Tesla Solar Roof Review: A Sleek Look at a Stiff Price

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Tesla Solar Roof

Buy at Tesla

Like

• Solid wattage per square foot
• Strong warranties
• Sleek and discreet

Don't like

• Really expensive
• Lower wind rating than other solar roof options
• Can't be angled
• Customer service concerns

Tesla is best known for its electric cars but has also become one of the largest solar panel installers in the US. However, one of Tesla's newest solar innovations, the Tesla Solar Roof provides an alternative way to get solar on your roof, by making solar part of your roof. While it doesn't quite look like a regular roof, Tesla's Solar Roof is definitely more discreet than traditional rooftop solar panels. 

If you're bothered by the look of solar panels on your roof (and are replacing your roof anyway), the Solar Roof is a solution. But it comes with a huge price tag. You can get the same solar power production for far less money, even when you factor in the cost of a new roof. 

Tesla no longer runs a press office, so the information below is limited to what's publicly available online. Tesla did not respond to requests for comment sent to its still-listed press . And while we researched Tesla's Solar Roof to the best of our ability, we did not test it in any hands-on or empirical way. Solar products are difficult to review in the traditional sense. Whenever possible, get multiple quotes from multiple installers, including those local to your area.

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What do I get from a Tesla Solar Roof?

Tesla pitches the Solar Roof as a breakthrough of technology and design. And while it's not the first time someone has incorporated solar power into a building's design, the Solar Roof is one of the highest-profile instances. It's also one of the better solar roof products we've looked at. 

A solar roof is essentially a roof made up of mini solar panels that look and function like traditional roof shingles. So when you order a Tesla Solar Roof, you aren't getting regular solar panels to put on your roof, you're getting a new roof made of regular and photovoltaic shingles. Not every shingle on your roof is going to be a "solar shingle" -- it'll be a mix of solar and regular shingles. The result is a covering that powers your house and keeps you dry all while looking like a normal roof to the average passerby.

But this means scrapping your current roof. While Tesla has recently said it will install Solar Roofs on top of newer, single-layer roofs of some designs, most roofs will have to be replaced to install the Tesla Solar Roof. Tesla also requires the installation of at least one Tesla Powerwall battery with the Solar Roof. 

Tesla Solar Roof specs

CategoryDescription Wattage per shingle 71.67 WWattage per square foot 15.3 WWind rating 110 mphHail rating Class 3Efficiency Not specified

Warranties

Your Tesla Solar Roof is well covered by three warranties. You'll get a 25-year product warranty, a 25-year weatherization warranty and a 25-year performance warranty. Of the few solar shingle manufacturers on the market, Tesla offers the best solar shingle warranties. No other solar roof company we've found offers a 25-year weatherization warranty. And while other companies offer 25-year performance warranties, we found Tesla's to be a bit stronger.

Warranty details

CategoryYears coveredDescription Product warranty 25Protects against manufacturer defects in design and/or material.Weatherization warranty 25Protects against damage from wind and rain.Performance warranty 25Tesla guarantees that your Solar Roof's performance won't fall to less than 95% in five years and won't decrease more than 0.5% per year for the following 20 years.

Wattage

Every individual solar shingle comes with a wattage rating, showing how much power each solar shingle can output under ideal conditions. The wattage of your solar roof determines how much power your roof will be able to generate. One of Tesla's solar shingles is 71.67 watts, which isn't too bad in comparison to other solar shingle products available. 

But what you should really pay attention to is its wattage per square foot, which is a measure of how much power you'll be able to generate within a specific amount of space. The higher a shingle's wattage per square foot, the less roof space is required to meet your power needs. And you might save some money since you'll be installing fewer shingles. 

Tesla's solar shingles generate about 15.3 watts per square foot -- not the best, but certainly not the worst. 

Wind rating 

Every brand of solar shingle comes with a wind rating, telling you what wind speeds your solar roof will be able to withstand. The Tesla Solar Roof can withstand wind speeds of up to 110 mph. This is lower than what other solar roof manufacturers offer. The most common solar shingle wind rating we found is 130 mph, with the highest we found being 200 mph. 

While Tesla's wind rating is lower than competing brands, we still wouldn't necessarily call it bad. But if you live somewhere prone to extreme weather, a solar roof with a higher wind rating might be a better option. 

Tesla Powerwall

If you decide to install the Tesla Solar Roof, you'll also have to purchase at least one of Tesla's Powerwall batteries. Tesla has three Powerwall battery models: the Powerwall 2, Powerwall Plus and Powerwall 3. 

When it comes to specs, all three batteries are pretty similar. The Tesla Powerwall 3 is Tesla's newest battery, offering the same energy storage capacity as the other Powerwall models, but with over twice the power output. Both the Powerwall 2 and Powerwall Plus batteries are currently still available. However, Tesla could discontinue production of these particular battery models in the future. 

Every Tesla Powerwall model is covered under the same warranty, and it's actually pretty good. It's a 10-year, unlimited cycle warranty. This means there's no limit on the amount times you can drain and recharge your battery while it's under warranty. The warranty also includes a guarantee that your battery will still be able to retain at least 70% of its original maximum capacity by the time your warranty expires. 

Tesla Powerwall specs

CategoryTesla Powerwall 3Tesla Powerwall 2Tesla Powerwall Plus Usable capacity 13.5 kWh13.5 kWh13.5 kWhHow many can I install? Up to four unitsUp to 10 unitsUp to 10 unitsRound-trip efficiency 89%90%90%Depth of discharge 100%100%100%Continuous power output (on-grid) 11.5 kW5 kW5 kWPrice $9,300 - $13,000$8,400 - $13,000$8,400 - $13,000

How much does a Tesla Solar Roof cost?

Compared to other solar panel installations, a Solar Roof will be pricier. The price may be more or less justifiable depending on the condition of your current roof. If you're due for a new roof, you'll be writing a large check for that anyway.

If your goal is to generate solar for the least amount of money possible, a Solar Roof isn't for you. Tesla's online estimate for a house in Dallas offered 10.37 kilowatts of solar generation and one Powerwall battery for $58,182. Tesla estimates 10.37 kilowatts of solar and two Powerwalls at the same location will cost around $63,152. It's also important to note that these prices factor in incentives, like the federal solar tax credit.

Another factor that could alter the price of your system is the complexity of your roof. Steep pitches, multiple levels and a lot of obstructions could drive up the cost.

Tesla Solar Roof cost estimates

System size (kW) Average price per wattWith PowerwallTotal estimated cost10.37 $4.88No Powerwalls$50,.37 $5.61One Powerwall$58,.37 $6.09Two Powerwalls$63,152

The map below shows the average prices for residential solar panel installations as reported by FindEnergy.com. The cost of solar shingles/roofs are not included in this data set. State incentives and the tax credit are not included in the estimate either. States in gray don't have data available.

Is Tesla's Solar Roof a good deal?

As with every major purchase, it's important to shop around. This is especially true of solar systems, where a local provider might beat national solar companies, which often have higher overhead costs. Tesla has made its solar panel installations cheaper, though the Solar Roof doesn't have any one-to-one comparisons.

If you hate the look of solar panels or love the look of the Solar Roof, it might be the right choice for you. You will have to pay a premium, though how much depends on the condition and layout of your roof. While the Solar Roof is an exciting product, it isn't practical for most people. With a Solar Roof, you'll get quality equipment backed by strong warranties, but another company may offer a greater choice among panels, batteries and inverters (including some of those that Tesla offers) at a much lower price. And, there are online concerns about Tesla's customer service (more on that below).

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Other companies have rolled out their own solar shingle products, notably GAF Energy, earlier this year. While GAF prices aren't public, in January a spokesperson said the cost would be about half of Tesla's Solar Roof. More recently GAF said a new roof with solar shingles will cost about the same as a new roof and solar panels. Its solar shingles look less like a regular roof than Tesla's, however.

Tesla's solar panel side of its energy business has a reputation online for poor customer service. There aren't any reliable, public sources of customer service for the solar industry at this point, however. Online testimonials show that Tesla's solar panel customer service was bad enough to make some people regret their choice, though others were happy to save money on Tesla's cheap panel installations and put up with the service. If customer service for Solar Roofs is similarly bad, it's even harder to accept the cost. Because there are fewer Solar Roof customers, it's hard to get any kind of read on how customer service might differ.

There is the chance that, as Tesla tries to increase installations of Solar Roofs while its share of the solar panel market shrinks, it values customer service more for Solar Roof customers (though this is all speculation).

Tesla

Does Tesla operate in my state? How do I order?

Tesla operates in all 50 states. The best way to find out if you're in Tesla's service area is to go to the company's site to enter your address for an estimate. Tesla reportedly has expanded its service area for the Solar Roof to the entire US, though some addresses still say they're unavailable when you request an estimate. Tesla is definitely expanding, however, through the use of third-party contractors. In some areas, Tesla will refer you to the website or contact information of a certified installer instead of giving you an estimate.

To order through Tesla, create an account online. Tesla then uses satellite imagery of your roof to design a system and price estimate, which will be finalized when an Tesla agent visits your home to confirm the roof complexity, size and a few other details.

After you and Tesla agree on a design, it will pull permits and put you on the schedule to install. Tesla reportedly has some in-house teams, even while bringing on more third-party installers.

Zooey Liao / CNET

Tesla Solar reviews: What are customers saying?

Reading online customer reviews provides a great starting place when trying to gauge which company has better service. And while these reviews shouldn't be taken as gospel, they can give you a good idea about the kind of customer experience you might receive. In Tesla's case, it's a bit of a mixed bag. 

We've pulled a small sample of positive and negative reviews from Tesla Solar's Better Business Bureau and Trustpilot pages. These reviews have been lightly edited for spelling and grammar. 

5 star reviews

"My entire experience with Tesla Energy Solar was seamless. I honestly give all that credit to [the salesperson]. He was very patient with all my questions. He walked me through every single step and followed through on all elements. I received several quotes from other companies and was ignored by others. I would without a doubt recommend Tesla Solar Energy and [the salesperson]!" Rosa G. February 22,

"A neighbor referred me to this firm as I had no idea where to start. Being retired, I was concerned about saving money in the now. The system that was built for me was able to save me 50% on my monthly electricity costs. Every dollar counts at my age, so I am more than happy to accept those savings." Amirat N. August 8,  

1 star reviews

"We love Tesla cars and the philosophy. We made a HUGE mistake in extending that trust to the solar energy unit. It has been the single worst customer experience we've had in fifty years. Buy the cars. Whatever you do, don't order their solar system or you will go months and months awaiting the smallest inevitable repair." Owen W. August 10,

"The only thing worse than Tesla service centers is the service you get from Tesla Energy. Tesla told us our system would take three days to install. After not showing up for 15 to 20 appointments, the system took 35 days to install. The system never worked the way it should. It is underproducing massively compared to what Tesla said it would. Tesla doesn't monitor the system much at all. They installed inverters that were already so out of date that they needed to upgrade motherboards after the installation. One of my inverters stopped working later, and it takes a month or more to get Tesla to show up to fix the issue." Adam July 4,

How we evaluated the best solar shingles

Our methodology

CNET has not performed any form of hands-on testing with these products. Solar shingles are part of a complex PV system that's integrated into the roof of a house or structure. This makes hand-on testing difficult. Instead, we took the most common solar shingle brands on the market, and made comparisons between them to find the best option. It's also important to note the limited availability of solar roof products, making choices for this list limited as well. Here's how we scored the best solar shingles. 

First, we determined what categories we would use to evaluate each solar shingle. Each category was given a weight reflecting how important we felt it was to the average consumer. After examining data provided by manufacturers and speaking with subject matter experts (who did not influence the choices that were made for this list), these were the categories we chose to evaluate each solar shingle brand on.

• Product warranty: 20%
• Wind and weatherization warranty: 15%
• Power output and performance warranty: 20%
• Wind rating: 10%
• Shingle efficiency: 15%
• Shingle wattage per square foot: 20% 

We looked at five of the most popular solar shingle providers on the market, collected the data for each category and compared the numbers. Each category (for every solar shingle) was given a tier-style rating to evaluate which aspects of each solar shingle were above average (among our list), just average or below average.

Frequently asked questions

How long does a Tesla Solar Roof last?

The longevity of your solar roof depends on the manufacturer and the installer. Most solar roofs are designed to last between 20 and 30 years, which is comparable with traditional solar panels. Your solar shingle warranty can also give you an idea of how long it will last. If your solar roof is warranted for at least 25 years, that's a good sign. The Tesla Solar Roof is warranted for 25 years.

Can the Tesla Solar Roof cause leaks?

If your solar roof is not installed properly, then yes, it can leak and cause water damage. You'll want to select an installer that has a proven track record of installing Tesla Solar Roofs on the type of roof you have. If the job is done right the first time, leakage won't be a problem. 

Tesla's Solar Roof includes a 25-year product warranty against manufacturer defects and a 25-year weatherization warranty, covering damage from wind and water. So if you do experience roof leaks, there's a likelihood that it will be covered under warranty.

Does Tesla use subcontractors?

Yes, Tesla uses a network of Tesla-certified subcontractors to install its solar products.

I would test with just enough of them to cover a single window, in an "awning" design, where window is south facing. In such a test, you are determining:
- diy nature of the product, and/or code/inspection/construction costs in your area
- how do the things go together, and then tie into existing or new solar gear
- how well does it replace/augment roof framing & other processes

If you don't want to test on an awning, just see if you can order enough to set up on a 2'x8' plywood base, angled to the sun in your area; assumes vendor plays ball with you on such small test coverage. You'll still be figuring out all of the above, but both projects are at a very small scale, and very DIY.

Tesla's roof seems to be all or nothing wrt Tesla solar products ... roofing materials require the purchase of a Powerwall. Costs seem to be $40k/ sq ft of roof (before Powerwall costs). (professional) installation is probably required, but I stopped looking after seeing these Tesla pre-conditions ...

These costs are enough to drive some purchasers towards China ... but, then there's the issue of ordering from China (Alibaba, etc.) ... I'd tend to wait until some vendor opens enough of a US presence that you feel a bit better about going straight to a China-based source of product. Others have ordered from China and survived, but it seems that horror stories abound. Not unlike SS as a vendor, per forum stories. In other words, do lots of homework, and really decide from whom you'll buy something, to have the best chance of not acting in the next horror story.

I've had good luck with AmpereTime (now LiTime) batteries, but I verified they had a US presence ... support seemed reasonable, and a test purchase verified both the product and the company's return policies.

From what little research I've done, I think I'd stay away from these new panel formats, until I did some small-scale testing ... roof your window, your shed, something.

Hope this helps ...

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