7.7
GAF Vitality
Like
Installs identical to a roof
Guarantees fewer leaks
Excessive effectivity
Sleeker appears to be like
Don’t love
No high-end choice with smaller manufacturing declines
Decrease wattage per shingle than different photo voltaic roof choices
Cannot be angled
Since GAF Vitality debuted its Timberline photo voltaic shingles in 2021, roofers have put in them in 16 states. Though it is nonetheless a comparatively new photo voltaic know-how, this might mark a serious change in how owners entry photo voltaic vitality on their roofs.
There are 5 million new roofs placed on properties every year, and 1.5 million of them use GAF shingles, stated Rey Holmes, GAF Vitality’s vice chairman of companies and product. Changing even a few of these roofs to GAF Vitality’s photo voltaic shingles would mark a big improve in residential rooftop photo voltaic within the US.
Although CNET wasn’t capable of undergo the buying course of and have interaction in hands-on testing in our evaluate course of, finishing up a evaluate of GAF Vitality — which relies on knowledge from the web and an interview with a GAF Vitality consultant — is much less simple than it’s with other solar companies. GAF Vitality’s product and enterprise mannequin are distinctive among the many corporations we have reviewed up to now on the positioning, making head-to-head comparisons trickier. When comparisons fall quick, or one thing cannot be stated for positive, it will likely be famous within the evaluate.
What do I get from GAF Vitality?
As an alternative of dealing in solar panels, which get mounted to roofs on metallic racks, GAF Vitality sells photo voltaic shingles, referred to as Timberline Photo voltaic, that nail into roofs like all outdated asphalt shingle. The shingles sit flat towards the roof, with electrical elements housed in conduit on the entrance of every one. It makes for a much less obtrusive look than photo voltaic panels, however not as seamless because the sleek-but-pricey Tesla Solar Roof.
Can photo voltaic panels prevent cash?
Involved in understanding the influence photo voltaic can have on your own home? Enter some fundamental info under, and we’ll immediately present a free estimate of your vitality financial savings.
As a result of photo voltaic shingles and photo voltaic panels are totally different applied sciences, it isn’t as helpful to match the energy-generating specs of Timberline Photo voltaic and the choices from different photo voltaic corporations that supply photo voltaic panels.
However we are able to evaluate Timberline Photo voltaic to different photo voltaic shingle merchandise. GAF Vitality’s Timberline Photo voltaic warranties are on par with these for the Tesla Photo voltaic Roof, and are longer than different photo voltaic shingle manufacturers we have seen. You get extra protection choices with GAF Vitality, providing two totally different addendums to select from. Timberline Photo voltaic shingles even have the highest efficiency rating of any photo voltaic shingle product we have seen (about 23%), in response to GAF Vitality.
Watch this: New Photo voltaic Shingles You Might Not Even Discover
Timberline Photo voltaic has the bottom wattage per shingle that we have seen (45 watts). The everyday wattage of a photo voltaic shingle is round 70 watts and the average wattage of a solar panel is between 250 and 400 watts. You may probably want to put in extra Timberline Photo voltaic shingles than you’d with different manufacturers to satisfy your own home’s vitality wants and match the wattage of a singular photo voltaic panel.
Timberline Photo voltaic shingles are additionally a bit bigger than related photo voltaic shingle merchandise, resembling these from Tesla. Why does this matter? Photo voltaic shingles are usually priced per sq. foot. So that you may want extra shingles to satisfy your own home’s vitality wants with Timberline Photo voltaic.
In late July, GAF Vitality issued a recall for some photo voltaic shingles and associated gear it had put in from November 2021 to April 2023, as a consequence of a fireplace threat. By early August, GAF Energy told CNET, 80% of the affected installations had already been repaired. The US Consumer Product Safety Commission famous studies of 1 hearth and 5 “thermal incidents.”
What photo voltaic gear does GAF Vitality set up?
GAF Vitality solely presents Timberline Photo voltaic shingles, and doesn’t supply photo voltaic panels. And the corporate technically would not set up them. A GAF-certified contractor would be the one placing photo voltaic in your roof. You can monitor your photo voltaic roof’s electrical energy manufacturing by means of the GAF Vitality home-owner portal. That is web-based, that means there isn’t any app.
Timberline Photo voltaic shingles sit flat on the roof as a result of they’re a part of the roof.
Photo voltaic inverters play an vital position in turning photo voltaic vitality into usable vitality in your dwelling. GAF Vitality makes use of Delta and SolarEdge string inverters. SolarEdge inverters are broadly distributed, extremely environment friendly and supply a strong guarantee. In addition they gained the highest spot on CNET’s best solar inverters list. Delta inverters are a strong choice as nicely, however we discovered SolarEdge to be the higher alternative of the 2.
What about solar batteries? You can get one, simply not by means of GAF Vitality. Timberline Photo voltaic roof is compatible with many battery options on the market, in response to the corporate. You may want to talk with a licensed vitality storage contractor to get a battery put in.
What warranties does GAF Vitality supply?
In comparison with related photo voltaic shingle merchandise available on the market, GAF Vitality presents a powerful limited warranty for Timberline Solar. This is what you may get:
Product guarantee: One in all GAF Vitality’s greatest guarantees with Timberline Photo voltaic is safety from leaks. So the corporate ensures no leaks from producer defects for 25 years.
Wind guarantee: GAF Vitality presents a 15-year guarantee towards winds as much as 130 mph.
Energy manufacturing guarantee: GAF Vitality says your photo voltaic shingles will not lower in manufacturing greater than 2% in 12 months a number of than 0.55% per 12 months after that. After 25 years, Timberline Photo voltaic ought to nonetheless produce at 84.8% its authentic stage. That price of decline is in step with many photo voltaic panels in use at this time, however lags behind some top-of-the-line choices.
For a further value, Timberline Photo voltaic comes with two enhanced solar warranties you possibly can add on: Photo voltaic Plus and Photo voltaic Max. With a Photo voltaic Plus guarantee addendum, you obtain a one-year assure of {the electrical} workmanship and 10 years of protection for third-party electronics.
With the Photo voltaic Max guarantee addendum, you obtain a 10-year assure on {the electrical} workmanship and 25 years of protection for third-party electronics. You may additionally obtain a 25-year solar energy technology assure. This ensures that your Timberline Photo voltaic system will generate a particular variety of kilowatt hours by sure factors all through the 25 years. The worth of this assure depends upon what number of kilowatt hours are promised. Such selections are made out of venture to venture.
Holmes stated that whereas GAF is not specializing in backup batteries simply now, the methods are suitable with all main battery manufacturers, and prospects will be capable to add one.
Does GAF Vitality use subcontractors?
Sure, GAF Vitality makes use of a community of licensed roofing and electrical contractors to put in Timberline Photo voltaic shingles. These photo voltaic shingles are nailable, that means that the precise “photo voltaic” shingles themselves will be put in by certified roofers, together with the common shingles in your roof on the similar time. An area GAF-certified roofer will set up the photo voltaic shingles and an electrician will deal with the inverter set up, wiring and different electrical elements.
How a lot does a Timberline Photo voltaic roof value?
It is laborious to say. Evaluating costs between Timberline Photo voltaic and standard photo voltaic panels is tough. Whereas standard photo voltaic panels go on high of your roof, Timberline Photo voltaic is a part of your roof. Which means you purchase a brand new roof and Timberline Photo voltaic on the similar time.
Although costs differ by market and by venture, getting a brand new roof and photo voltaic from GAF Vitality prices about the identical as a brand new roof and conventional rooftop photo voltaic panels, the corporate stated. So getting Timberline Photo voltaic solely makes monetary sense when you’re prepared to switch your roof.
Timberline Photo voltaic shingles lay as flat as a traditional roof shingle, although they’ve a extra horizontal look that lacks the tabbing of the shingles round them. Nonetheless, the impact is much much less jarring than rack mount photo voltaic.
What financing choices does GAF Vitality supply?
GAF Vitality itself would not supply any financing or leasing choices for Timberline Photo voltaic. However your GAF-certified contractor may. It is fairly widespread for photo voltaic installers and contractors to supply some sort of solar loan or financing program. Though some are higher than others. If there are a number of GAF-certified photo voltaic roof installers in your space, evaluate their finance choices to see which is most possible in your finances.
There are different methods to pay in your photo voltaic roof as nicely. Paying money up entrance, a personal loan out of your financial institution or a home equity line of credit are just some different choices.
Does GAF Vitality function in my state? How do I order?
Timberline Photo voltaic is on the market in 16 states.
States accessible
GAF Vitality makes Timberline Photo voltaic, nevertheless it’s put in by GAF-certified Grasp Elite roofers. Which means whereas some folks come to GAF Vitality straight by means of its web site, most have interaction solely with their contractor.
When you’re out there for a roof and particularly in search of Timberline Photo voltaic, you possibly can fill out a web-based kind on GAF Energy’s website, which can join you with an area installer, or add you to a waitlist to be notified when Timberline Photo voltaic turns into accessible in your space. From ordering to set up, GAF-certified roofers deal with the venture, although they work with native electricians to deal with the aspect of the venture that includes inverter set up and needed wiring.
Is GAF Vitality my most suitable option?
Timberline Photo voltaic is seen on a roof, however extra delicate than photo voltaic panels.
Whereas we weren’t capable of purchase or carry out any type of hands-on testing for this evaluate, we are able to nonetheless evaluate the Timberline Photo voltaic roof to different photo voltaic roof merchandise. And so far as photo voltaic roofs go, a Timberline Photo voltaic roof from GAF Vitality is a strong alternative. The opposite main photo voltaic roof participant, Tesla Solar Roof, appears to be like sleeker however comes at a reasonably steep premium (although value varies primarily based in your roof’s complexity and dimension) and its most wind withstanding pace is 20 mph much less. Timberline Photo voltaic shingles even have a most effectivity ranking of 23%, in response to GAF Vitality. That is the very best effectivity ranking of another photo voltaic shingle model we have seen. Timberline Photo voltaic from GAF Vitality ought to match up nicely with standard photo voltaic on value, too.
When you’re on the fence about whether or not you must set up photo voltaic shingles or photo voltaic panels, the principle elements to contemplate are your finances and aesthetics. Photo voltaic shingles will probably take advantage of sense for you in case your roof must be changed earlier than putting in photo voltaic panels, and when you’re not a fan of the “look” of photo voltaic panels in your roof. When you do not want your roof changed and you do not care about aesthetics, putting in photo voltaic panels might be a greater choice. Nevertheless, it is price mentioning that Timberline Photo voltaic’s efficiency over time is akin to many standard photo voltaic panels available on the market at this time, though higher-performance photo voltaic panels have greater assured efficiency later of their lives.
Photo voltaic roofs are nonetheless thought of considerably of a distinct segment product within the photo voltaic area, and are supplied by only a few installers. You may even solely have one photo voltaic roof choice in your space. However to get the very best value attainable, get quotes from as many photo voltaic roof installers in your space as attainable, even when there are solely two.
Learn extra: Need one thing smaller than a whole-home photo voltaic system? See our picks for the very best portable solar panels and solar generators.
GAF Vitality execs and cons
Execs
- Installs like a traditional roof
- Guarantees longer safety towards leaks and defects
- Excessive effectivity
Cons
- Cannot be angled
- Decrease wattage per shingle than different photo voltaic roof choices
- Might value you greater than photo voltaic panels
GAF Vitality opinions: What are prospects saying?
Evaluations can present a useful technique for evaluating the customer support high quality of an organization. However buyer opinions ought to at all times be learn with a grain of salt, and it is vital to do your individual analysis and ask questions. Buyer opinions for GAF Vitality are a mixture of good and unhealthy opinions.
This is a small pattern of constructive and unfavorable Google opinions for GAF Vitality. These opinions have been frivolously edited for spelling and grammar.
5 star opinions
“I bought a Timberline Photo voltaic roof by means of GAF and was blown away with the extent of service the staff offered at each step. [One employee] guided us by means of the setup, scheduling, and different work. [Another employee] made positive the roof set up went easily and went completely. [Other employees] acted extremely skilled through the electrical work and had all the things finished effectively and safely. I have already got folks asking about the place they will get the roof. When you’re attempting to resolve between GAF and Tesla, the extent of consideration and skill to get questions answered by educated employees make GAF the clear alternative.” Kevin C.
“Our outdated roof of 40 years wanted to get replaced and GAF Vitality supplies a superb answer with their Timberline Photo voltaic roofing system. Our photo voltaic shingles had been put in a month in the past and we could not be extra happy! [Employees] have been nice all through all the course of. Their buyer assist has been exemplary and we at all times had an open line of communication. All the things went easily from the primary website go to, set up and cleanup to the ultimate inspections.” Kenny. Ok
1 star opinions
“We’re renovating our Florida dwelling and trying to set up a PV answer to cowl our energy utilization. After researching numerous choices, we discovered the GAF photo voltaic shingle answer to be probably the most promising. We reached out to a roofing firm really helpful by GAF and issues rapidly took a flip for the worst. Regardless of being instructed about the advantages of the know-how, we by no means acquired a concrete supply. Once we adopted up, we had been instructed we might have a name with a GAF Vitality consultant, however they by no means confirmed up. After weeks of no progress, we reached out to GAF for an additional contact, solely to be related with the identical roofer. We tried discovering different roofers on the web site, however none of them had expertise with the photo voltaic roof product. Ultimately, we switched to Tesla, who offered a compelling supply inside hours.” Rolf R.
“If I might give them zero stars I might. They didn’t know the specifics of my state/space, and so they put too many panels on our dwelling. When our electrical firm denied our utility and defined to GAF what selections we had for the photo voltaic to be accepted, GAF didn’t name us to debate it with us. We needed to hear about it by calling the electrical firm. In the meantime, months glided by with us paying for the photo voltaic however getting no profit. They went months with out talking to us although we continued to request info from them. If it weren’t for our roofing firm and our diligence with calling the electrical firm, we by no means would have had our photo voltaic authorised.” Marcie R.
How we consider photo voltaic corporations
Reviewing photo voltaic corporations in a hands-on method is tough. Accounting for all of the variations venture to venture is inconceivable. To supply a useful evaluate, we centered on what we are able to measure and meaningfully evaluate amongst corporations.
We deal with three buckets of standards: gear, warranties and repair.
Inside the gear class, corporations obtain scores for the panels, inverters and batteries they set up. Warranties embrace the ensures on the panels, workmanship and weatherization towards leaks. Firms earn factors for service if they provide a value match, a significant stage of value transparency and a well-rated app for monitoring photo voltaic manufacturing. They lose factors if there are main points pertaining to customer support (lawsuits, investigations or clear reputations for shoddy service). These points will at all times be detailed within the evaluate.
You may read a detailed look at how the scoring breaks down.
We do not think about the typical value of an organization’s installations of their rating. This info is tough to seek out and laborious to match throughout service areas (and even roof to roof). Firms are sometimes gradual to reveal it, too. We additionally pass over simply discovered however not helpful info like what number of states an organization operates in.
Incessantly requested questions
What’s the distinction between photo voltaic panels and photo voltaic shingles?
Each photo voltaic panels and photo voltaic shingles use daylight to generate electrical energy. The most important variations are in aesthetics, efficiency and price. Photo voltaic panels are mounted in your roof (or on the bottom), and are usually broad and hulking. Most monocrystalline photo voltaic panels can even have greater effectivity rankings than photo voltaic shingles.
Photo voltaic shingles are primarily small photo voltaic panels which can be designed to appear like conventional roof shingles, and are built-in along with your roof to appear like conventional roofing materials. Not everybody likes the “look” of rooftop photo voltaic, making photo voltaic shingles a very good different for many who need to go photo voltaic however don’t desire cumbersome photo voltaic panels on their roof. Putting in photo voltaic shingles may be a greater choice if you might want to have your whole roof changed to put in photo voltaic.
What are the setbacks of photo voltaic shingles?
There are fairly just a few cons that include putting in photo voltaic shingles versus photo voltaic panels. The primary setbacks are that they usually have decrease effectivity rankings, greater set up prices (relying on the corporate), restricted availability and decrease wattage, which might make it tougher (and doubtlessly dearer) to satisfy your own home’s vitality wants.
Do Timberline Photo voltaic shingles qualify for the federal photo voltaic tax credit score?
Sure. Since photo voltaic shingles depend as PV gear, they’re eligible for the federal solar tax credit. The federal photo voltaic tax credit score lets you declare 30% of the full value of your photo voltaic system again in federal tax credit. However this tax credit score may not cowl the price of the remainder of your roof’s alternative.
