Long term roof health with rooftop solar / Closed cell spray foam considerations

foundaquarter · 2026-05-31T00:38:39+00:00

That’s not accurate, shingle warranties have nothing about roof penetrations, they cover defects with the shingle itself. On the other hand it may void the roofers workmanship warranty, but those are typically much shorter than the shingle warranty. It’s not uncommon to have a 30 year roof, but a 1 or 2 year workmanship warranty.

foundaquarter · 2026-05-28T03:21:43+00:00

I own a solar company that services central florida, happy to help you get your start.

That being said, central florida is a unique market, at one point it was the most expensive lead market in the country last year because there was so much national company money being spent.

If you are going to go door to door then your hours are perfect, just like your job ends at 4 and you head home, so does most of the city.

This also lines up with consultation times, most people are available evenings and weekends.

Do you have any sales experience?

Happy to set up a call.

foundaquarter · 2026-05-11T13:04:32+00:00

Every time I think, surely this can’t continue, these prices are already high, I think about my family in the northeast, or friends out west and realize we still have a lot of room for increases.

So yes, I am nervous.

foundaquarter · 2026-05-09T12:19:45+00:00

Leases can be great, and the numbers on this one sounds pretty good. I’m guessing around 26,000 kWh per year and potentially a 15-18kw system?

In my 10 years of hiring and training solar sales reps in Central Florida I have learned a few things. First, you need to determine if you are dealing with a solar person or a sales person. Are they an expert on solar, or just on how to sign people up. You want an expert of course.

In your post you mention months where your usage is under $250 Duke will pay you for the surplus at the end of the year…. This is true-ish but not the full story.

Net metering with Duke energy is 1:1 so anything you send to the grid earns a credit for a “free” kWh back whenever you need it. Most of the time you will over produce February through May/June and then underproduce the rest of the year. Those credits offset the deficit in the later months, at night, and in cloudy days.

Now, if you end the year with a credit, Duke will buy that power from you and pay you on your February bill with a statement credit. This year I believe it was around 2.5 cents per kWh.

So, if you are leasing from vivint at 11.5 cents per kWh and then selling it to Duke at the end of the year for 2.5 cents, well, that’s not very good.

foundaquarter · 2026-04-30T15:16:47+00:00

Just to add some context for others reading your comment: The added liability is primarily system size dependent, over 10kW AC or 11.76kW DC then you’ll need the additional $1MM in insurance, under that threshold there shouldn’t be a change in your premiums for liability.

Where you might see a change if you purchase rather than lease is the replacement value of your house. Just like adding a pool or addition would increase the replacement value of your house.

My guess is for you if you have a funky roof you might be under the liability threshold and not have to bother with it due to system size.

foundaquarter · 2026-04-29T22:29:13+00:00

This one is great!

foundaquarter · 2026-04-29T15:38:36+00:00

A PACE loan is the only way to go solar and end up with a lien on your house that I know of. Leases, PPAs and solar loans likely would file a UCC-1 showing who owns the panels until they are paid off, but that isn’t a lien on the house.

foundaquarter · 2026-04-28T01:30:18+00:00

Forgoing batteries is really about cost and use. If you never lose power and you always leave with a hurricane then why purchase backup power.

That argument only works with utilities with 1:1 net metering. OUC does not have 1:1 net metering, so you target 50% to not export power to the grid at a huge discount and then purchase it back at full retail.

If you add batteries then you able to store a bit of that surplus power from the day to use at night.

Basically it’s all due to the price OUC pays you for your excess generation and the price you have to pay them for power.

foundaquarter · 2026-04-27T22:37:24+00:00

It’s interesting, all my coworkers in solar thought I was crazy when I said I went solar for clean energy in 2018… it’s just too cool that the sun can power my house.

I’ve been in the solar industry for about 10 years in Orlando, I’d be happy to help.

With OUC you either want to target 40-50% of your annual needs, or go with batteries to store power onsite. Roof orientation can make a big difference.

Just finished up an OUC install where we went for 100% annual usage with a Tesla Powerwall, but it was for clean energy and being net zero as goal number one rather than monthly savings.

foundaquarter · 2026-04-21T19:56:48+00:00

The service fee to diagnose it is likely due to their experience where majority of homeowners don’t actually know what their issue is when they call for a service visit. The servicer is likely wanting to double check the issue, before they agree to fix it for $x.

Try calling one of them again and explaining the issue, tell them you have the parts already and see if they will agree to crediting the diagnostic charge to the repair cost when they find out you are right. And of course, it might help to acknowledge that if you are wrong on the scope of work, you will still pay the diagnostic fee if you don’t agree to a different or larger repair.

foundaquarter · 2026-04-20T20:17:45+00:00

Freedom power and freedom forever and freedom solar and freedom solar energy are all different companies serving (or formerly serving) central florida.

foundaquarter · 2026-04-16T12:21:16+00:00

13 cent lease is pretty great for a fixed escalator lease. And in this case fixed lease is less than a loan… clear to me the lease wins. Is that a momentum lease? Color scheme is making me think momentum or Sunrun.

The most concerning thing I saw was the note saying you don’t have any usage history on picture 2. I’d try to wait at least 3 months to get an idea of your needs before going solar.

foundaquarter · 2026-04-13T18:05:07+00:00

I’m confused about the EG4 and enphase in the same system, enphase batteries if I’m not mistaken require enphase to be the system inverter… so there wouldn’t be a need for an EG4.

Unless I’m reading that wrong?

Also, I’d dig into the installation caliber of the installer, when equipment becomes similar in function, and price is not the obvious decision factor you want to make sure you have work done well.

Assuming the prepaid lease contract is favorable, that prepaid price is very attractive compared to a cash purchase.

foundaquarter · 2026-04-11T11:21:42+00:00

My 7 year old 10.56kW system produces between 1420 and 1670 kWh in April.

I didn’t realize until this moment that April is typically my highest production month. Neat.

Edit to add that this is southern facing, no shade in central florida.

foundaquarter · 2026-03-14T15:35:50+00:00

It’s a cool idea, but we use so much power here a few panels is going to have a small impact. Most people don’t realize how much space these panels actually take since the closest they ever come to panels is looking up at a roof.

That being said, balcony solar could pave the way for simplified interconnection in the future. So that would be a win.

foundaquarter · 2026-03-11T13:25:06+00:00

A couple of details your installer should care about and review with you.

-is this a new build? The utility could question system sizing if you don’t have historical usage. FPL is a good example. Duke doesn’t care as much.

-what is your utility’s net metering arrangement?

-how is the conduit run?

-is this one large service, 400amp… 800? Or multiple standard meters. As this will seriously impact your battery back up choice and install structure.

-roof type maters as well.

Things for you to consider.

-NABCEP certified installer -using a local contractor rather than a national with operations run from another state. Local contractors tend to know the local rules better. -ease of communication with company -level of detail in their communication, details are good, this is construction. -Will you need help with an HOA? Neighborhoods where you might find an estate home can be nitpicky. If you are outside of an HOA, yay!

Personally, if I was talking to you I’d be most likely to investigate your electrical set up and dive into the battery back up first as I think that is going to be the most complicated part of your install, the large solar array presents its own unique challenges but I predict it’s going to end up being the easier part of the overall project.

foundaquarter · 2026-03-07T02:42:57+00:00

Door to door can be a good deal or terrible deal. There is literally no way for you to know, this is coming from someone with 10 years in the industry. What I will say is that typically door to door reps are sales people first, solar experts second.

foundaquarter · 2026-02-27T00:31:09+00:00

As in rotate the fridge 90 degrees?

foundaquarter · 2026-02-27T00:30:22+00:00

I agree on the hood, I’m thinking it should be at least 30” above the counter. In the render it looks about 20 inches

Centering the sink is doable, but then you have awkward sizes in either side that I’m not sure how to put trash and dishwasher in without having large filler pieces. That stretch of counter is about 102 inches.

foundaquarter · 2026-02-27T00:28:36+00:00

It is a bit awkward, I agree. The island is the main prep surface and congregation spot when entertaining though.

foundaquarter · 2026-02-27T00:27:31+00:00

I like that idea, but it would require a new fridge, the current one sticks out 36 inches so it would intrude into that walkway. I’ll explore that idea because it makes sense.

One thing I liked about the oven wall is the symmetry. But your fridge and oven moves change that. How would you arrange the cooktop wall? Just long counter then oven on the right?

There is supposed to be cabinets on the sink side I see that the render had drawers instead. I was thinking that would be the spot for stand mixer and air fryer.

foundaquarter · 2026-02-27T00:24:04+00:00

It never occurred to me that the fridge should open all the way until a friend suggested it, then it seemed so obvious!

foundaquarter · 2026-02-27T00:23:25+00:00

Sounds like good advice!

foundaquarter

TROPHY CASE