What Solar Shingles Are
Solar shingles, sometimes called building-integrated photovoltaics, combine the roof covering and the solar collector into one product. Instead of mounting racked panels above an existing roof, the generating surface is the roof. Conventional rack-mounted panels remain the far more common approach, and they sit on top of a roof you have already chosen independently.
How the Options Compare on a Northwoods Roof
| Solar shingles | Rack-mounted panels | Asphalt shingles | Standing-seam metal | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Generates power | Yes | Yes | No | No |
| Installed cost | Highest | Roof cost plus system cost | Lowest | High |
| Snow shedding | Depends on product and pitch | Panels shed, racking can catch | Moderate | Excellent |
| Repair after damage | Can require specialist and matching product | Panel swap is straightforward | Simple | Moderate |
| Roof replacement later | Roof and array replaced together | Array removed and reset — added cost | Simple | Rare within service life |
| Warranty structure | Roofing and electrical coverage combined | Two separate warranties | Roofing only | Roofing only |
The Cold-Climate Questions That Matter Here
- Snow cover: a Northwoods roof can carry snow for months, and buried generating surface produces nothing
- Ice: freeze-thaw cycling at panel seams and penetrations is the most common leak origin on any roof
- Snow retention: metal and slick surfaces shed in slabs, which affects entries, walkways, and anything below the eave
- Serviceability: who repairs a failed unit in February, and how quickly parts arrive up north
- Product longevity: matching a discontinued integrated product ten years from now is a real risk
- Shading: mature pine cover on many lots reduces output more than homeowners expect
Practical Advice Today
If you want solar in the Northwoods now, the conventional route is a sound roof first and a racked system installed by a qualified solar contractor second, with clearly separated roofing and electrical warranties. If your roof has meaningful life left, an array can be added without touching it. If the roof is near end of life, replace it before mounting anything on it.
What we do
We install asphalt and metal roofing systems and can build a roof that is straightforward to work with if you add solar later — clean planes, correct flashing, and documented deck condition. We do not sell, install, or service solar shingles or solar panels.
Common questions
- Does Roof Masters install solar shingles?
- No. Roof Masters does not currently install solar shingles or solar panels. We install asphalt and metal roofing systems and are monitoring integrated roofing technology as it develops.
- Do solar shingles work in heavy snow?
- Output stops while the surface is covered, and northern Wisconsin roofs can hold snow for extended stretches. Pitch, orientation, shading, and how the product handles freeze-thaw cycling all affect real-world performance.
- Are solar shingles better than solar panels?
- They are usually more expensive and harder to service, with the trade-off being appearance and a single integrated surface. Rack-mounted panels remain the more common and more easily repaired approach, and they keep roofing and electrical warranties separate.