At GAF Energy, we always say the best time to go solar is when you’re getting a new roof. For California customer Eli W., doing both projects at the same time—by the same team—also made sense financially. “Economically, it worked out better than going with two separate companies,” Eli said about his Timberline Solar™ installation by GAF Energy partner RE Roofing.
But the GAF Energy solar roof wasn’t the first thing that came to mind when Eli’s insurance company told him he needed a new roof if he wanted continued coverage. Eli preferred a solar option at the time of his roof replacement, so when it came to choosing the product, he consulted his trusted local roofing contractor.
“I decided I wanted to get a roof and a solar system as part of the same process. A friend of ours had gotten their roof done by RE Roofing in San Jose a couple of years ago and they were very happy with that process, so I reached out for a bid. RE Roofing introduced me to the new GAF Energy Timberline Solar roof and it was intriguing to me.”
After some research, Eli realized that with Timberline Solar™, he could get a brand new solar system for a lower price than if he were to go with two separate companies for a new roof plus traditional solar panel installation.
Eli found the GAF Energy Timberline Solar™ roof intriguing for a number of reasons. First, he liked the idea that the install would be streamlined, and both the solar and roof portions were made by the same company. “I like the idea that if something goes wrong, I only have to make one phone call, whether it’s for the roof or the solar,” he said. And as a tech-head, Eli liked that Timberline Solar™ felt like a cool new innovation. “My wife and I were one of the first people in our area who got solar back 15 years ago,” he recalled. “I just kind of like new stuff.” Since GAF Energy is part of GAF, the largest roofing materials manufacturer in North America, Eli also felt comfortable putting his trust in the team. “GAF is a storied company, so I’m confident they’re going to stand behind their products,” he said.
“I’m just tickled to death with the whole end result of my Timberline Solar roof,” Eli exclaimed. “I have a great roof that protects us from the rain. It looks super; it looks so much better than my old roof. It’s generating as much, if not a little bit more, energy than they had even projected. So everything has really worked perfectly.”
Eli loves the black color of the roof, as it complements his gray house. “I hadn’t realized that when we had the old cedar shakes, it was just so old and battered,” Eli said. “The house really looked crappy. Now when I drive in, I look at it and it just looks very crisp. I also love the ridge vent–it’s almost like a highlighter along the ridges. I think it really pops up and makes it look good.”
Even after some big California superstorms during winter, Eli said, “there was not a drop anywhere. The roof works perfectly.”
If you’re interested in an innovative solar roof with a simple and streamlined installation from one team for both roof and solar, learn more about Timberline Solar™ from GAF Energy here.