Timberline Solar by GAF Energy is our favorite solar shingle in , topping our list for its great efficiency and warranties. The race for first place is close. They didn't make the top spot, but we still found Tesla Solar Roof and CertainTeed Solar to be solid options as well. Luma Solar scored lower than the rest, but we thought its ridiculously high wind rating at least warranted a mention.
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Why choose a solar shingle over traditional solar panels? Solar panels can look bulky and detract from the beautiful aesthetic of your home. Solar shingles, on the other hand, integrate into your roof to create a more discreet solar system. Their lightweight and sleekness is also part of the reason companies are working on bringing solar roofs to electric vehicles.
We've spent countless hours digging through solar shingle specs and speaking with industry experts to get a better understanding of how a solar roof works and what really matters for homeowners who might be interested in this type of solar setup. CNET created a scoring methodology (more on this below) based on our findings to pick out which solar shingles stand out among the pack. The market for this type of solar solution is small, but it's still important to compare your options.
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Here are our picks for the best solar shingles.
Solar shingles are essentially tiny solar panels designed to mimic traditional shingles and roofing materials. Some solar shingles can be installed with an existing roof, while others might require an entire roof replacement.
"A solar roof is where you have the [photovoltaic] system integrated into the roof design," Bianca Howard, director of the Building Energy Research Lab at Columbia University, told CNET. "So you've got the solar shingles, which are acting as the PV system, in terms of generating electricity, and also as a functional building material. So it's got a dual purpose."
Similar to normal rooftop solar panels, solar shingles absorb sunlight and use it to generate electricity to power your home. They tend to have lower efficiency and performance ratings than solar panels.
The main draw with solar shingles is aesthetics. Not everyone wants giant solar panels on their roof. Solar shingles are designed to blend in, which is why you might choose them over solar panels even with the decreased energy efficiency and performance ratings.
"By incorporating them into the roof, people won't immediately know that you've got PV on there, which is good from a design aesthetic," Howard said.
Solar shingles are also made to be weather resistant, offering protection from high winds and water leaks. Most solar shingle manufacturers include some type of limited wind or weatherization warranty in your purchase.
There may only be a handful of solar roof manufacturers, but there are still a few things to pay extra attention to when looking at solar shingle products. If you have the luxury of having multiple solar roof options in your area, compare your options carefully.
Most manufacturers offer a limited warranty package that comes in three parts: a product warranty, a wind/weatherization warranty and a power output/performance warranty. In terms of coverage length, the industry is all over the place. Some manufacturers offer great warranties, others not so much. Howard suggested what this means for your overall roof maintenance over time. Here are the warranty types you need to know.
Product warranty: This guarantees that your solar roof will be free from manufacturer defects in design and/or material. The best limited product warranty we've seen for solar roofs is 25 years.
Wind or weatherization warranty: Some solar shingle manufacturers also offer a wind warranty (sometimes referred to as a weatherization warranty). This warranty will typically cover your roof from any wind-related damage for at least 10 years. In some cases, this warranty will also cover water damage caused by leaks. The longest weatherization warranty we've seen is 25 years. However, most manufacturers will only cover wind damage for 10-15 years.
Power output or performance warranty: Every solar shingle manufacturer we've seen offers a power output (or performance) warranty. Just like normal solar panels, your solar shingles will see their production and efficiency drop as the years go by. A power output warranty is the manufacturer's guarantee that your solar roof won't drop below a specific production percentage within a certain amount of time. For example, Tesla Solar has a 25-year power output warranty. The company guarantees your solar roof's production won't drop below 95% of its original level five years after the initial installation. And after five years, your solar roof's production won't decrease by more than 0.5% per year for the next 20 years.
Every brand of solar shingle should come with a wind rating. Just like normal roof shingles, solar shingles can only withstand wind speeds up to a certain amount. A solar shingle's wind rating tells you how high a wind speed your solar roof can withstand.
Solar shingles are designed to be weather resistant, with most solar shingles being able to withstand winds of at least 110 mph. We found the most common solar shingle wind rating to be about 130 mph. When deciding what solar solution is best for your home, ask yourself if you need that level of protection for where you're living, said Howard.
If you live somewhere that is prone to extreme weather patterns, then a solar roof with a higher wind rating is likely a higher priority for you.
Just like traditional solar panels, each solar shingle has a maximum efficiency rating. This is the amount of sunlight that a solar shingle (and panel) is turning into electricity. The efficiency rating usually reflects the product's performance during the best conditions possible. The higher the efficiency rating, the more electricity your roof will generate. The average solar shingle efficiency rating is around 19 to 20%. It is lower than some of the most efficient solar panels on the market.
Keep in mind that since solar shingles are installed as part of your roof, they can't be angled like solar panels, which can be adjusted for optimal sun exposure.
"You can't put them on a particular axis, so you might not get maximum efficiency," Howard said. "From what I've seen, the solar shingle efficiency is less than a typical solar panel. So from a performance point of view, you're not getting more in terms of PV output and the amount of renewable energy you're able to generate."
Every solar shingle comes with a wattage rating, which is the amount of power it can output under ideal conditions. Your solar roof's wattage plays an important role in how much power you'll be capable of generating. But what you'll really want to look for is a shingle's wattage per square foot. This measures how much power you have within a given amount of space.
The higher a solar shingle's wattage per square foot, the less space it will take up on your roof. Depending on the cost of the specific shingle brand, this might save money because you'll be installing fewer solar shingles to meet your energy needs.
"What you'd want to know is the equivalent amount per square foot that you can get," said Howard. "Because if you have a higher wattage per square foot, then that's a better shingle in terms of power output."
Which are better, solar shingles or solar panels? It's honestly up to you and your personal preferences. Solar shingles are a niche technology with very limited availability. So it's tricky to compare them directly against traditional rooftop solar panels. Both have similarities, but they are still two different types of PV systems. Think of solar shingles as an alternative way to install solar on your roof.
"Solar shingles, as another option for building integrated photovoltaics, is a good thing," said Howard. "It's a personal choice about your values of design versus performance. I wouldn't want to put them against each other and say that one is better than the other, in a holistic sense."
There are certain situations where solar panels might make more sense for you than solar shingles, and vice versa. If you need to replace your roof before installing solar, prefer a more subtle approach to solar and there's a solar roof installer in your area, then solar shingles might be a good choice. Solar shingles might be more likely to be accepted by your homeowners association too. Some states have laws in place that prevent HOAs from banning solar panels.
If you don't mind the look of solar panels on your roof and you're not replacing your roof anyway, traditional rooftop solar panels might be a better fit. Just keep in mind that solar is a personal choice, and the battle between solar panels and solar shingles really just comes down to personal preference and budget.
Pros:
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Solar shingles are a niche product and are not nearly as widely installed (or available) as regular solar panels. This makes finding reliable pricing data tricky. If you purchase solar shingles, you're also likely paying for an entire roof replacement.
Pricing data for most solar shingle manufacturers is unavailable, but we can use Tesla Solar Roof estimates from Tesla's online estimator to at least get an idea of how much a Tesla Solar Roof would cost. The general consensus is that a solar roof costs more than just installing solar panels. We found this to at least be true for the Tesla Solar Roof. It's probably not your best option if you're looking for cheap solar.
Tesla estimated a cost of $168,400 for a 12.5kW solar roof system and a Tesla Powerwall battery for a home in Dallas. The Tesla estimated cost of a regular 12kW solar panel system and a Powerwall at the same location is $26,966.
Pricing for the Tesla Solar Roof is an estimate based on your address, average electric bill and the square footage of your roof. Tesla also requires the purchase of at least one of its batteries, the Tesla Powerwall, per solar roof. A Tesla Powerwall will cost you an additional $9,500 or more.
These prices should be taken with a grain of salt. Just like with solar panels, everyone's solar roof estimates are going to vary depending on your energy needs, location and other factors. The best way to get an accurate price estimate for any solar shingle or panel system is to talk to an installer in your area. If you have multiple installers in your area, make sure to compare prices.
CNET has not performed any form of hands-on testing with these products. Solar shingles are part of a complex PV system that is integrated into the roof of a house or structure. This makes hands-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.
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.
Solar shingles are roof shingles that are designed to look like traditional roofing materials, but they can actually generate electricity like solar panels.
Solar roofs are more discrete than regular solar panels, making them a popular choice for people building new homes, replacing their roofs, or those living in a homeowner’s association (HOA) that prohibit solar panels.
Solar shingles are a newer technology, so fewer companies sell them. But there are a few stand-out solar roof brands, including:
Tesla’s solar roof
GAF solar shingles
Luma Solar
CertainTeed
Suntegra
Solar shingles are roofing shingles that contain photovoltaic solar cells so they can generate solar energy. They are designed to look like and offer the same level of protection as traditional asphalt shingles, all while producing solar power at the same time.
Homeowners can be hesitant to install solar panel systems because of the way they look on their roofs. Solar shingles allow homeowners to still get all the benefits of solar energy without having to sacrifice the aesthetic of their homes.
Just like traditional solar panels, solar shingles are also typically monocrystalline.
The average solar shingle installation costs $27,360 to over $100,000. The cost will vary depending on the brand you choose, your roof size, and where you live.
Most solar shingle installations cost somewhere between $3.80 and $7.00 per watt of solar installed. Tesla’s solar roof costs less, at just $1.80 per watt, but it requires a full roof replacement and expensive materials – making the total cost one of the most expensive options for solar shingles.
Some of the best brands for solar shingles in include:
Tesla Solar Roof
GAF Energy
Luma Solar
CertainTeed
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Suntegra
Solar shingle brand
Output (per shingle)
Warranty
Cost (per watt)
Tesla Solar Roof
72 W
25-year tile and power warranty
$1.80 + roof replacement costs
GAF Energy
45 W
25-year manufacturing warranty
25-year performance warranty
10-year workmanship coverage
$4.00 - $4.25
Luma Solar
80 W
25-year limited power warranty at 80%
5-year limited product warranty
$4.50
CertainTeed
70 W
25-year limited power warranty
25-year limited workmanship warranty
10-year 110 limited wind warranty
$3.00 - $6.00
Suntegra
114 W
25-year power warranty
10-year product warranty
$4.00 - $6.00
Out of all the products offered by Tesla’s Energy line – the solar roof has definitely generated the most buzz. Each shingle has a wattage rating of 72 W, which isn’t bad compared to other solar shingles on the market. If you want to fully invest your home in renewable energy, you can integrate a Tesla solar roof, Tesla Powerwall battery, and a Tesla EV!
As for the cost, Tesla is on the pricier side. This is because Tesla’s solar roof acts as a solar installation and a full roof replacement all in one. The solar tiles and expensive roofing materials cost about $99,500 for an average-sized home.
Installing a Tesla solar roof includes a 25-year product and power warranty, so you’ll have coverage for any faults in your system. Bottom line, Tesla products offer a one-stop-shop for solar power, EVs, and energy storage.
GAF is a well-established roofing materials company that has also ventured into the world of clean energy. GAF Energy offers its line of Timberline Solar Energy Shingles, each of which has a 45 W power rating and comes with a 25-year manufacturing and performance warranty, as well as 10-year workmanship coverage.
You can expect to pay anywhere from $40,000 to $100,000 for a GAF solar shingle installation, but the total cost will ultimately depend on your home’s characteristics.
GAF’s solar shingles are designed with roofers in mind. The top portion of the shingles are made of asphalt so that they can be nailed into the roof like regular shingles, simplifying the installation process and making it possible to get your roof replaced and solar installed by one company.
In , about 2,100 units of GAF’s Timberline Solar energy shingles were recalled due to fire hazard concerns. The issue has since been resolved, and GAF Energy’s response made it clear that they provide top-notch support.
Luma Solar developed the first fully integrated solar roof system in the U.S., referring to their solar shingles as a luxury product that homeowners can upgrade in the future to meet advanced solar technology standards.
Luma Solar’s solar roofing is similar to Tesla’s, where you must get a full roof replacement of solar and non-solar tiles. A full end-to-end installation can cost between $70,000 to over $100,000.
Luma’s shingles have a power rating of 80 W per roof tile and come with a 25-year production warranty and a 5-year limited product warranty. The shingles are also rated to withstand winds of 200+ miles per hour, which can be useful for residents living in areas prone to major storms and hurricanes.
CertainTeed is a reputable company that manufactures traditional roofing shingles and has begun offering a line of solar products. CertainTeed currently offers a line of residential building-integrated photovoltaic roofs (BIPV) and solar panels.
CertainTeed solar shingles cannot be installed over an existing roof system and are designed to be installed in new construction or during a roof replacement. There’s no indication online on how much a full installation of CertainTeed’s Solstice shingles will cost, but you can expect to pay between $210 and $420 per shingle.
CertainTeed’s Solstice Shingles offer 70 W of power output per shingle and 19.85% efficiency – all backed by a 25-year power and performance warranty. As an added bonus, CertainTeed also offers a 10-year 110 MPH limited wind warranty.
Suntegra is another popular brand that manufactures solar shingles. Suntegra offers solar shingles and solar tiles, so you can choose which integrates better with your existing roof material.
These low-profile monocrystalline solar shingles have three different output wattages to choose from, 105 W, 110 W, and 114 W, giving homeowners different options to support their energy production needs. The cost varies from $4.00 to $6.00 per watt, depending on which wattage you choose. Suntegra’s shingles are also backed by a 25-year power warranty and a 10-year limited product warranty.
Just like a traditional solar installation, solar shingles come with its own set of advantages and disadvantages.
Environmentally friendly: Solar shingles are a renewable energy source that does not give off any harmful emissions.
Reduces electricity bills: Energy generated by solar shingles powers your home, so you use less electricity from the grid and save money on your monthly electric bill.
Eligible for incentives: Solar shingles are eligible for the 30% federal solar tax credit and may also be eligible for other local incentives depending on location.
Good curb appeal: Solar shingles are integrated into your roof, giving a sleeker look than a bulky solar panel installation. Shingles could also be a solar solution if you live in an HOA that doesn’t allow solar panels.
Expensive: In most cases, the total cost of installing solar shingles is about three times the cost of conventional roofing materials, and most solar shingles are at a higher price point than solar panels in the U.S.
Limited options to choose from: Solar shingles are a newer technology, so there are fewer brands to choose from.
Requires roof replacement: A traditional solar system is placed on top of an existing roof, whereas solar shingles replace the roof itself, which might require an entire roof replacement.
Not as efficient: Solar shingles can’t produce energy as efficiently as solar panels because they’re installed flat against the roof, unlike panels that can be angled for optimal performance as needed.
The truth is that it depends on your circumstances! In general, traditional solar panels will be a better financial investment for most homeowners because they cost less to install and produce more energy. Solar shingles are more of a luxury purchase.
There are scenarios where solar shingles are the right option. For example, if you want solar but can’t install panels due to HOA restrictions, solar shingles can provide the benefits without the look of solar panels. Aside from this, solar shingles could come in handy if your roof is in desperate need of a replacement – it's a roof replacement and solar installation all in one! They might be right for you if you have the money and are interested in the technology.
But, in general, traditional solar panels will be a better financial investment for most homeowners. For starters, solar panels are substantially cheaper than solar shingles. Not only that, but solar panels can generate electricity more efficiently, meaning you’ll save more money on your bills, all while spending less upfront.