Solar Shingle Installation
Seamless Roofing + Energy for Wisconsin

Yes! We install solar roofing on new construction homes across Wisconsin and would love to partner with you. New builds are often ideal for solar because we can design the roof layout and solar roofing installation together, without working around old materials or mature trees. If you are building a home and want an integrated solar shingle roof instead of panels added later, email info@sunvaultroofing.com and we will walk you and your builder through the process.

Yes! While integrated solar shingles are our flagship product, we also design and install conventional roof-mounted solar panels when that is the better fit. As a solar roofing contractor, we can compare solar shingles vs conventional solar panels for your roof, explain the cost and performance tradeoffs, and help you choose the system that best matches your home and long-term plans.

Solar shingles are only about 2 percent less efficient than conventional solar panels. That difference is smaller than the year-to-year changes in sunshine most homes already see, so it is trivial for most homeowners. When you compare solar roof shingles vs solar panels, the better choice often comes down to aesthetics, roof age, and long-term plans rather than a small efficiency gap.

Learn more in our blog post: are conventional panels or solar shingles right for you?

Yes. In an integrated solar roofing installation, solar shingles are installed as part of a full roof replacement. They replace asphalt shingles in select areas of the roof and function as both your roofing material and your solar energy system. If your roof is newer and not due for replacement, we may recommend conventional rack-mounted solar panels instead.

A solar shingle installation typically takes slightly longer than a standard roof replacement because it includes both roofing and electrical work. Most residential projects are completed over 1-3 days, depending on roof size, shape, and system complexity. We provide a clear timeline before work begins and coordinate all trades so the process is smooth and predictable.

A solar roof is a great option if your roof is due for replacement and you want to combine a new roof with clean energy production in a single project. Solar shingles work best on homes with good sun exposure and long-term ownership plans. During a free inspection, we evaluate your roof’s age, structure, orientation, and energy usage to determine whether solar shingles are the right fit or if a conventional panel system would make more sense.

Solar shingles replace part of your roofing material and generate electricity as part of a full roof replacement, creating a seamless, low-profile appearance. Conventional solar panels are mounted on top of an existing roof and are typically the better option when the roof is newer and in good condition. If you’re already planning a roof replacement, solar shingles allow you to combine roofing and solar into one integrated project with a beautiful, aesthetic outcome.

Yes. CertainTeed Solstice Solar Shingles are engineered to withstand harsh Midwest conditions, including heavy snow loads, high winds, and hail. They carry the same impact resistance ratings as premium asphalt shingles and are installed with proper underlayment and waterproofing to protect against ice dams and freeze–thaw cycles common in Wisconsin.

When installed correctly by a certified contractor, solar shingles do not compromise your roof warranty. As a CertainTeed–certified installer, we follow manufacturer-approved installation methods that preserve both roofing and solar warranties. This ensures your roof and energy system are protected for the long term.

Yes. Solar roofing inspections and installations typically require attic access. This allows us to safely route wiring, install required electrical components like remote shutdown receivers, verify structural details, and evaluate ventilation. Attic access is an important part of ensuring the system is code-compliant, safe, and properly integrated into your home. We’ll always explain what’s needed ahead of time and answer any questions before work begins.

It can. In at least one recent Sun Vault Roofing project, a homeowner saw their insurance premium drop 39% after updating their policy to reflect a newly replaced roof with integrated, impact-rated solar shingles. While insurance outcomes depend on the home, materials, location, and carrier, solar shingle roofs often combine a full roof replacement with Class 4 impact resistance, which insurers may view differently than an older asphalt roof. Homeowners should always review updated roof details directly with their insurance provider.

Solar shingles require very little maintenance beyond what’s already recommended for a standard asphalt roof. That typically means an annual roof inspection and periodic gutter cleaning, especially once a roof is more than five years old. One of the biggest advantages of solar shingles is their low ongoing maintenance compared to traditional rack-mounted solar panels.

Homeowners should not attempt to clean solar shingles themselves. Proper cleaning requires specialized equipment and water pressure controls to avoid damaging the shingles or electrical components. Snow removal is also not recommended. The small potential increase in winter production is generally not worth the risk of damaging the system, especially since most solar energy is produced outside of the winter months.

For Madison homeowners, solar shingles offer a combination of strong aesthetics, low maintenance, and long-term value. Because the solar cells are integrated directly into the roof, they create a clean, low-profile appearance that many homeowners prefer over traditional panels. This often translates into higher resale value and broader buyer appeal.

Solar shingles also require less ongoing maintenance, which means fewer service calls and fewer long-term headaches. When combined with energy savings, incentives, and improved curb appeal, many homeowners see a higher overall return on investment compared to conventional solar options.

Yes. A large portion of the environmental impact of solar systems comes from material manufacturing and transportation. Solar shingles use significantly fewer materials than traditional solar installations because they don’t require steel racks, rails, or mounting hardware, while still producing nearly the same amount of energy.

In addition, when solar shingles are installed as part of a roof replacement, old asphalt shingles are recycled rather than sent to a landfill. This combination of reduced material use and clean energy generation makes solar shingles an environmentally responsible option for many homeowners.

At this time, Tesla solar tiles have limited availability and, to our knowledge, have not been widely offered or supported in Wisconsin in recent years. Instead, we install CertainTeed Solstice Solar Shingles, a proven solar roofing system manufactured by CertainTeed.

CertainTeed has over 120 years of experience in roofing materials and backs its solar shingles with established manufacturing, warranty, and distribution support.

Yes. Solar roofs, including solar shingles, are compatible with battery storage systems such as Tesla Powerwall and other leading home battery options. The solar shingles generate electricity the same way other solar systems do, allowing excess energy to be stored for later use or backup power.

Battery storage can be useful for homeowners who want outage protection, time-of-use optimization, or greater energy independence. During your solar consultation, we can help evaluate whether battery storage makes sense based on your usage patterns, outage frequency, and long-term goals.

“Hidden solar” usually refers to solar systems designed to blend into the roof rather than sitting on top of it. Solar shingles are one of the most common hidden solar options because the solar technology is integrated directly into the roofing material.

One of the main advantages of solar shingles is that they blend into the roof.

Unlike conventional solar panels that sit on top of the roof, solar shingles are integrated directly into the roofing system. From many viewing angles, they look similar to dark asphalt shingles. Depending on the slop of your roof, sometimes they may not be visible at all.

Many homeowners choose solar shingles specifically because they want the benefits of solar energy without the look of traditional panels.

No. Solar shingles are installed as part of a full roof replacement or new roof build.

Integrated solar roofing systems like the CertainTeed Solstice system are designed to replace the existing roofing material on the sections of the roof where solar will be installed. During install, the roof deck is exposed, underlayment is installed, and then the solar shingles and surrounding asphalt shingles are installed together as one integrated roofing system.

Installing solar shingles over existing shingles would compromise the roofing system and is not recommended by manufacturers.

If your roof is still relatively new and you want to add solar without replacing it, conventional rack-mounted solar panels may be a better option.

Usually, no.

Most solar shingle systems are installed only on the roof planes that receive the best sunlight, typically south-, east-, or west-facing sections. The rest of the roof is completed with standard asphalt shingles that match the solar shingles visually.

This approach keeps costs lower while still producing the energy your home needs.

In some cases, homeowners choose to install solar shingles across a larger portion of the roof for aesthetic reasons, but most installations focus only on the areas that produce the most solar energy.

Yes, solar shingles produce standard solar electricity that can be paired with most modern home battery systems, including Tesla Powerwall and other energy storage solutions.

The solar shingles generate DC electricity, which is converted through the solar inverter into usable power for your home. If a battery system is installed, it can store excess energy produced during the day for use at night or during outages.

Battery compatibility ultimately depends on the inverter and electrical design of the system, but the solar shingles themselves do not limit battery options.

If energy storage is part of your long-term plan, we can design the system to accommodate it from the start or add it later.

Both systems generate electricity directly from the roof, but they are built differently. The Tesla Solar Roof replaces the entire roof with proprietary glass tiles, including both solar and non-solar tiles designed to match.

Solar shingle systems such as CertainTeed Solstice integrate solar modules into a conventional asphalt roofing system, with solar installed only on the roof areas that receive the most sun.

Tesla Solar Roof installation is currently limited in many areas, including Wisconsin, while solar shingles can be installed by certified roofing contractors. Tesla systems also tend to cost significantly more because the entire roof is made from specialized tiles.

Solar shingles are part of a category of technology called building-integrated photovoltaics (BIPV), where solar cells are built directly into building materials like roofs, siding, or facades. Early BIPV concepts date back several decades, and modern solar shingles became commercially available in the mid-2000s.

CertainTeed introduced one of the early residential solar roofing systems, the Apollo solar shingle, in the late 2000s. Today’s systems, such as CertainTeed Solstice, are newer generations of the same idea: generating electricity directly from the roof while functioning as part of the roofing system itself.