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roof is 25 years old should i do solar or reroof first

The question, put plainly: Can I put solar panels on an old roof?

The short answer

Technically yes, but it is usually a false economy. Removing and refitting an array to replace the roof underneath costs a substantial amount, so the roof should be sound for the system's life.

TradieAnswers editorial · written in-house and sourced to the authorities listed below

Checked against 5 published sources, listed in full at the end of this page. How we source this

A solar system is a twenty five year asset bolted to whatever is underneath it. If the roof has ten years left, you have committed to either a shortened system life or an expensive removal and refit partway through.

Check before you commit

  • Remaining life of the roof covering, honestly assessed rather than assumed.
  • Condition of the battens and framing, since mounting hardware loads them in ways the original roof did not.
  • Whether the roof has sarking, which affects how penetrations are made and sealed.
  • For tile roofs, whether replacement tiles are still available for the profile, because breakage during installation is normal.
  • Whether any part of the roof contains asbestos, which changes everything about how it can be worked on.

The order that saves money

If the roof is near end of life, replace it first and install solar onto a new roof. If the roof has plenty of life, install solar and keep the mounting documentation. If it is somewhere in between, get a roof plumber's written assessment before the solar quote, not after, because the solar installer is not the right person to judge the roof.

Sources

Every source below was fetched and its response recorded on the date shown. Where a government site blocks automated clients, that is noted rather than reported as a successful check.

  1. About accreditation · Solar Accreditation AustraliaChecked 2026-08-10 · responded 200 OK
  2. For consumers · Clean Energy CouncilChecked 2026-08-10 · responded 200 OK
  3. Standards Australia · Standards AustraliaChecked 2026-08-10 · responded 200 OK
  4. National Construction Code · Australian Building Codes BoardChecked 2026-08-10 · responded 200 OK
  5. Asbestos · Safe Work AustraliaChecked 2026-08-10 · responded 200 OK

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