I have lost many a jobs due to the difference of flashing costs….THANK the solar gods. How can one install something w/ a “25 year” life cycle w/o doing their best. I looked at the Unirac Flashkit Pro flashings and they look like they will replace the PV Quick mount (my first choice) that my supplier no longer carries. > On Apr 22, 2021, at 6:47 PM, Jeremy Coxon <[email protected]> wrote: > > William you and I think a lot alike. I had a job today where “the owner was > told by a roofing company that those solar panels are making my roof leak”. > This was on an 11 yr old install over new shingles. We used flashings and > added flashing stock anywhere that was close to a shingle seam (just like > always). So instead of fighting the battle we scheduled to show up at the > same time as the roofer (one of the top 2 roofers in town and the same > company that laid the roof 11yrs ago). Did the leak checks, ID’d the > location, lifted panels and let them go to town. Turns out that the leak was > 3’ away from any of our penetrations and the leak was at a shingle nail. The > cause according to the roofers (lead guy and manager) was water running > sideways from the adjacent gap between shingles. Their comment-“we see this > all the time on these 3D shingles on roofs that don’t have solar panels”. > Apparently, “if leaves build up or ice dams up then water shoots sideways and > after a while the nail holes leak”. Their warranty -2 years! So, there ya > go. Crisis averted, solar not the culprit. But can you imagine how that > would have turned out if we had NOT used flashings? > > We will not be using unflashed attachments. Besides, what happens when the > new guy misses the rafter or what happens when the rafter spacing changes (we > see that a LOT)? Sealed L feet are a huge step backwards IMO. > > The problem now though is the flashings that I know work (SnapNRack old > style) are no longer available. It seems that all the new ones rely on a > cone with EPDM seal and washered lags for sealing. Hence the initial reason > for this post- what are you guys using? > > Jeremy Coxon NABCEP > Certified MWBE > > Sent from my iPhone > >> On Apr 22, 2021, at 2:57 PM, William Miller <[email protected] >> <mailto:[email protected]>> wrote: >> >> >> Jeremy: >> >> Good question. I am with you in that I prefer that my pitched-roof >> rain-proofing relies on gravity. This is the concept invented by the first >> roof thatcher and followed ever since as roofing technology progressed. >> >> When I spotted this regressive trend my first question was: What happens >> when the rafter connection you need falls under a seam in the roofing >> shingles? This problem alone is a deal killer. I am sure lesser installers >> will attempt to fill the seam with caulk. >> >> Adding to my discomfort is the reality that chemical solutions are not >> nearly as reliable as gravity. Even the best caulk degrades with time, >> temperature and UV. Roofing materials crack and become brittle and powdery. >> Applying the new technology is iffy with a new comp roof and crazy on roofs >> a year or more old. >> >> We will not be using the new flashingless attachments on comp roofs. >> >> William >> >> Miller Solar >> 17395 Oak Road, Atascadero, CA 93422 >> 805-438-5600 >> www.millersolar.com <http://www.millersolar.com/> >> CA Lic. 773985 >> >> >> From: RE-wrenches [mailto:[email protected] >> <mailto:[email protected]>] On Behalf Of Jeremy Coxon >> Sent: Wednesday, April 21, 2021 7:40 AM >> To: RE-wrenches >> Subject: [RE-wrenches] Trend away from roof flashings??? >> >> I’m interested in what the group has to say about the trend, by the racking >> manufacturers, away from the use of flashings for asphalt/comp roofs? We >> have long used SnapNRack flashings with much success. I especially like the >> fact that the penetrations are fully flashed and do not rely on sealant. I >> am NOT a fan of their new raised cone/epdm gasket flashing. There are a >> number of these raised cone flashings in the marketplace and it’s my >> experience that they don’t hold up to the test of time and I wonder what the >> roofing manufacturers have to say about this. >> >> I see that Unirac, SnapNRack and others are now offering basically a sealed >> L-Foot which is essentially where we were 15-16yrs ago and met with a lot of >> opposition from the roofing industry. Just interested to hear what you guys >> are using these days on asphalt shingle roofs for reliably dry attachments? >> >> Best Regards, >> Jeremy Coxon NABCEP # 091308-21 >> MWBE Certified >> >> > _______________________________________________ > List sponsored by Redwood Alliance > > Pay optional member dues here: http://re-wrenches.org > <http://re-wrenches.org/> > > List Address: [email protected] > <mailto:[email protected]> > > Change listserver email address & settings: > http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org > <http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org> > > There are two list archives for searching. When one doesn't work, try the > other: > https://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/ > <https://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/> > http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org > <http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org> > > List rules & etiquette: > http://www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm > <http://www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm> > > Check out or update participant bios: > http://www.members.re-wrenches.org <http://www.members.re-wrenches.org/> > [email protected] > <blocked::mailto:[email protected]%22%20%5Co%20%22blocked::mailto:[email protected]> > www.SWNL.net > <blocked::http://www.swnl.net/%22%20%5Co%20%22blocked::http://www.swnl.net/> > Solarwinds Northernlights > Serving Mid Coast Maine & Northern California > 207-832-7574 Cl. 610-517-8401 > > Blair "TUMP" May > ******** MAINE'S CHARTER ******** > NABCEP "Certified PV Installer" > > ******** MAINE'S CHARTER ******** > Trace Xantrex "Certified" Dealer / Installer" >
_______________________________________________ List sponsored by Redwood Alliance Pay optional member dues here: http://re-wrenches.org List Address: [email protected] Change listserver email address & settings: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org There are two list archives for searching. When one doesn't work, try the other: https://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/ http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org List rules & etiquette: http://www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm Check out or update participant bios: http://www.members.re-wrenches.org
