof last year, still no good options for an affordable solar roof and I have plenty of land for ground mount so all my solar is ground mounted. $8k for a new roof, was installed in 2 days with a 25 year warranty. 10kw of ground mounted solar installed myself for less than $4k and maintenance is easy. For those that only have space for roof mount the prices still need to come down but a new standard roof and standard roof mounted solar is probably cheaper than any of these solar roof options until the pricing and install becomes more mainstream. The pricing is still very much early adopter territory.

[@fastinradfordable]

Here in Cali a standard metal roof install is “$1500/ square” God knows what solar roof would be. We have off grid. Panels up on the hill. I live in a geodesic dome and only a few panels do more than I need, even in the woods with intermittent shade all day. I like the shade

[@EileenTheCr0w]

Ground mount isn't practical for anyone on less than a multi-acre property, and honestly it's still kind of problematic for other reasons even if you do have plenty of wide-open unshaded space. Honestly I'd recommend putting it on anything solid and elevated, even if you have to build a whole new shed, barn or awning to do it. Right now it depends where you live, but a solar roof is roughly the same price as a roof + solar in my area. They need to bring costs down enough to compete with those people pondering an upgrade on one or the other.. like people that want solar but their roof probably has 5-10 years of life left, or people that just need a roof and can look at it as a chance for a discounted electric bill too. Right now it feels a bit wasteful to make the leap.

[@andycanfixit]

@@EileenTheCr0w I only have an acre and a half and even with that it's plenty of space but obviously ground mount doesn't work for everyone. I would also need to remove 3 or 4 trees to do roof mounted and I would rather keep the trees. The shade they provide my house is worth it. Cost for ground mount framing doesn't have to be that expensive depending on where you live. I used helical screws so no concrete involved and it can all be easily removed if need be down the road and recycled.

[@chrisgillard6129]

Thanks for your enlightening program. I'm just beginning to learn about solar and EV driving. I had it in my simple head that everyone could have solar roofing installed with some government subsidies to help with the cost. They seem to piss away money so foolishly, I just figured that they would be willing to piss it away on something that may actually have some value. Any tips or go to's would be much welcome. Thanks again.

[@alunjones2550]

The best engineering solutions are always the one's that have the least compromise but when you're asking a product to be two distinctly different things- a roof and a solar power generator- compromise is inevitable.

[@MrGoogle87]

Complexity is a b*tch. Most probably are fine just with regular solar panels.

[@hmurchison8123]

THIS

[@errcoche]

Flying car anyone? I think it should be possible to better integrate conventional panels into a roof. My roof is basically an asphalt membrane with concrete tiles over it. Those concrete tiles act as a shield against UV and abrasion damage for the membrane. Water will largely run over them but they are certainly not a waterproof layer. I cannot see why they can't be supplanted by solar panels. The issue might be with a need for free air flow under the panels but that should be achievable. The panels should be able to sit a little bit off the impermeable membrane. American house design needs to change to make sure there are ample, clean roof areas facing South, and potentially put in panel standoffs as part of construction.

[@alunjones2550]

@@errcoche Will people want a complete roof that will need to be replaced every 15-25 years? Rooves are covered in things like slate, steel concrete for a reason. They last.

[@errcoche]

@@alunjones2550 Depends where you are. Panels are generally warranted for 25 years and American shingle roofs don't last that long. My US concrete tile roof lasted 30 years

[@paulmcallister807]

GAF is not a word that you pronounce as gaff, it is spelled out as individual letters; G (gee) A (ahye) F (eff). GAF is an acronym for General Aniline & Film, which is the leading manufacturer of roofing and waterproofing materials in America. Matt there is a manufacturing facility in nearby Walpole and one recently closed in Millis.

[@emmanuelgutierrez8616]

The main advantage of solar roof over solar shingle is the air gap. This small detail drastically helps keep home cool in hot areas.

[@tissuepaper9962]

@@boblatkey7160 bullshit, lmao. Normal roof + solar panels is $20k-30k. Every quote I've seen for a Tesla roof is $50k+.

[@tissuepaper9962]

@@boblatkey7160 the meaning of your original comment is extremely unclear, it seems like an argument in favor of solar shingles. I said "roof + panels", not just panels. It's not fair to compare the price of solar shingles to just the panels, half the job of the solar shingles is to be a roof.

[@johncahill3644]

The solar roof tiles have an air gap. Meanwhile, if you have issues with keeping the roof cool in hot areas, the best fix is half pound foam. It lasts forever, is easily installed in a single day and surprisingly cost effective. I did it on my house in Arizona. It’s also a superb deterrent against any water leaks in your roof (which makes a lot of sense if you want to move to solar panels later on).

[@warwickhill3991]

I have already used regular solar panels to make a roof and are planning to do more. My first one is just a verandah roof sealed with silicon on the outside. It is cooler than my other arrays due to open air flow underneath. Is also easy to work on and configure wiring from below. I've been off grid for decades and now have a fully working camel dairy running off solar wind and Ni fe batteries. I use older second hand panels because I have lots of space for them especially now they are being used as roofing to boot. Still need to work on a nicer connecting /sealing system. Thanks for your show BTW Regards Warwick

[@robhernandez6105]

Excellent! I was thinking of this for a carport. Bottom mount the panels and space with tile x bits. Long lasting silicone or adhesive roof tape should work...glad to know it does.😊

[@adlockhungry304]

I’ve been a solar installer for 20 years and always been skeptical of the various solar tiles/shingles I’ve seen over the years, but a couple of these products seem as though they could be promising. I’ll call myself ‘cautiously optimistic’ now. :)

[@fparent]

Which ones look promising to you?

[@adlockhungry304]

@@fparent, From a purely design and practical application standpoint, the GAF energy module seems promising because the wiring is accessible from above. A tremendous weakness of most solar tiles is that they’re plugged together under the tiles. This makes troubleshooting the electrical, replacing faulty or damaged wiring, or replacing a faulty module much, much easier. There are still some downsides: A). Who the heck is GAF energy? What does a 20 or 30 year warranty amount to if the company is here one day and gone the next? B) If GAF (a name that seems doomed to failure, btw) does stick around, are they really going to maintain enough back stock of their original product to replace like for like when honoring their warranty 20 years down the line? It’s very possible they could do this by making sure their new products follow the same mechanical form factor and don’t stray too far off the same electrical specifications, such that they can send the current model they offer in place of your faulty, older model. That’s possible, but what assurances do you have of their future course of action in a world of rapidly changing technology? Sorry, I gotta go, or I’d address one or two others. Maybe later, if I remember. :)

[@knightwolf3511]

this is basically the same reason why i haven't got solar either, it's either tesla or some unknow people, it's why i hate certain markets because then your just in a market with companies you never heard of

[@adlockhungry304]

@@knightwolf3511, LG and Sonnen are two large, well known electronics companies that come to mind, who make this type of battery. If they do leave the home battery market, at least you’re more likely to receive support on an existing product, unlike a company founded for the purpose of selling such batteries; if they go away, so does the warranty and service support. An example of that with inverters, and now PV panels, apparently, would be Sharp. Sharp made their own PV inverter back in the early to mid 2000’s, but ultimately decided it wasn’t worth it for them to be in that market. It was only about five years ago when I could no longer get parts to repair those inverters. Hard to be sure, as there are no 100% safe bets, but with Sonnen and LG I reckon there’s a better chance of receiving that type of support even if they ultimately bail on the market.

[@PattyKollias]

@@adlockhungry304 GAF Energy is a Standard Industries company, I wouldn't worry too much about them disappearing anytime soon. GAF is one of the largest roofing companies in North America, their solar shingle is an evolution of their EverGuard solar membrane which has been around for at least 10 years. We were considering the Tesla roof (own a Model Y and will be purchasing a second one this year) but leaning now towards the GAF. Our 19 year old Florida roof is in need of replacing, so seems like a good time to do it!

[@michaelmoorrees3585]

If you're in a rural area, don't stick the panels on the roof. Rural implies that you have open land. Install them on unused land, and add a power shed. That's a shed where you install your inverters & batteries. Also, you can use lower cost solar panels, and older & cheaper batteries. Yes, they're bulkier, but its not moving, so who cares. Its all off the shelf stuff. And people in rural areas know how to use tools, so there's savings on labor cost. Do it yourself. Bet you wish they still had shop class, in school.

[@Moses_VII]

Good advice

[@adlockhungry304]

No need for batteries, though, if you’re connected to a utility. For most people, I’d advise getting a simple, grid-tie only system. If money isn’t a concern, or there’s high, time of use utility bills, the newer, smart batteries could be worth looking at.

[@kaitlyn__L]

@@adlockhungry304 it all depends on how many power-cuts you deal with, and if the feed-in rate is wholesale or consumer priced.

[@adlockhungry304]

@@kaitlyn__L, agreed. I’m in CA, where interest in smart batteries was pretty low till PG&E started having scheduled blackouts during times of high fire hazard. Also, time of use rates finally got high enough that an expensive smart battery or two began to make financial sense.

[@kaitlyn__L]

@@adlockhungry304 oof. I can understand why they do that, the huge relays can spark sometimes, but ouch. Plus as wildfire seasons get worse and worse with the whole climate thing that’s just going to happen more and more :( In the UK where I live wildfires of course not a factor (…yet?), although the feed-in tariff is 3-4p/kWh while the usage tariff is like… well it was 12-15p but recently it’s like at least 20. So if you have enough battery capacity it can pay for itself versus the tariff disparity, plus of course you can still get feed-in payments when the battery is full but the sun is still up. But regular power-cuts is pretty much reserved for the super-rural houses (of course that’s still a sizeable number of people it could help; even keeping your freezer from thawing in a powercut can save £50-200 in groceries after all).

[@Charles-rh7mh]

Very helpful I am in the position of needing a new roof in the next five years. I did the research and almost pulled the trigger on Solar panels. My problem was the thought of putting panels up and then replacing the roof. So I began to think I would have a solar roof, your video was very helpful. I’m glad I have some time before I need a new roof as it appears some developments could occur in the next five years to work in my favor. Cost, quality, installation.

[@peterbarnard6396]

Thank you. We have two older homes on the east coast. One is in a historic district, the other has a complex mansard roof with dormers and multiple slopes. Standard solar panels aren't really an option for either (historic district won't allow them, and the mansard doesn't have enough large flat surfaces to mount panels), so I've been tracking solar shingles for a while. Currently, I'm in the "lets see if we can wait ten years" camp.

[@vTxka0z]

Tesla Solar Roof Owner in Massachusetts. Went with Solar Roof because the shingles had to be replaced within a couple of years. was definitely a process to get it. But in the end it was worth it.

[@ToddRafferty]

Our solar dealer in Massachusetts talked us away from Solar Roof and stick with panels because of the consideration that the solar roof wasn't a great idea with the harsh winters in Massachusetts. Have you found that to be a concern thus far?

[@CGPhotos]

@@ToddRafferty what was their argument that panels handle winter better?

[@grahamstefaan]

Woke.

[@vTxka0z]

@@ToddRafferty My install was completed in November. One major thing about the solar roof is that the snow slides off the roof, so I have mini Avalanches when we get lots of snow. It can be loud/alarming, but it is also a good thing since a covered up roof wont produce electricity. The pitch of my roof is not steep at all, so if you had a steep roof pitch, I'm sure the snow wouldn't build up as much and would slide off sooner. But going with the Solar roof I think I was able to fit a larger system on my home vs going with traditional panels. All in all, I've been very happy with my systems performance so far. Not sure how our harsh winters would effect the solar roof negatively. The Obvious possible downside is hail damage, but there's a video on golf ball sized hail in Texas that did no damage to the solar roof.

[@UndecidedMF]

Thanks for sharing Duy Truong! The people I've heard from who have the solar roof all love it.

[@ka0235]

My experience was overall good. It did take a lot longer than I would have like to get in installed. I put the deposit down in October 2020, the roof was installed in June 2021 and active in December 2021. Its an 8.7 KW system with two power walls. The total cost after rebates was 36k.

[@dansands8140]

What happened between installation and becoming active?

[@davidpearn5925]

In a heavily populated area ?

[@davidpearn5925]

@@dansands8140 yeah, missed out on summer !

[@user-dj1hy6zc6q]

That price is ridiculous compared to other options.

[@dansands8140]

@@davidpearn5925 No, I mean, why wasn't it immediately active?

[@Harry-Giles]

Being interested in a solar roof this video was fantastic. Your channel is very much appreciated.

[@ratsumatra3003]

Thank you for a really informative presentation. You had a lot of great data & it was explained very well. I come out of this understanding a lot more than when I went in. Well done.

[@HollisAudioLabs]

Good video for alternatives for Solar Roof's. We installed the Tesla Solar Roof v3 and Powerwall system as our roof needed replacement after 27 years of GAF shingles. Took two weeks for old roof removal and install in July 2021 and received final PTO in Feb 2022. Working well so far.

[@FlightDoc]

Great update, Matt. Recall that a yr ago I really needed a new roof but after contract and just before install, Tesla raised my Solar roof price by 60%. I installed asphalt roof, no solar. Now a yr later, Tesla has offered my original price, too late. Tesla is an OK company, but mitigate the frustration by knowing up front that they have an “over promise and under deliver” business model. Same goes for Cybertruck.

[@SaveMoneySavethePlanet]

I honestly admire how much Tesla has been able to push the envelope and embarrass bigger companies into doing more climate friendly things…but I don’t like them as a company (due to how much they overhype stuff) and think Elon is a very bad manager.

[@gianni.santi.]

@@SaveMoneySavethePlanet Find any company or group of companies that even comes close to Elon's companies then let us know if they're bad at management.

[@duderama6750]

Tesla is a fraud based business model.

[@KrolKaz]

There really aren't many corporations bigger than Tesla..

[@FlightDoc]

@@KrolKaz Tesla not even in top 50 of worlds largest companies based on annual revenue. But I was talking about product delivery, over promise yet under deliver.

[@frequentlycynical642]

Like GAF, Certainteed is an old line asphalt roofing company. Nice to see that both of them are looking to the future.

[@ganthc]

I just wish they provided more numbers and info on their product. It all sounds great in the hype ads, but they are really sketchy on providing price, output, and efficiency or long term stats for their solar tiles.

[@bananabrosinc.7357]

In my opinion, modularity is the best route. I have a start up company that is producing a housing unit for solar panels themselves. The housing unit itself is made in response to the architecture of the roof. It reinforces the current structural integrity and while initial installation maybe a bit high, being able to add or remove panels from the housing unit is going to make future upgrades/fixes so much easier. Cheers to hopefully a future that we can be proud of!

[@SoCal_rnr]

I'm personally excited to try designing and putting together my own Solar Garden, using solar panels over rows of shade plants and making a tilting array to help follow the sun. I was inspired by one of your previous videos showing farm lands doubling up the land usage.

[@DK-vx5co]

I understand that a ground-mounted PV system can get the federal tax credit also. So, if there happens to be plants under, or an outdoor seating area, so much the better.

[@DK-vx5co]

@@boblatkey7160 Right. Set it and forget it.

[@jmaus2k]

Thank you for your balanced review. The biggest problem is you need a licensed electrician that will work on roofing and take training for solar roof panels. That is really expensive and probably requires a mobile crew that covers large areas. When you can reroof shingles in about 2 days and then do the roof install with standard solar in 1 day, it just isn't comparable time or cost wise. And standard solar panels are twice as efficient, so you are missing out on possible watts you can install.

[@myrnakirk1520]

Love your videos. Exceptionally informative with balanced and insightful commentary and analysis.

[@solar4planeta923]

Good video, thanks for showing multiple options and being level-headed about the pros and cons. Additional point: There is no air space between the solar tiles/shingles and the roof. This overheats the structure of the house and increases AC loads. Solar panels allow a few inches of air space and actually cool the roof, reducing AC loads. This has been documented in a study (San Diego State U, I believe) as reducing AC costs by about 5%. So it's hard to justify buying a more expensive roof, with more wiring connections (points of possible failure) and increasing the heat load on the house, compared to solar panels. It can make sense when you must get a new roof, but even then, still hard to justify. If you don't need a new roof, I can't foresee the situation in which I would recommend it. (14 yrs experience in solar, including BIPV mfg sales mgt)

[@Gustav4]

Saw a video about Tesla roof where they said it was of from the roof so air could pass under

[@solar4planeta923]

@@Gustav4 they're still evolving the products, so it's hard to say. But every time I have asked I have been told by the manufacturer, whether Tesla, DOW, GAF, Eagle, or others, that there is no airspace. If one of the manufacturers would engineer a product that has ventilation space I will be sure to espouse it.

[@tissuepaper9962]

Not to mention that embedding the panels directly into the shingles seems like a maintenance nightmare.

[@Seriengriller]

Dont forget about the lower efficiency of the panels themselves. Learned about that in at Uni. In-roof solars loose about 2-5% performance compared to on-roof panels

[@williamgreen7415]

There is a 3/4 inch gap between the roof and the bottom of the tile with small vents at the drip edge and ridge. It's not alot of air flow but there is some. The ice and water shield makes more of an impact on AC than the actual tiles.

[@tomdalton4016]

Great video and you made a great point about not being the entire answer but being just part of the solution. These products must be available for new installations with out a wait so homes get built then a market for replacement will follow

[@billdillard885]

Excellent Review!! Spent a year messing with Tesla… complicated 7,000 sf tile roof in Florida. Our PM was a young lady from… Las Vegas? At the Tesla only had black systems… hard to get through HOA… then price changed. And then we canceled. Our roof is 22 years old and has maybe 5 years of useful life remaining. I thought this was the perfect time to go solar… need the technology to catch up…. Efficiency needs to be in 20% range to make viable for large homes…

[@rdizzy1]

People need to avoid any homes in areas with HOAs, so much so that HOAs will end up lowering home values rather than raising them. That should be the goal.

[@Teeurbo]

Standard PV modules are currently exceeding 20% efficiency

[@Mar-vu9nx]

Simply BRILLIANT Matt!

[@erickessler6094]

Gr8 update Matt! Yes, we're finalizing the design phase and still struggling to get Tesla engaged in my project here in coastal NC. Cheers, Eric

[@SaveMoneySavethePlanet]

Honestly, I’m just excited for any innovation in the solar market. Some of it will move us forward and some of it will end up going nowhere, but that’s ok. When I can eventually buy a house, I’ll just grab quotes from all the tech that’s available and make a decision then. Currently, it looks like the efficiency, installation cost, and maintenance cost would push me towards panels, but who knows what 5 years of innovation will bring! I’m also not one of those people who thinks that panels “look ugly” though so I can see how someone else would push for panels.

[@Moses_VII]

Remember our conversation on Not Just Bikes, latest video, Strong Towns 7! Hello again! I'm the environmentalist student of economics!

[@damirs3430]

The laws of physics will always be in effect, no matter what the hopes and wishes on innovations are. Apart from (arguably) looking nicer than solar panels, solar shingles bring nothing else to the table. I'm an engineer, seems to be a trend when replying to your comment.

[@JBoy340a]

We are happy with our Tesla Solarroof. It produces a lot of electricity and the cost was within $1000 or a replacement tile roof, which is the standard in our neighborhood and was the target from the beginning with the Solarroof. We also added a couple of Powerwalls for which there was a discounted install since they were installing the inverters and solar wiring anyway. So far the roof and Powerwalls have performed as advertised and reduced our power bill dramatically. We pay about $30/mo, most of which is the grid interconnect charges. In previous summer months, we have paid close to $500 because the high temps drove us into the higher cost tier rates. The installation was done well even though it was started in March 2020 right before the pandemic hit and the county stopped all work mid-install. Thankfully, solarroof installs start with putting down a waterproof membrane, and that finished install just as the stop work order came down. After a month they let the Tesla team come back and completed the installation.

[@KristianAlekov]

That sounds awesome. What company did you use, did you reach out directly to Tesla or a local roofing company? I'm contemplating going that route as I will likely need a new Tile Roof after Hurricane Ian in SWFL and it sounds like the cost maybe very similar

[@Channel-jj9zw]

Very Helpful video, thanks.

[@ascienceguy-5109]

I wish you had mentioned snow sliding off slick roofing. Starting in 2005 I installed traditional panels, flush mounted, on my house and detached shop near Denver--snow country!. Most winters I have had an avalanche of snow sliding off the panels, despite having at least a foot of asphalt exposed at the foot of the panels as well as gutters. Fortunately all exterior door are under cover, because the avalanches could seriously harm someone.

[@bknesheim]

Even if all roof was fitted with solar tiles when it is built new or renovated it would take 50 to 60 years before most roofs would be solar. That means we are still in the early adopter stage for at least another 10 years. When you add that up front cost will be higher it would be a miracle if 1 % of the roofs built the next 10 years are built with solar tiles, but it will still be a multi billion marked that need many suppliers.

[@SaveMoneySavethePlanet]

This is why more places need to pass laws to mandate all new construction have solar. We can’t leave it up to the free market to decide when to switch. Not with our emissions where they currently are…

[@FuncleChuck]

@@SaveMoneySavethePlanet no. That’s asinine. That prices more people out of the market and would serve only to drive up costs. Solar still doesn’t pay off everywhere. For me it will be a 10+ year breakeven - I can afford this, but in absolutely no way should that be mandatory.

[@bknesheim]

@@SaveMoneySavethePlanet Sound good, but it do not work without a major subsidize support. If not directly it will be needed for building infrastructure. Already many areas have trouble with the amount of back-feed to the grid a real sunny day give. Large scale storage is also needed and it cost a lot. Based on raw material demand we have probably already seen the lowest prize on solar installment, unless they can find a lot cheep way to produce solar panels.

[@DK-vx5co]

Correct. Given that most homes waste 80-90% of their energy, most of each installation is just to get a discount on all that waste, like throwing most of a giant Costco toilet paper purchase out the window on the way home. Stupid, right? What's the ROI of a flatscreen TV or stone countertops or a new car? Generally zero or less. ROI on energy efficiency is highest, and cutting the fat and eliminating waste moves the PV ROI to just a few years. Efficiency and then PV. Doing the wrong things right is still wrong, right?

[@bknesheim]

@@DK-vx5co That you would survive if you did not use some energy is not the same as it is wasted. Also what is wasted will be very different around the world. What you put into the calculation is often more a philosophic then a practical question.

[@lipsterman1]

I like the idea of solar panels but I won't be getting any in the near future. My electricity bill is $100 max a month in the summer (summers here average over 90°F (32° C) daily) and under $50 in the winter (above freezing 99% of the time). I have a metal roof and energy efficient air conditioner that has saved me 20-30% monthly on electricity. In the winter, my electricity bill goes down to less than $50 a month due to gas heating which only goes up ~$20 a month in the winter. My hope in the future is that the energy storage will improve to the point that I can completely go off the grid electrically. I feel we are close.

[@hansnoeldner1861]

Excellent video! Especially relevant fir my family, because our asphalt shingles are very nearly toast.

[@bruce-le-smith]

Thank you very helpful. I filled in the 'get updates' subscription box for the Tesla roof back in like '17 but never heard updates for my area. This helps explain why, nice to see some healthy competition growing in this domain/market. I don't mind the look of the industrial panels, but couldn't argue against the claim thay their design could be more elegant / aesthetic. I have always worried about the updraft force they'd put on my roof, or that squirrels would build nests under them - integration into the sheathing alleviates those worries even if the liklihood of them occurring is low. You can estimate the remaining life on shingles, so it does seem possible to queue up for materials/installation 5-10 years in advance. But agree some predetermined rate of inflation built into the contract would be reassuring for clients.

[@roninviking]

My favourite idea is panels with a water jacket. Hot water and power, reducing the heat in the panels increases efficiency. Great from so many angles, I thought of It but there is a patent pending

[@Wordsmiths]

I love this idea! My standing-seam steel roof should need replacing in about 70 or 80 years, but if I could clip water-jacketed photovoltaic panels to it tomorrow, I would put down my deposit! (That's one nice thing about standing-seam metal roofs: it adds a three-inch air gap between the panel and the surface of your roof, since the panel must rest on the seams not in between them)

[@CPODeepSeaDiver]

One thing you failed to mention (in my area is a summer/winter certainty), is how do these solar panels/shingles hold up to weather, such as hail, snow, sub-zero (F) temperatures. A big considerations for homeowners in these climates.

[@Species-lj8wh]

Supposedly they are better at resisting Hail than asphalt roofing.

[@startek119]

They do well.

[@petgranny194]

I added solar panels with my new roof a couple of years ago. I'm in Minnesota. Summer air conditioning is fully paid for by the panels; winter is a different story with snow coverage. I have to clear some of the panels on the east side of my hipped roof since the panels do not come to the edge of the roof. Snow piles up below the panels and has to be removed to get the full solar gain. Not a big deal with a roof rake. It has slowed my transition to electric heat though.

[@viewoftheaskew]

great summary, thank you.

[@arzan87]

Is there a practical reason (other than that mixing electricity and water isn't necessarily a good idea) why photovoltaic-thermal hybrids aren't more common. Especially in hot sunny climates? If the panels loose efficiency when they get hot, why not integrate a cooling circuits to heat, or even just preheat water before it goes to a boiler? Granted this would increase the cost of a panel, but you would potentially also need less of them. It varies by season obviously but I estimate that around 50% of my electricity goes to heating water. So Instead of say having two PV panels, one which is just heating water, you could have a one single panel doing both while potentially increasing both the efficiency and lifespan of the PV cells by keeping them cool and reducing thermal cycling. The 2=1 math here is obviously a gross oversimplification

[@someweeb3650]

The cost per wh isn't going to be good in such a system. You can also just generate electricity directly from the heat (or I should say, heat differential) like what an RTG does. Again, neither systems are useful unless you have obscene money and want the single most efficient system for the sake of efficiency.

[@abrahamnorthhampton3327]

I have had a pretty good experience with my Tesla Solar shingle roof. I needed a new roof anyway, and I justified a 2-pack Powerwall by reasoning that it would save the cost of a back -up generator. My install was done just before price increase, and it was done ahead of the originally projected schedule, just about 5 months after I placed my order. The process did take more than a week (a little scary in the winter), but the permitting and certification processes were smooth. My system was comissioned the same day the installation was complete. I just reached my 1-year anniversary, and the system performed exactly as spec'ed. I definitely get lots of compliments and inquiries from the neighbors. On the downside, communications between the project manager, the on-site installers, and me definitely needs some refinement. All I all, I would recommend Tesla again (though I'm not sure what the price looks like today).

[@Atr6015]

Planning to replace roof ing. Thanks for the research 🍻

[@randyearles9286]

really clear video. thanks

[@jasons1537]

I really wish you had covered how these systems handle hailstone impacts and other hard weather events.

[@EileenTheCr0w]

Traditional solar panels are extremely resistant to hail and other impacts (way better than normal shingle roofs) so I would assume these are similar.

[@fredfreddy8684]

Good question!

[@williamgreen7415]

Anything the size of a grape or smaller shouldn't do anything to them. Maybe a small mark.

[@elainebradley8213]

On a previous video which I believed that he referenced in this one they demonstrated that the Tesla solar tiles were extremely durable against things like hail. We have no solar but have been talking about it for 20 years....

[@ryans.7558]

Solar roofs are one of those items that I like the idea of, but still at this point due to cost will opt more likely for panels instead. I would agree with you, they are just another piece of the overall puzzle.

[@colt45lmer]

Big problem with larger shingles is that at least in NJ you can only have the solar cover a certain amount of the roof and those tiles can only fit on larger roof so unless you have a giant or simple roof you can't get nearly the coverage a smaller tile can squeeze into. We have been running into this issue especially with the larger tesla solar pannels we have been using making us drop pannels due to fire setbacks

[@stephenriordan2616]

Fantastic video! Thank you

[@mmdias87]

I really appreciate an honest objective review of this market and specifically anything Tesla. Too often Tesla product reviews are done by fanboys who can't objectively review the product because it's more of a showcase how much they love Tesla than a critical honest review. "I didn't mind paying an extra $15000 because this KZbin video will easily pay for that"

[@SaveMoneySavethePlanet]

Couldn’t agree more. Much of the internet seems blinded by the Tesla brand so they have trouble acknowledging when another company offers a competitive product at a better price and with better on time delivery.

[@Naultarous]

When solar roofs can be installed via DIY, that's when it will take over as the best option. It's a young product yet. But it continues to get better.

[@SaveMoneySavethePlanet]

It’ll almost never be full DIY, but I could see most of the instal being DIY and then you have to call an electrician to do an inspection and the final hookup. But I agree, even getting to that point would likely drive sales up like crazy!

[@Teeurbo]

Solar PV systems can run at up to 1000V DC and need to connect to the AC installation within a house. It's not really a DIY job, unless you're cool with things setting on fire

[@JBoy340a]

You could do it yourself assuming you can acquire the tiles. The GAF solution may make that easier. And plenty of people install their own solar panels, inverters, etc.

[@TheBrewjo]

I think the way to go is developing solar tracking and reflectors with traditional PV arrays. You get a better window of peak power with tracking, you get a substantial boost in power from reflectors (which would be great for overcast days/less sunny areas). The burden would be to develop a smart controller to manage the load on the structure and depending on the roof reinforcement may be necessary. But on the flip side, install could be down to half a day- if the system can be delivered on a pallet, final assembly on site and a light crane to place it on the roof.

[@baronvonlimbourgh1716]

It usually is much cheaper and more efficient to just add more panels nowdays with them being so cheap.

[@navy9398]

Outstanding video. Thank you.

[@strongereveryday2302]

Steel roof, solar panels, there is no comparing any other options. Aesthetics do not matter at all. I can upgrade my panels at any time. IN face I just did upgrade to 450W panels for a grand total of $2300

[@careygagnon5853]

I opted for standard panels. I have a 10.4 kw system and am now in the process of getting batteries as well. I don't trust anyone in the US government not to take the money oil and gas donate. They (oil and gas) are trying to make renewables go away. Right now I get 1 to 1 net metering so the grid is my main backup, but that can change at the drop of a hat. I am hooking up 10 circuits in my house to the 20kwh of batteries I have as a test so I have a path forward when oil and gas wipe out net metering as has happened in many places in the US.

[@UTArch1]

Not quite "go away", but put off that day as long as possible.

[@careygagnon5853]

@@UTArch1 I guess it depends on where you live. In Texas oil & gas are king. See this excerpt from the Dallas Morning New today: Last year, the GOP-led Legislature enacted a law that bars the state from contracting with firms that limit business with the fossil fuel industry. The policy also calls for pension funds, such as the state employees and teacher retirement systems, to divest from companies that cut ties with oil and gas, so long as the moves won’t cause financial harm. 'nough said.

[@DeckEdge]

Did not even know all the different solar roof companies! Thanks.

[@razz1166]

Tesla quoted me a very reasonable number, then doubled it in part because they made powerwalls mandatory (I rarely see any power outages and my utility pays the same rate for solar spillover as it charges for power). Then I got the plans, and it was a much smaller array and 80% of the PV tiles were on north facing slopes. The net result was the expected power was 20% of my needs. They claimed they couldn’t install on the southern exposures, but that’s not true. And the southern exposures had fewer obstructions (vents, etc).

[@billcunningham8485]

My home is in Minnesota - extreme weather and temperature swings. We recently moved into our home and based on the pre-purchase home inspection replaced our roof shingles. We went with an upgraded class 4 impact resistant shingle with a 20 year warranty with a total cost of $18,300 (39 square). Fast forward two years and last Summer we were approached by a company (Everlight) to add PV Solar panels to our roof. These panels would go over our existing new roof. I called my roof installer and the solar panel install would void the warranty in the areas where the PV panels were installed. Now this system would not store the energy onsite it would sell the power back to my power company (Xcel). Some months, between the monthly payment for the panels and our Xcel bill I would come out even, some ahead (get a rebate or credit from Xcel) and other months (likely Winter with less daily Sun and more demand to power the heating system) we would have a Xcel bill albeit smaller. The solar array would have been $25,000 hoping to get $6,500 back in a rebate. The fact that the install of the array would void our roof warranty and the fact that this area does get damaging hail we chose to not move forward with adding solar at this time. We believe that the panels will become more efficient in the future thus needing less roof area to power the homes needs. It was an interesting experience walking through the process and we seriously considered adding the panels. I offered to simply add an array on the 3.5 car garage alone but Everlight didn’t seem interested in a partial power array.

[@FuncleChuck]

Your insurance pays for Hail damage, your roof warranty only covers leaks due to their error (which is why drilling holes for solar voids it). That’s not a good reason.

[@billcunningham8485]

@@FuncleChuck we checked with our insurance company - our insurance would pay for damage to the roof from hail not possibly / arguably caused by the panel install. Our agent also suggested it could be a challenge to get the insurance company to pay for damaged panels from hail. So that information on top of me writing a $18,500 check 18 months prior for top tier shingles and the solar system not exactly what we wanted ( we preferred energy stored onsite not sold back to Xcel) and no written guarantee the current monthly XCel rebate programs continuing indefinitely. We chose not to have a crew we didn’t know drill into our roof. Call me crazy…

[@TheOleHermit]

Glad to see the technology improving and becoming more cost effective. But, black shingles, directly attached to the roof, with no thermal barrier, during 110 degree AZ summers is a deal breaker, IMO. Now, expensive EPF insulation is required to compensate, assuming that there is an attic with inside access to the rafters. IMO, roofs are roofs and PV panels should be mounted on solar trackers for maximum efficiency. The best option would be a solar carport with a tracking array to shade and protect vehicles from the elements. Otherwise, why can't PV panels be white?

[@fastinradfordable]

A house should have an insulated roof these days

[@ronm6585]

Thanks Matt.

[@melange78]

I would not install solar roofs here in Spain because of several reasons. Number one is the Calima-sandstorm that comes in and covers everything in sand and dust which means you need to clean them easily which makes solar panels the obvious choice. Secondly I want to angle the panels a bit more so I get better coverage in the winter (big big issue). Thirdly, by adding an angle and a bit of spacing under the panels I get additional shade and wind cooling of the roof in the summer months.

[@jerm22278]

I had 2 local solar companies come by my house to do an estimate for install. They were going to install 21 panels on my roof to meet my demand. I had to cancel my install because it was going to cost me double per month what I'm paying in electric and gas total for the next 15-20 years. I don't know how solar is a cost viable option for anyone. At $150/month for 15 years is $27k, and even if my bill goes up to $200/month that $36k. While solar install @ $50k for 15 years is $277/month, and that's not counting having a battery backup which can add an extra $10-$15k, so I'm paying more per month and still losing power during a blackout, so I'm seeing no benefits and more cost. Since my state and county require me to stay tied into the grid, I don't actually get refunded for the excess power I output for them, I only get credited for when I'm not overproducing. So if I want solar, I have to buy it all and install it myself, but my power company has to approve and sign off on it.

[@dionh70]

Yeah, you're facing a set of serious obstacles that will take time, money, and effort to overcome. I'm puzzled by a legal requirement to remain tied to the grid, though. That sounds like a situation just asking for a lawsuit to reverse it, and there seems to be no reasonable justification for such a requirement, leading one to assume that was a law purchased by utility-funded lobbyists.

[@robertbowman9108]

sounds like your getting ripped off, 21 panels for 50k, thats nuts

[@jerm22278]

@@robertbowman9108 agreed.

[@paulogden7417]

We need more competition and streamlining of the permitting process. I installed an 82 panel system for $59000 after incentives. The learning process, the permitting and dealing with the utility were all challenges. Its saving me $6300 per year, while providing passive cooling for my house. But its not a solar roof, its a shade structure. A solar roof would have been harder for me to do and increased the risk of a roof leak. Not everybody has the space for this, nor the clear sunshine nor the solar incentives of Phoenix where I live. I think that anyone who is building a large, custom (energy hog) home in the southwest should have solar integrated into the build. It pays even without help from the utility, and its the right thing to do.

[@Teeurbo]

$50k? We do a 6.6kW system in Australia for like $4-5000 Australian dollars.

[@thewolfdoctor761]

I'll need a new roof in about 10 years. Hopefully, solar roofs will be commonplace at that point.

[@ericwiese7479]

Same here

[@damirs3430]

Having a $1200 iPhone is common place these days. Doesn't mean it's a good investment.

[@thewolfdoctor761]

@@damirs3430 My point concerns the availability of solar roofs, not the cost.

[@de-kat]

I do not think so, they pay the sub companies and assemblers far too little. Especially in Europe. 1. PV systems require specially trained electricians / certificates not everyone is allowed to install them and solar roofs need extra qualifications to do so. 2. a PV system electrical testing is already not easy with normal systems and with small module designs a disaster. 3. there are other easier jobs for electricians that are paid much better. (Office equipment testing or smoke detectors, etc. There is enough nonsense in Europe).

[@RbNetEngr]

The roof on my TX house is now more than 17 years old, and is getting close to replacement time. All of my neighbors have gotten new shingle roofs in the past two years, no doubt capitalizing on hail storms to ‘find’ damage to their roofs and have insurance cover some/all of the replacement cost. I have considered solar roof shingles instead of panels, as I think it’s a better overall system, and it looks less disruptive than solar panels. Most of my roof faces East and West, not South, so having solar shingles would probably be better overall, and generate power throughout the day. Plus, I would have no solar panels visible from the street (the West facing part of the roof. Thanks to this video, I have more info to use when investigating whether solar shingles will be worth it. And if not, then I’ll put another standard roof on the house. Here’s hoping for another hail storm soon. ;-)

[@JBoy340a]

Our TX home roof needed replacement in 10 years because of hail. The Texas sun dries out the shingles and they get brittle. Now add hailstones up to the size of baseball and it is new roof and car windshield time.

[@mojolotz]

I think one point that gets overlooked on this also is that normal solar panels can be resold and used elsewhere if anything changes. Much of the solar roof you put on will lose a lot of resale value as you don't want to install parts of a different used roofs that have differnet expected lifespans left or will slow each other down or possibly are just of different makes and shapes.

[@dank6514]

I really like the idea of the Tesla solar roof, and when I found out my roof was at the end of its lifespan two years ago, I signed up to get one on the Tesla website. But after two years on the wait list, plus the roof seemingly not available in northern Ohio, plus the increase in cost, plus the poor customer service, plus the multiple of problems people seem to have with installations, plus Elon Musk acting like a jerk on Twitter, I decided to get a new traditional asphalt roof and solar panels. I am comfortable with this decision and it was probably actually cheaper than the solar roof anyway.

[@ReachOutToWilliam]

You are a traitor to the American way! JK. Musk is a liar AND a jerk.

[@DK-vx5co]

That's too bad. Energy costs are going up and supplies are dirtier and more expensive from extraction to final usage and all the waste along the way. Just a little war has made gas prices rocket up and things are getting worse. When a home needs a new roof is the perfect time to ween from the Saudi teet. Better yet, get in there and do a little bit of energy efficiency and air sealing and you might eliminate 20-40% of the demand in the first place, for decades to come, and have a more comfortable and healthy home to boot. As Covey said, begin with the end in mind.

[@dank6514]

@@DK-vx5co I wish that I could have made it work, but my roof wasn't going to wait.

[@robsengahay5614]

Logically these roofs need to be on new-builds and could be incorporated into building codes alongside improvements in insulation, glazing, heat pumps, geothermal, underfloor heating etc.

[@ericinla65]

Excellent Info - Thanks

[@NikkiTripPS]

I saw a Canadian Upstart that had very durable, flexible asphalt panels that could break and still push power i believe from both shards, it was incredible. the inventor was an old man. i saw it on pbs about 12 years ago or so i think. I havent seen or heard anything about that type of panel since, but i havent really applied myself other than keeping an eye out to find them.

[@MrPabloInUSA]

Question about the GAF panels... how easy are they to replace when broken? Part of the draw for me on the Tesla roof is easy maintenance/repair.

[@paulogden7417]

answered in the video

[@ka0235]

@@paulogden7417 And the upgradeability. In 10 years you might be able to upgrade the roof to a more efficient tile

[@scottz45]

In my neighborhood near Princeton NJ, me and several others have Tesla solar panels. I also have an older Sunrun system. One person did just get the solar roof and I must admit it is beautiful. I don't know the owner as the house is about 3/4 of a mile away so I was not able to get any details about the process or cost but again it looks wonderful. I can add that I have to drive by this house multiple times a day and I never noticed the solar roof was installed. It was not till my neighbor needed to move a Tesla panel when a vent pipe started leaking and the Tesla tech told him someone in our area had the solar roof.

[@mindaugasvaskevicius1818]

Half way through the video, i just love how this guy talks and quote companies on the: whole world, first in the world.... Best regards form eastern Europe.

[@ACandieCaneKilling]

We are 3 years from building our remote dream home while still close enough to town to zip in for whatever, whenever, without making it an excursion. We're Roof Tiles &/or ground based solar arrays. Here are some considerations: * We can't chose a product until we find the land (our design is flexible) * We've researched solar companies from the US to Germany * No to a deposit as we may find they won't install in our location when finalized * Lining up contractors to install may not line up w/ our build schedule * We're told different stories as to what our best options are We will be SOLAR/BATTERY/COMBINATION ONLY & fully independent of land based power/run on solar while charging the batteries by day/run on batteries ALL night We want redundancy built in so if we are servicing part of the array, we will never be without power. We're told; You can't do that by some, while others want to work with us. Candie ^..^

[@hmurchison8123]

You're in a great spot. Looking for land and the home hasn't been designed/built yet is exciting. I work for a company that designs high performance homes (think Net Zero) and does solar. The envelope of the home for efficiency is so important. When you start talking to builders the make or break areas of your home are going to be the foundation and the roof. Most homes are built with bad Thermal Bridging. So even if they have insulation between the studs the heat/cold is coming right through the frame and roof. When the wife and I build a home the foundation and roof have to be thermally bridged. The expense there pays off in needing a smaller HVAC system, less solar panels and more comfortable environment. A lof of home builds here in Arkansas are going to with higher end metal roofs so that they don't need to factor in a roof replacement. Co-worker just did a ground mount system since he's got the yard for it. New home build would be pretty trivial to trench from the ground array to your meter. All comes down to the aesthetics really. I'm excited for your family

[@keco185]

If I’m getting solar tiles, I’m getting ones that look good. Otherwise I’d just get solar panels. That’s the best part of Tesla tiles

[@magnetpest2k7]

Thanks for the video Matt! I wanted to share my miserable experience in installing Tesla solar. While my installation was done within 2 months or so after putting the request. It took almost 7 months to get the system working after installation! And yes, I paid the entire cost for the panel + 1 power wall, which was almost 29K in 2021. Tesla just keeps you in dark and never calls or updates anything. During installation they told me that it might take up to 3 months to get the permission to operate, but even after 4 months nothing happened. I got really frustrated and after almost 10-15 calls to their support I finally got something going. Even after that point it took another 2 months and my project manager was completely useless. They put the blame on my local energy provider (PG&E) in my case. After the permission was granted after 6 months, I thought I finally got the system working, but no! There was another issue, the system was not connecting to Tesla grid and my tesla app was not recognizing the system. It took another month and multiple calls to diagnose the issue and the support system is totally broken! Well, finally after 7 months now everything seems to be working fine. While I really like the Tesla solar app this was the most miserable experience I ever had with a company. I am not sure how other companies are, but if a trusted brand like Tesla is doing this, it is miserable. At one point, I was even thinking of consulting a lawyer suspecting a scam!

[@ShinkaTV]

Awesome and impartial breakdown of all the options! I'm sort of surprised you don't have affiliate links to these guys, though. You could be driving a lot of business their way!

[@Jerry-ko9pi]

Have you heard about and checked out "Forward Solar Roofing"? Looks pretty good to me and I wanted to do a standing metal seam roof too. Another product, "Click System Metal Solar Panels" look good too. If you already have a standing metal seam roof, "Sunflare PowerFit Solar Panels" would be good fit. They are a peel and stick design. There are screw on brackets for metal roof for using solar panels though already.

[@cardboardpig]

my biggest issue with solar roof shingles is what happens in 10 years when a panel breaks? Is the company still in business? do they still make the tile you bought, or do you have to make do with a different tile, if that's even possible?

[@joegreene6250]

exactly. What happens when all of the installs fail around year 5-7? That company is not going to exist to honor any of the warranties.

[@spacebound1969]

@@joegreene6250 How long do you think solar panels last...?

[@karlfranzemperorofmandefil5547]

@@spacebound1969 yes but I'd guess that replacing a solar roof isn't as easy as just replacing a solar panel.

[@spacebound1969]

@@karlfranzemperorofmandefil5547 The shingles are mini solar panels essentially that mount to a track like a normal solar panel. The process is the same.

[@Panda_Gibs]

I don't know how many years, and how wasteful with the "free" energy I would need to be for a $100k solar roof to ever pay for itself. Ultimately, being in the midwest is fairly green. There are massive wind farms in every direction around my city.

[@sandrajones8245]

Very interesting and thank you. Cost is actually the deciding factor for 90% of all things purchased and labour is (or should be) the highest % of said cost. The materials are at a set price and actually get lower the more you buy. But Labour is very variable.

[@lancerkind4055]

Hi Matt, I just got a new roof in 2021 and solar panels. The install time for these two events was 4 days. So if the Tesla solar roof is installing in a week the. We are in the same ballpark. However you mention the lead time to getting started could be months to years. For me, the lead time for thing job was about 3-5 months. lSolar roof is in that range, then that’s also a good alternative. Why didn’t I get a solar roof? I wanted one but I really like the SunRun offer and garuntees. Also during this time, the solar roof didn’t drop in price like they did at the end of 2021. So my opinion: get a metal roof with solar panels, or a Tesla Solar Roof. They both have a longer lasting time ( frequently longer than the lifespan of the buyer) than buying composite shingles.

[@ibnewton8951]

I don’t think solar tiles are for me. Waaay too expensive. I think I’ll stick with old school panels which are much for affordable and honestly, when neatly installed they don’t look too bad anyway. Besides, then I can ‘virtue-signal’ so that all my neighbors know I care about the environment! 😉

[@alanmay7929]

I don't even understand why people hates on solar panels with no reason, they can be very well installed to look slik.

[@ernie4125]

Its just complicating an already complicated system.

[@DK-vx5co]

Yes. Better to keep pay the Saudis for that energy bill every month, have it double every 10 years or so, and then again and again, have a lot of air leakage and bug leakage and drafts and hot and cold spots. Definitely the short cut of the lucky person with limitless money to waste. The Simpsons aren't' going to watch themselves every night. (wink emoji face, etc.)

[@alanmay7929]

@@DK-vx5co lol….. oil is not just used for energy but actually millions of applications, there are tons and tons of oil byproducts that electricity cannot replace.

[@derekn7821]

Solar tiles are better suited for people who are replacing their roofs or are building new. I'm in the latter and I too dislike how the panels look on a regulator roof. So with the money saved from not having to purchase roof tiles, I consider that a win-win situation.

[@SandhillCrane42]

I'm no engineering genius, but it occurs to me that roofs and solar panels have different functions that may not be amenable to complete integration.

[@de-kat]

yah thats why tesla solar roof had too be redesigned totally, its not an intregration more like a roof upgrade ... same functions as a good roof plus solar power and more durability and heat isolation. But the Timberline System is more like an cheap extra i would not call that a real roof. Still both have there use.

[@georgecook1374]

Great vid just looking at soloar shingle roofs now as our roof will need replaced in the next few years. Hopefully by then the infalation and labor force will have leveled off unlike now when it seems everything is going up and getting people to get off the couch to actually do manufactureing work is a joke. fingers crossed ........... keep up the great work

[@ScrewballMcAdams]

Good video, great narration.

[@videoviewer2008]

Would be smarter to use the materials in large industrial installs instead of residential. On large warehouse roofs and over parking lots.

[@cuylerwilkinson4414]

In Jax.,Fl. 1977 solar was coming to every home , business and street corner. We would not pay an electric bill. Or have to buy gas as my Citi car would be here in a couple months. Only thing that happened was solar panels on bus stop kiosks. Yes there were plans across the world but big oil had the "Embargo" and they won.

[@JBoy340a]

Most large structures by me are covered with solar panels. Some parking lots have shaded rows where the shades are solar panels. But, we still need/want residential solar and battery storage. For us those have eliminated most of our electrical needs. We only pay about $25-30/mo and much that is the grid connection fee.

[@cuylerwilkinson4414]

@@JBoy340a I built a 10x22 carport down the driveway side of house in 1984 with 21 panels on it. 20 and 35 watt panels only thing out here. Ineffiecient as all get out but somewhat worked, I ran "green" 12 volt lights in and outside. I had 3 barbie doll cars running constantly 86,7,8,9. Gokart with car starter on it I built in 1990-2007. Other than small tvs' and laptops powering electronic equipment was useless or a battery bank from hell about the same size as the house was needed to store generated power. I had 10 12v 100ah trolling motor batteries The carport shading that sunny side of house brought my electric bill down $50 and more a month just for less a-c useage. Heats no problem here in Florida.Wound up with 4 100 watt,8 40watt and 7 harbor freight 15 watters Sold the house in 2012. State here passed a hidden agenda law(you know down near the bottom constrewed in a paragraph) within a major Amendnent which voters approved outlawing any "diy" solar panels and alll solar must be installed by professionals sponstered by the power companies in this state. The good ole brother-n-law act. I'm glad I never became a politician because I did think about it but I can look anyone in the eye and tell them the truth.

[@JBoy340a]

@@cuylerwilkinson4414 - I appreciate that people like you put system together back then. You showed what a person can do with a little ingenuity. It is criminal that a state would would outlaw DIY installation. We need to focus on more installations of power systems of all kinds, and solar is one homeowners can do themselves.

[@michaelsmithers4900]

I think I’d prefer a “solar parasol” mounted a foot or so off the roof on a more robust frame, possibly to the groung around the edges, only on the south face. This would shade the house keeping it cooler. Also it would reduce the need to leave gaps for plumbing vents.

[@michaelparks3106]

On the traditional solar panels on my roof, I have individual mini-inverters for each panel. That insures that when 1/2 the panels are in shade, they don't affect the 1/2 that are in the light. My understanding is that when all the panels are on a single inverter, panels in the shade reduce the output of the other panels. I wonder how solar shingles handle this issue?