New Roof - Need to remove and then reinstall existing panels. Questions

[kwilcox]

I did a "hybrid DIY" installation of my array back in 2014 by working with an electrician partner. So I did all the grunt work (running conduit in attic, installing roof anchors, rails, microinverters and panels, pulled wire etc) and he pulled permits, was there for inspections, and subcontracted items that couldn't be owner installed (replace meter base etc). He charged a standard $85 hourly rate for everything he did and pretty much guided my design and lay out of the infrastructure. It was a great experience for me that also brought the installation in for about $1.30/watt after rebates.

[Steve C]

I am very pleased with the company (Gilmore) that installed my solar. They did a great job. That being said, while we discussed (before contract signed) the plan to remove and replace the array after re-roofing, I mistakenly failed to insist that it be included in the contract. I strongly recall them saying $250-$500 (but it's not in writing, so who knows). It was this post that got thinking about it. I went to the office today to discuss the matter. They're unable to give me a dollar figure as the sales guy was not in the office. They will get back to me next week. FINGERS CROSSED!!!

[silversaver]

Noted. hope the price will be lower when I need to roof work done

[peakbagger]

I DIYed a couple of arrays. On my last one, I needed a electrician to sign off to get SRECs so I talked to a local master electrician who wanted to "learn solar", I went through my calculations and showed him the particular sections of the code to justify why I did what I did. He agreed and signed the system off. My town requires an electrical permit but they will not inspect the work. Anyone applying for a permit has to sign a form that states that the installation will be done to applicable codes.

[reader2580]

There are DIY folks like myself who actually get electrical permits. There was so much hack electrical work in my house it was shocking it had not burned down. Several spots where loose connections had melted due to heat including the main cables from the meter into the load center. Three live cables cut off and exposed in walls. My father and I rewired over 50% of the house with permits.

My solar was done about 75% by a solar electrician and 25% myself. The electrician did all of the electrical work.

[J.P.M.]

It's not just the trades high labor costs.......went to the dentist today to have a crown re cemented......took all of ten minutes.......charge $78......5% discount if paid in cash.

Yeah...I know there's a lot of overhead in that $78.

From the "Ripley's Believe It or Not" DIY file: Partly due to circumstances (long story) and partly because she was dirt poor at the time, my 1st wife, as a late teen and some years before I met her, extracted one of her own teeth. No $$ overhead, and no long term problems, but I recall her saying she'd have gladly waited and paid a dentist if she'd had the money.

[DanS26]

It's not just the trades high labor costs.......went to the dentist today to have a crown re cemented......took all of ten minutes.......charge $78......5% discount if paid in cash.

Yeah...I know there's a lot of overhead in that $78.

[bcroe]

The quality of DIY work can vary all over, and the pros too. I bought this place with no maintenance buildings,
and the concrete floors (enough to easily park 6 cars) don't have a crack anywhere. Must be thick and have some
rebar. On the other hand, the plumbing and wiring have been problematic, but I can fix them bit by bit. A few
inspectors have checked my wiring over the last half century, about the only comments were on how neat. A
DIY can take a lot of extra (free) time to do that. Bruce Roe

[SunEagle]

R.U.A., and partially agree, but you're kinder or less cynical or both than I might be on that one.

I agree. Based on the people I know and what they have DIY'd I would say that cost and lack of getting the officials involved were the main motivating factors.

I am not saying they didn't do the work per code but IMO most AHJ's would probably laugh at the work.

[J.P.M.]

Further I would hypothesis that most DIYers do this out of ignorance.

R.U.A., and partially agree, but you're kinder or less cynical or both than I might be on that one.

[ButchDeal]

Opinion: It's also sad but to my experience about equally true how many DIY'ers are code noncompliant due to ignorance, shortsightedness and just plain sloth. Every house I've ever owned, and about every home I've ever been in if I bothered to look required at least some remediation to clean up, make safe and/or correct what some clod(s) did. Some dwellings more than others, but all to some extent that went beyond normal wear/tear.

I have seen so many homes, many that I wanted to buy but things realtor stated started to turn my stomach like "owner finished the basement" Wouldn't take much looking around to see that the owner didn't know what the hell he was doing. But it also is realtor code for "someone finished the basement without getting a permit so you will have a bitch of a time getting a permit doing anything where they might notice this..."

Further I would hypothesis that most DIYers do this out of ignorance. And thus if they are only smart enough to get help with the permit pack, most are smart enough to be able to follow the design that someone else did for them or to get a contractor for the few parts they can see they might need help with. In other words if you are a DIYer doing Solar (or anything) pay someone for a Permit pack at the very least.

[J.P.M.]

This is why DIY is so attractive.......and this is why the trades put up and request so many roadblocks for DIY.

Sad but true. Code compliant DIY'ers are just screwed in so many places and it is growing.

Opinion: It's also sad but to my experience about equally true how many DIY'ers are code noncompliant due to ignorance, shortsightedness and just plain sloth. Every house I've ever owned, and about every home I've ever been in if I bothered to look required at least some remediation to clean up, make safe and/or correct what some clod(s) did. Some dwellings more than others, but all to some extent that went beyond normal wear/tear.

[DanS26]

Here in NJ, over the past 12 years that I've lived here I've had a number of moderate repair, construction, remodeling jobs done. Electrical, plumbing, sprinklers, fencing, roofing, tree service, exterminators, HVAC, re-insulation, etc. Pricing is remarkably similar across the trades. As a rough rule of thumb, $1200 per person per day (aka $150/hr). Given two men half a day to remove the panels, and a separate truck roll and two men to reinstall the panels (full day at least depending on mounting and retesting). $3500-$5000 in labor is what I would expect. I would expect that a licensed, bonded, perhaps union, trades person would be similarly priced in California.

This is why DIY is so attractive.......and this is why the trades put up and request so many roadblocks for DIY.

Sad but true. Code compliant DIY'ers are just screwed in so many places and it is growing.

[J.P.M.]

Here in NJ, over the past 12 years that I've lived here I've had a number of moderate repair, construction, remodeling jobs done. Electrical, plumbing, sprinklers, fencing, roofing, tree service, exterminators, HVAC, re-insulation, etc. Pricing is remarkably similar across the trades. As a rough rule of thumb, $1200 per person per day (aka $150/hr). Given two men half a day to remove the panels, and a separate truck roll and two men to reinstall the panels (full day at least depending on mounting and retesting). $3500-$5000 in labor is what I would expect. I would expect that a licensed, bonded, perhaps union, trades person would be similarly priced in California.

FWIW, my experience is similar pricewise, but after living in NYS for 45+ yrs. and much of the remainder of my life so far in San Diego, with respect to quality and price of workmanship between the east coast and here, while price is probably comparable, quality and workmanship is much better east of the Mississippi.

But I also lived in NM for several years where the rule of thumb is if you can't do it yourself, it won't get done because no one will show up in the first place so price is a moot point. Seriously.

[JSchnee21]

Here in NJ, over the past 12 years that I've lived here I've had a number of moderate repair, construction, remodeling jobs done. Electrical, plumbing, sprinklers, fencing, roofing, tree service, exterminators, HVAC, re-insulation, etc. Pricing is remarkably similar across the trades. As a rough rule of thumb, $1200 per person per day (aka $150/hr). Given two men half a day to remove the panels, and a separate truck roll and two men to reinstall the panels (full day at least depending on mounting and retesting). $3500-$5000 in labor is what I would expect. I would expect that a licensed, bonded, perhaps union, trades person would be similarly priced in California.