A hail claim on a roof with solar has one extra moving part. Here is how the detach and reset fits into the claim, from the adjuster’s visit to the final payment.
When a Colorado hailstorm totals a roof with solar panels on it, the roof claim and the solar work become one project. The panels have to come off before the roofers start and go back on when they finish.
On a covered claim, the solar detach and reset is handled as part of the roof replacement. The adjuster includes it in the estimate, a solar contractor documents and prices the real scope, and the insurer pays it with the rest of the roof claim, less your deductible.
This article covers the process. If you are still working out whether you are covered at all, start with does homeowners insurance cover solar panel removal for roof replacement? . For the physical work, see our complete guide to solar detach and reset in Colorado.
How detach and reset fits into the claim, step by step
- Document and file. Photograph the roof and array from the ground and save your monitoring data. Tell the insurer you have solar when you open the claim. Our guide on what to do after hail hits your solar panels covers those first steps in detail.
- Leave the panels in place for the adjuster. The adjuster needs to see the array as the storm left it. Make sure the report notes the panel count, the roof planes involved, and the mounting type.
- Read the estimate for a solar line. Look for an entry for removing and resetting the panels. If it is missing, or priced as a flat per-panel number, flag it now.
- Get a solar contractor’s scope. A licensed solar contractor inspects the system and writes up what the job requires.
- Submit a supplement if the numbers differ. A supplement is a request to revise the estimate, backed by documentation. This is routine on roof claims.
- Schedule the work in order. Detach, re-roof, reset, test. The steps are covered in how solar panel removal and reinstallation works.
- Close out the claim. Final invoices go to the insurer so any withheld depreciation can be released.
What an insurance-ready scope includes
A generic line item gives the adjuster little to go on. A proper solar panel removal and reinstallation scope spells out:
- Panel count, system size, and inverter type
- Racking and attachment type, with the number of roof penetrations
- Roof pitch, height, and number of roof planes
- Baseline testing and photos before removal
- Labeled removal, handling, and storage
- New flashing and sealant at every attachment
- Electrical disconnect and reconnect by licensed personnel
- Permit, inspection, and utility steps where required
- Post-reset testing against the baseline
- Code-required changes, listed separately from the like-for-like reset
That last item matters in Colorado. A system installed several years ago may need different mounting to meet current wind-load requirements. Whether your insurer pays for code-driven changes depends on whether your policy includes ordinance or law coverage, so the scope should show those costs on their own.
How the money moves
On a replacement cost policy, the insurer usually pays in two parts. The first payment is the depreciated value of the work, less your deductible. The withheld depreciation is released after the work is done and invoiced, subject to your policy terms.
On an actual cash value policy, there is no second payment. The depreciation is yours to cover.
Your deductible applies once to the claim as a whole. You pay it to your contractors as part of the job cost.
What is different in Colorado
Percentage deductibles are common. Many Colorado policies set the wind and hail deductible as a percentage of dwelling coverage, such as 1%, 2% or 5%. Our insurance coverage guide shows what that means in dollars.
Insurers may approve a repair first. A partial repair may not touch the area under your array. If your contractor’s inspection finds wider damage, documentation is what changes the outcome.
You have a 72-hour window if the claim is denied. Colorado’s roofing contractor law (Senate Bill 38) requires a written contract and lets you cancel it within 72 hours of learning your claim was denied in whole or in part. The same law bars contractors from paying or waiving your deductible.
Storm season fills schedules. After a major hail event, roofers and solar crews book up together. Getting on both calendars early keeps your system offline for less time.
If the detach turns up damaged panels
Hail can crack solar cells without marking the glass, so each panel is tested once the array is on the ground. Damaged panels are claimed as dwelling damage and replaced, not reset; see our solar hail damage repair service.
Mistakes that cost homeowners money
- Removing panels before the adjuster has seen the roof
- Accepting an estimate with no solar line, or closing the claim before the solar scope is priced
- Letting a roofing crew handle the array without a licensed solar contractor, which can put equipment warranties at risk
- Signing a roofing contract that promises to absorb the deductible
- Skipping baseline testing, which leaves no record if production drops after the reset
Who hires the solar contractor, me or my roofer? Either works, as long as a qualified solar crew handles the panels. See Can a Roofing Company Remove and Reinstall Your Solar Panels?
What if the insurer’s number is lower than the solar estimate? Your contractor submits a supplement with the detailed scope and photos. The adjuster reviews it and revises the estimate if the documentation supports it.
How long does the solar work add to the project? A typical residential detach and reset takes 2 to 4 days of work, split on either side of the roofing.
Will my leased system follow the same process? Not always. The leasing company owns the equipment and may require its own crew, so call them before scheduling.
Start with a documented scope
Vanguard’s in-house estimating team prepares insurance-ready detach and reset scopes and coordinates directly with carriers and roofing contractors. Our NABCEP-certified crews handle the removal, storage, reinstallation, and testing. Request a free detach and reset estimate, or read the complete guide first.
This article is general information, not insurance or legal advice. Coverage and claim handling depend on your policy and carrier.
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