Why You Might Want to Consider Adding Solar to Your Roofing Business

By Adam Cabrera. 

Solar roofing is a growing market, increasingly becoming a significant consideration for both homeowners and industry professionals alike.  

In a recent Roofing Road Trips® episode, host Heidi J. Ellsworth sat down with two experts from ABC Supply, James Mason, vice president of renewable energy, and Eric Cieslak, business development manager for renewable energies, to talk about solar roofing. 

James traces his involvement in solar roofing back to around 2017, primarily in Southern California, where state regulations catalyzed its adoption. "The difference that I've seen over the years are what I would call the non-market factors, AKA, policy and regulation," he says. 

Similarly, Eric has a history of merging roofing and solar services, adding that the role of government incentives and laws like the Inflation Reduction Act have made solar more appealing to homeowners. "So, instead of this astronomical payment with penalties and interest rates everyone now has the capability of paying it off and no prepayment penalty," Eric says. 

Technological advancements in solar panels and installation have been another driving force. Eric emphasizes that there has been significant progress in the technology, improved efficiency of solar panels and ease of installation due to better racking and flashing systems.  

“When we first started in solar, we didn't even have racking. We had to fabricate things by hand,” Eric says. “We didn't have flashing, so I had the snips, I had all the tools, and we were Jerry rigging everything trying to make it work.” 

In the wake of this improved technology, there are certain advantages for roofing contractors entering the solar market. James notes that adding diversification in the roofing industry is essential for future growth. He shared, "The single source solution is a person that can do the roofing and that can do the solar, the hybrid company, they’re going to be the business that's going to evolve and grow into the future."  

Read the transcript or listen to the full Roofing Road Trips episode to learn more about the solar roofing industry and what the experts at ABC Supply have to say about it.