
FAQs For Homeowners
You have questions. Citadel Roofing & Solar has answers.
You have questions. Citadel Roofing & Solar has answers.
Solar energy provides:
A solar energy system for your home consists mainly of solar panels on your roof that collect sunlight, and an inverter or inverters that convert that sunlight into electricity that can be used in your home. Read more on solar technology and how solar energy works on our LEARN page.
Installing solar alone does not mean you’ll have power during an outage. Your solar energy system shuts off automatically in an outage to prevent any electrical current from flowing back into the grid. This is to protect utility line workers attempting to restore power. However, if you install Solar+Storage, you can set up the system to provide backup power during an outage.
The cost varies greatly based on:
You can purchase it outright or let Citadel help you secure financing. Many financing options do not require a down payment.
Yes! Unlike many major investments like cars or new kitchens, a solar energy system actually pays for itself in a matter of years. The money it saves you on your electricity ends up being much more than the cost of the system. How long this takes varies by project, depending on variables like your cost of electricity, the size and orientation of your solar energy system, and how much electricity you use.
Again, it differs for everyone. A Citadel solar pro will design the system that works for your needs and provide estimates on your savings.
If you have a standalone solar energy system, one of several things happens, but note that you get the value of all the solar energy you make:
If you install Solar+Storage [link to HOMEOWNERS/Storage], you can store your extra solar electricity in your batteries for use at a time of your choosing, instead of sending it into the grid.
On your end, only the following (plus of course writing a check or two):
There are more steps than that, but Citadel takes care of them for you. For more details on the process, download our free roadmap infographic.
It’s easiest to let a qualified contractor like Citadel assess your roof for you. In general, it needs to have at least 15 years of life left in it, and it needs to have at least 100 to 500 square feet of available roof space. The ideal roof is on the south side of the home, though east and west facing roofs work well too. Skylights can eat up some of the available space and obstructions like dormers can throw shade on the panels.
Citadel’s solar pro will determine that based on how much electricity you want to generate and how much roof space you have.
The installation of the panels and related equipment usually takes a day or two.
Most panel manufacturers warrant their product for 25 years. Since there are no moving parts, solar energy systems are designed to last even longer. There are many solar energy systems still operating today that were installed 30+ years ago.
It is important to periodically check to make sure your system is working as expected but generally, there is no required maintenance for a residential solar energy system.
If you own the solar energy system on your roof, research shows it could increase your home’s value and decrease the re-sale time. Read our blog post on How Solar Increases California Property Values for details.
No, solar energy systems in California are exempt from property taxes.
Most HOAs require approval for installing solar, but they cannot stop you from moving forward with your solar project thanks to the Solar Rights Act.
Yes, if your system is configured to provide that benefit.
Yes, in most cases the homeowner has the ability to switch the energy storage back and forth between functions.
It’s simple: batteries much like the rechargeable batteries you use for other things in your home store your unused solar energy, and then discharge it at a time of your choosing. Read more on storage technology on our LEARN page.
It depends on how much electricity you want to store. Most homeowners with energy storage have one to three batteries.
Yes. It is most cost-effective to install both systems at the same time, of course, but storage can often be added to an existing solar energy system.
If you know when your roof was installed and its expected lifespan, deciding when to re-roof is easy. If not, a cracked tile or loose shingle is a good sign your roof is in need of repair or replacement. You can always contact a roofing contractor like Citadel for an assessment if you’re not sure.
The process is simple but getting the right contractor and materials is extremely important. Follow these steps:
Only qualified and reputable roofing companies are allowed to offer the best warranties from the highest-rated roofing manufacturers. So you can start by searching in the online directories of Owens Corning and CertainTeed. The Tile Roofing Institute (TRI) also has an online directory. Or just call Citadel—we are listed in all three directories.
It depends on the size of your roof and the material you choose.
Citadel works with many types of roofing material including tile, composition shingles, metal, slate, TPO and PVC.
In general, a residential roof installation takes three to seven days. But the time it will take for your roof depends on the size, slope, access to, and condition of the roof.
A new roof should come with two types of warranty:
New roofs generally last 30-50 years.
Unfortunately, it can be difficult to tell is a roof was installed correctly based on visual inspection, because you can’t see underneath the tiles or shingles. You won’t know until leaks develop down the road. That’s why it’s so important to choose a reputable, experienced roofing contractor that backs up its work with a long-term warranty.
We offer a variety of financing options. Please see the detailed explanation on our Learn page.
We can help you secure a home improvement loan at competitive rates through one of our financial partners.
Yes. The federal Investment Tax Credit (ITC) pays for 26 percent of the cost of solar energy and solar energy storage systems. California’s net metering program provides solar energy system owners with credit for extra solar electricity they send into the grid. And the California “SGIP” program offers a rebate for qualifying solar energy storage systems. Learn more here.
Vacaville
4980 Allison Parkway
Vacaville, CA 95688
(707) 446-5500
Sacramento
1014 N Market Blvd., Suite 30
Sacramento, CA 95834
(916) 313-4720
Davis
1615 5th Street, Suite D-1
Davis, CA 95616
(530) 746-5530
Santa Rosa
4165 Santa Rosa Ave
Santa Rosa, CA 95407
(707) 610-0650
Fresno
4025 W. Ashcroft Avenue
Fresno, CA 93722
(559) 234-3097
Santa Clarita
21616 Golden Triangle Road
Santa Clarita, CA 91350
(661) 295-6848
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