Tesla begin taking orders for its Solar Roof system

Tesla’s Solar Roof beautifully complements your home’s architecture while turning sunlight into electricity.

Glass solar tiles so durable they are warrantied for the lifetime of your house

Elon Musk’s Tesla Inc. has begun taking orders for its solar roofing, as part of Musk’s strategy to sell a fossil-fuel-free lifestyle under the brand name of its luxury electric vehicles.

Pricier than a conventional roof but will look better and pay for itself

Tesla Inc on Wednesday (May 10, 2017) began taking orders for its Solar Roof, a cornerstone of Elon Musk’s strategy to sell a fossil-fuel-free lifestyle under the brand name of its luxury electric vehicles. 

Tesla said the product, which generates solar energy without the need for traditional rooftop panels, will be pricier than a conventional roof but will look better and ultimately pay for itself through reduced electricity costs.

The solar roof tiles were unveiled in October as Musk sought to convince shareholders of the benefits of combining his electric vehicle maker with SolarCity, the solar installer run by his cousins.

Tesla acquired SolarCity in November, and has been working to remake a money-losing company that was selling traditional solar systems into a premium energy brand. To date, other companies have had little market success with attempts to incorporate solar technology directly into roof tiles. It remains unclear whether the products will appeal to consumers as much as Tesla’s electric vehicles do.

Source: Nichola Groom, for Reuters

Debate over the costs

To get in line for a solar roof, homeowners must put down a $1,000 deposit via Tesla’s website. There, they can also calculate the estimated upfront cost of a solar roof.

A 1700-square-foot roof in Southern California, with half the roof covered in "active" solar tiles, would cost about $34,300 after a federal tax credit, according to the calculator. Tesla estimates such a roof could generate $76,700 of electricity over 30 years.

The company said its solar roofs would cost between 10 and 15 percent less than an ordinary new roof plus traditional solar panels.

But Jim Petersen, chief executive of PetersenDean Inc, which installs about 30,000 new roofs plus solar a year, estimated that a 1700-square-foot roof with new solar panels, including the tax credit, would cost about $22,000, well below the Tesla website’s estimate. Costs vary depending on roof type.

Source: Reuters

Industry leading warranty and specifications

Made with tempered glass, Solar Roof tiles are said to be more than three times stronger than standard roofing tiles. That’s why Tesla are offering the best warranty in the industry:

• Tile warranty – Infinity, or the lifetime of your house, whichever comes first.
• Power warranty – 30 years
• Weatherization warranty – 30 years
• Roof Pitch – 3:12 to vertical
• Hail rating – Class 4 FM 4473 (best hail rating)
• Wind rating – Class F ASTM D3161 (best wind rating)
• Fire rating – Class A UL 790 (best fire rating)
• Glass Coating Standards – ASTM C1376, EN 1096 (best in class reliability)

‘Our tile warranty covers the glass in the tiles. The power warranty covers the output capability of the solar tiles. Weatherization means that there will be no water leaks or other weather intrusions during the warranty period that result from our installation.’ – Tesla Inc

Source: Tesla

So how much exactly will a Solar Roof cost?

While nobody can say at this stage exactly how much any given roof will cost, Tesla do break down some of the factors on their website:

‘The estimated cost of your Solar Roof includes materials, installation, and the removal of your old roof. Taxes, permit fees and additional construction costs such as significant structural upgrades, gutter replacement, or skylight replacements are not included. The Solar Roof cost is based on estimated roof square footage for your home, provided by Google Project Sunroof where available, and the portion of your roof covered with solar tiles.’