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7.7
GAF Vitality
Like
Installs similar to a roof
Guarantees fewer leaks
Excessive effectivity
Sleeker seems to be
Do not like
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 expertise, this might mark a serious change in how householders 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, mentioned Rey Holmes, GAF Vitality’s vp of providers and product. Changing even a few of these roofs to GAF Vitality’s photo voltaic shingles would mark a major improve in residential rooftop photo voltaic within the US.
Although CNET wasn’t in a position to undergo the buying course of and have interaction in hands-on testing in our overview course of, finishing up a overview of GAF Vitality — which relies on information from the web and an interview with a GAF Vitality consultant — is much less easy than it’s with different photo voltaic firms. GAF Vitality’s product and enterprise mannequin are distinctive among the many firms we have reviewed thus far on the positioning, making head-to-head comparisons trickier. When comparisons fall brief, or one thing cannot be mentioned for positive, it is going to be famous within the overview.
What do I get from GAF Vitality?
As an alternative of dealing in photo voltaic 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GAF Vitality sells photo voltaic shingles, referred to as Timberline Photo voltaic, that nail into roofs like several outdated asphalt shingle. The shingles sit flat in opposition to 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 Photo voltaic Roof.
Can photo voltaic panels prevent cash?
Considering understanding the affect photo voltaic can have on your private home? Enter some primary data 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 completely different applied sciences, it isn’t as helpful to check the energy-generating specs of Timberline Photo voltaic and the choices from different photo voltaic firms that supply photo voltaic panels.
However we will 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 further protection choices with GAF Vitality, providing two completely different addendums to select from. Timberline Photo voltaic shingles even have the best effectivity score of any photo voltaic shingle product we have seen (about 23%), in line with 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 standard wattage of a photo voltaic shingle is round 70 watts and the typical wattage of a photo voltaic panel is between 250 and 400 watts. You will possible want to put in extra Timberline Photo voltaic shingles than you’d with different manufacturers to satisfy your private home’s vitality wants and match the wattage of a singular photo voltaic panel.
Timberline Photo voltaic shingles are additionally a bit bigger than comparable photo voltaic shingle merchandise, corresponding to these from Tesla. Why does this matter? Photo voltaic shingles are usually priced per sq. foot. So that you would possibly want extra shingles to satisfy your private 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 result of a fireplace danger. By early August, GAF Vitality advised CNET, 80% of the affected installations had already been repaired. The US Shopper Product Security Fee famous reviews of 1 fireplace and 5 “thermal incidents.”
What photo voltaic gear does GAF Vitality set up?
GAF Vitality solely gives 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, which means there is not any app.
Photo voltaic inverters play an necessary function in turning photo voltaic vitality into usable vitality on your dwelling. GAF Vitality makes use of Delta and SolarEdge string inverters. SolarEdge inverters are broadly distributed, extremely environment friendly and supply a stable guarantee. In addition they gained the highest spot on CNET’s finest photo voltaic inverters listing. Delta inverters are a stable choice as properly, however we discovered SolarEdge to be the higher alternative of the 2.
What about photo voltaic batteries? You can get one, simply not by means of GAF Vitality. Timberline Photo voltaic roof is suitable with many battery choices available on the market, in line with the corporate. You will want to talk with a licensed vitality storage contractor to get a battery put in.
What warranties does GAF Vitality supply?
In comparison with comparable photo voltaic shingle merchandise available on the market, GAF Vitality gives a powerful restricted guarantee for Timberline Photo voltaic. This is what you will get:
Product guarantee: One among 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 gives a 15-year guarantee in opposition to 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 degree. That price of decline is in step with many photo voltaic panels in use in the present day, however lags behind some top-of-the-line choices.
For an extra value, Timberline Photo voltaic comes with two enhanced photo voltaic warranties you may 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 will 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 relies on what number of kilowatt hours are promised. Such selections are produced from mission to mission.
Holmes mentioned that whereas GAF is not specializing in backup batteries simply now, the techniques are suitable with all main battery manufacturers, and clients will have the ability 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, which means that the precise “photo voltaic” shingles themselves could be put in by certified roofers, together with the common shingles in your roof on the identical time. A neighborhood 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 traditional photo voltaic panels is tough. Whereas typical photo voltaic panels go on prime 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 identical time.
Although costs range by market and by mission, 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 mentioned. So getting Timberline Photo voltaic solely makes monetary sense for those who’re prepared to interchange your roof.
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 would possibly. It is fairly widespread for photo voltaic installers and contractors to supply some sort of photo voltaic mortgage 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 on your funds.
There are different methods to pay on your photo voltaic roof as properly. Paying money up entrance, a private mortgage out of your financial institution or a house fairness line of credit score are just some different choices.
Does GAF Vitality function in my state? How do I order?
Timberline Photo voltaic is obtainable in 16 states.
GAF Vitality makes Timberline Photo voltaic, however it’s put in by GAF-certified Grasp Elite roofers. Which means whereas some individuals come to GAF Vitality straight by means of its web site, most have interaction solely with their contractor.
For those who’re out there for a roof and particularly searching for Timberline Photo voltaic, you may fill out a web-based kind on GAF Vitality’s web site, which is able to join you with an area installer, or add you to a waitlist to be notified when Timberline Photo voltaic turns into out there in your space. From ordering to set up, GAF-certified roofers deal with the mission, although they work with native electricians to deal with the facet of the mission that includes inverter set up and needed wiring.
Is GAF Vitality my best option?
Whereas we weren’t in a position to purchase or carry out any form of hands-on testing for this overview, we will 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 stable alternative. The opposite main photo voltaic roof participant, Tesla Photo voltaic Roof, seems to be sleeker however comes at a reasonably steep premium (although value varies based mostly in your roof’s complexity and dimension) and its most wind withstanding velocity is 20 mph much less. Timberline Photo voltaic shingles even have a most effectivity score of 23%, in line with GAF Vitality. That is the best effectivity score of another photo voltaic shingle model we have seen. Timberline Photo voltaic from GAF Vitality ought to match up properly with typical photo voltaic on worth, too.
For those who’re on the fence about whether or not you must set up photo voltaic shingles or photo voltaic panels, the primary components to think about are your funds and aesthetics. Photo voltaic shingles will possible take advantage of sense for you in case your roof must be changed earlier than putting in photo voltaic panels, and for those who’re not a fan of the “look” of photo voltaic panels in your roof. For those who 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 value stating that Timberline Photo voltaic’s efficiency over time is akin to many typical photo voltaic panels available on the market in the present day, though higher-performance photo voltaic panels have increased assured efficiency later of their lives.
Photo voltaic roofs are nonetheless thought of considerably of a distinct segment product within the photo voltaic house, and are supplied by only a few installers. You would possibly even solely have one photo voltaic roof choice in your space. However to get the most effective worth 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 most effective moveable photo voltaic panels and photo voltaic turbines.
GAF Vitality professionals and cons
Professionals
- Installs like a traditional roof
- Guarantees longer safety in opposition to leaks and defects
- Excessive effectivity
Cons
- Cannot be angled
- Decrease wattage per shingle than different photo voltaic roof choices
- May value you greater than photo voltaic panels
GAF Vitality evaluations: What are clients saying?
Critiques can present a useful methodology for evaluating the customer support high quality of an organization. However buyer evaluations ought to at all times be learn with a grain of salt, and it is necessary to do your personal analysis and ask questions. Buyer evaluations for GAF Vitality are a mixture of good and dangerous evaluations.
This is a small pattern of constructive and damaging Google evaluations for GAF Vitality. These evaluations have been calmly edited for spelling and grammar.
5 star evaluations
“I bought a Timberline Photo voltaic roof by means of GAF and was blown away with the extent of service the staff supplied 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 throughout the electrical work and had every part accomplished effectively and safely. I have already got individuals asking about the place they’ll get the roof. For those who’re attempting to determine between GAF and Tesla, the extent of consideration and skill to get questions answered by educated workers make GAF the clear alternative.” Kevin C.
“Our outdated roof of 40 years wanted to get replaced and GAF Vitality offers a superb resolution 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 help has been exemplary and we at all times had an open line of communication. All the things went easily from the primary web site go to, set up and cleanup to the ultimate inspections.” Kenny. Ok
1 star evaluations
“We’re renovating our Florida dwelling and seeking to set up a PV resolution to cowl our energy utilization. After researching numerous choices, we discovered the GAF photo voltaic shingle resolution to be probably the most promising. We reached out to a roofing firm beneficial by GAF and issues rapidly took a flip for the worst. Regardless of being advised about the advantages of the expertise, we by no means acquired a concrete supply. Once we adopted up, we had been advised we would 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 one more 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. In the long run, we switched to Tesla, who supplied a compelling supply inside hours.” Rolf R.
“If I may give them zero stars I might. They didn’t know the specifics of my state/space, they usually 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 despite the fact that we continued to request data 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 accredited.” Marcie R.
How we consider photo voltaic firms
Reviewing photo voltaic firms in a hands-on manner is tough. Accounting for all of the variations mission to mission is not possible. To supply a useful overview, we targeted on what we will measure and meaningfully evaluate amongst firms.
We concentrate on three buckets of standards: gear, warranties and repair.
Inside the gear class, firms obtain scores for the panels, inverters and batteries they set up. Warranties embrace the ensures on the panels, workmanship and weatherization in opposition to leaks. Firms earn factors for service if they provide a worth match, a significant degree of worth 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 overview.
You may learn an in depth have a look at how the scoring breaks down.
We do not think about the typical worth of an organization’s installations of their rating. This data is tough to seek out and laborious to check throughout service areas (and even roof to roof). Firms are sometimes sluggish to reveal it, too. We additionally miss simply discovered however not helpful data 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 value. Photo voltaic panels are mounted in your roof (or on the bottom), and are typically huge and hulking. Most monocrystalline photo voltaic panels can even have increased effectivity scores than photo voltaic shingles.
Photo voltaic shingles are basically small photo voltaic panels which are designed to seem like conventional roof shingles, and are built-in together with your roof to seem like conventional roofing materials. Not everybody likes the “look” of rooftop photo voltaic, making photo voltaic shingles a superb various for many who need to go photo voltaic however don’t need cumbersome photo voltaic panels on their roof. Putting in photo voltaic shingles may be a greater choice if it’s essential have your total roof changed to put in photo voltaic.
What are the setbacks of photo voltaic shingles?
There are fairly a number of cons that include putting in photo voltaic shingles versus photo voltaic panels. The primary setbacks are that they typically have decrease effectivity scores, increased set up prices (relying on the corporate), restricted availability and decrease wattage, which might make it tougher (and doubtlessly dearer) to satisfy your private home’s vitality wants.
Do Timberline Photo voltaic shingles qualify for the federal photo voltaic tax credit score?
Sure. Since photo voltaic shingles rely as PV gear, they’re eligible for the federal photo voltaic tax credit score. The federal photo voltaic tax credit score permits you to declare 30% of the overall value of your photo voltaic system again in federal tax credit. However this tax credit score won’t cowl the price of the remainder of your roof’s alternative.
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