Roofing & solar advice from Southern California roofs
Straight answers on roof repair and replacement, real project write-ups, solar and battery costs, and what to do when the company that installed your system is no longer in business.
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ProjectsHow do you convert an old gravel roof into a TPO roof that carries solar in San Diego?
A full gravel built-up roof tear-off, new 60 mil TPO membrane, and rooftop solar install in San Diego. Materials, flashing details, and why the order of operations matters.
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ProjectsTorch-down roof installation in San Diego: tear-off and a 20-year system
A full tear-off and torch-down roof installation in San Diego, replacing a failing cap sheet with a new 20-year manufacturer-backed modified bitumen system.
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ProjectsReplacing a failing flat roof near Bacon Street in Ocean Beach
A full tear-off flat roof replacement near Bacon Street in Ocean Beach, San Diego: the failing cap sheet we found, the torch-down system we installed, and why.
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ProjectsHow we replaced two aging shingle roofs on 45th Street in City Heights
A full tear-off roof replacement on two units at 4182 & 4184 45th Street in City Heights, San Diego: what we found under the old shingles and what went back on.
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ProjectsWhat did a full roof replacement look like for Good Life Property Management in San Diego?
A San Diego roof replacement for Good Life Property Management: CertainTeed shingle installation on the sloped sections and a silicone coating over the existing flat torch-down roof.
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ProjectsWhy did Cuyamaca Rancho State Park choose a synthetic tile roof for its mountain buildings?
A synthetic tile roofing installation at Cuyamaca Rancho State Park, built for fire resistance and mountain weather. Materials, wind and fire ratings, and installation details.
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Browse our complete archive of real project write-ups, repair case studies, and solar installs across Southern California.
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Roofing InsightsHow much does roof repair cost in Southern California in 2026?
Real 2026 roof repair cost ranges for Southern California homes, what drives the price up, which repairs are worth it, and when patching stops making financial sense.
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Roofing InsightsRoof repair vs replacement: which one does my Southern California roof actually need?
Roof repair vs replacement, decided the way a roofer decides it: age, leak pattern, decking condition and cost per remaining year. Southern California specifics inside.
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Roofing InsightsWhat causes roof leaks in Southern California, and how do you fix them fast?
The seven roof leak causes we find most often in Southern California, how to trace water back to the real source, and what a correct repair looks like for each one.
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Solar InsightsWhat does solar actually cost in San Diego in 2026, now that the federal credit is gone?
The 30% federal solar credit ended for homeowners after 2025. Here's what solar really costs in San Diego in 2026, what incentives remain, and how NEM 3.0 and SDG&E peak pricing change the math.
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Solar InsightsDoes reroofing under existing solar panels end your NEM 2.0 grandfathering?
A like-for-like reroof under solar panels does not touch your NEM 2.0 tariff. What does put it at risk is bundled equipment changes. Here's the tariff math and the permit rules.
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Solar InsightsCan you install solar on a tile roof without cracking it?
Installing solar on a tile roof works when the mounting and sequence are right. How tile hooks and flashed mounts work, what cracks tile, and what it costs in 2026.
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Solar ServiceHERO and Ygrene PACE financing shut down. What does that mean for the roof or solar system you already paid for?
Renovate America's HERO program went bankrupt and Ygrene stopped new PACE loans. Here is what that means for your property tax assessment and your roof.
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Solar ServiceSunlight Financial filed bankruptcy in 2023. What does that actually change for your solar loan?
Sunlight Financial filed Chapter 11 in October 2023 and was acquired that December. Here is what changed for your loan and what to check on your system.
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Solar ServiceSwell Energy wound down in 2024. Does your home battery still have a warranty, and who services it now?
Swell Energy stopped installing and servicing home batteries in Southern California in 2024. Here is what survives and who to call for repairs now.
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Solar ServiceElectriq Power went out of business. What should PowerPod owners do now?
Electriq Power filed Chapter 7 bankruptcy in May 2024 and liquidated. Here's what that means for your PowerPod battery, what a licensed contractor can and can't do, and your options.
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