Solar Shingles In Colorado: How They Work & Whether They're Worth It

Are solar shingles worth it in Colorado? Short answer: the technology is genuinely impressive, I installed GAF solar shingles on my own home and have been really happy with them, but availability and sequence matter more than anything right now. The most important move for most homeowners is to get your roof done correctly first, in the right order, before adding any solar. Here is how solar shingles actually work and what you should know.

I am Patrick Knackendoffel, founder of WestPro Home Exteriors, and I own a roofing company, so I look at solar shingles as a roofing product first. This guide covers what they are, how they differ from traditional panels, the warranties involved, and an honest picture of where things stand in Colorado.

What Are Solar Shingles, and How Are They Different From Solar Panels?

GAF Timberline Solar shingles are roofing shingles that generate electricity. That is the key idea, and it is what makes them different from a traditional solar panel.

A traditional solar panel mounts on top of your roof. Solar shingles are the opposite: they integrate directly into the roof surface. Solar shingles, sometimes called energy shingles, replace conventional shingles rather than sitting on top of them. The solar shingle becomes the shingle itself, part of the actual roofing system.

The result looks like a normal roof, not a roof with equipment bolted onto it. For a lot of homeowners, that clean look is a big part of the appeal.

I installed GAF solar shingles on my own home in Longmont, and I have been pretty impressed with them.

Can Solar Shingles Go on an Existing Roof?

Technically yes, but it is best to install GAF solar shingles as part of a complete roof replacement project. There are two reasons: it ensures you have a complete, integrated roof warranty, and it ensures the roof actually matches.

Here is the practical rule. If you are only putting solar shingles on one or two areas, the entire roof plane, what we call a roof facet, that is going to receive the solar shingles should be replaced at the same time. That lets the solar shingles be properly integrated into the surrounding shingles at the hips, ridges, and other appropriate areas. They cannot just be slid into an existing roof.

This is really the same principle behind any good roofing work: the system has to be installed as a system, in the right order, to perform and to stay under warranty.

What Warranty Do Solar Shingles Carry?

This is one of the strongest parts of the solar shingle story, and it comes from the fact that the shingles are part of the GAF roofing system rather than a separate product bolted on.

GAF Timberline Solar shingles carry:

• An optional 25-year power output guarantee, which guarantees they produce adequate electricity
• A 25-year weatherization warranty covering the shingle itself against basic manufacturing defects

On top of that, because solar shingles are part of the GAF roofing system, they can be backed by the same manufacturer warranties available on any GAF roof installed by a certified contractor like WestPro. That can include GAF System Plus or even Golden Pledge coverage.

That is a meaningful advantage over traditional solar panels. Panels typically carry a separate manufacturer warranty that does not integrate with your roofing warranty. Those are two separate things, and when something goes wrong, that separation can become your problem. With solar shingles, the roof and the solar are one system with one warranty structure behind them.

The Honest Status in Colorado, and What to Do First

I want to be straight about this. As of now, the GAF Energy solar shingle program is not currently active in Colorado. We used to install them, and when the program becomes available again in our market, we will resume installations. When it was active, we completed multiple solar shingle installations in Boulder and Longmont, and both our team and our customers were impressed with the product.

So what should you do in the meantime if you are considering solar?

Get your roof replaced first, especially if it is already due. This is the most important takeaway in this whole guide. Here is why it matters so much: solar installers can void your roofing warranty if the roof penetrations used to hold up a rack-mounted solar system are not handled correctly. Those penetrations are exactly where leaks start when the work is done poorly.

Get the roof right first, and then bring in a good solar provider. Doing it in that order protects your home, protects your warranty, and sets you up cleanly for whatever solar path you choose, whether that is panels now or solar shingles when the program returns.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are solar shingles?

GAF Timberline Solar shingles are roofing shingles that generate electricity. They integrate directly into the roof surface and replace conventional shingles, so they become the roof itself rather than equipment mounted on top of it.

How are solar shingles different from solar panels?

Traditional panels mount on top of your existing roof. Solar shingles are part of the roofing system itself, which means a cleaner look and a warranty that can integrate with your GAF roof warranty rather than standing separate.

Can I put solar shingles on my existing roof?

Technically yes, but they are best installed as part of a full roof replacement, and at minimum the entire roof facet receiving them should be replaced at once so they integrate properly at hips and ridges.

What warranties come with solar shingles?

An optional 25-year power output guarantee and a 25-year weatherization warranty, plus, because they are part of the GAF roofing system, they can be backed by GAF System Plus or Golden Pledge coverage.

Can I get solar shingles in Colorado right now?

As of this writing, the GAF Energy solar shingle program is not active in Colorado. WestPro installed them when the program was active and will resume when it returns. In the meantime, the smart move is to get your roof replaced correctly first, then add solar.