If you’ve ever considered installing solar panels on your house, you may have heard of a Tesla roof. Or maybe you just heard about Tesla roofs and are wondering what they are. What are the benefits of Tesla roofs? Would having a Tesla roof installed be a good investment for your house? How much would it cost you? And what is the installation process?
Tesla’s Solar Roof is a roofing tile made of tempered glass that has built-in solar panels. These solar roofing tiles look just like traditional roof tiles however these solar roofing tiles capture sunlight and convert it to energy which can be used day or night. Solar Roof tiles come in different colors and styles, and are all claimed to be 3x more durable than standard home roof tiles.
Sounds pretty awesome, right? Maybe you’re already convinced you want a Tesla roof for your own home, but you still have some questions. Read on to find answers to all your Tesla roof questions in this article.
What is a Tesla Roof?
A Tesla roof is, essentially, a futuristic type of roof that produces solar energy. Instead of requiring bulky, unsightly solar panels to be installed on top of the roof, the solar capabilities are built right into the roofing tiles.
Not all of the tiles of a Tesla roof have these solar capabilities. As with traditional solar panels, you can choose the number of solar tiles you need installed to handle the energy needs of your house. That way, you only pay for what you need.
Tesla roofing tiles, both solar and non-solar, are made of tempered glass, making them exceptionally strong but lightweight. In fact, according to Tesla, each tile weighs half as much as a standard roofing tile, but is also three times as strong.
Tesla roofing tiles are both durable and dependable, ensuring you won’t waste your money on a roof that will need replacing in only a few years. Tesla Solar Roofs are built to last.
The solar-capable tiles of a Tesla roof are highly efficient, able to capture enough sunlight on sunny days to generate more energy than you’ll need. This extra energy, in turn, is more than enough to power your home at night, through rough weather, and without depending on the grid.
What are the Pros and Cons of a Tesla Roof?
Though Tesla roofs sound pretty awesome on paper, no product is completely fail-proof. Let’s take a closer look at some of the pros and cons of having a Tesla roof installed.
Pro: Tesla Roofs are Surprisingly Affordable
According to Tesla, their solar roof typically costs about $21.85 per square foot, which, according to Consumer Reports, is less than it would need to cost to be competitive with traditional roofing options.
What does that mean for you?
While the up-front costs may be on the high end (more on that below), a Tesla solar roof may ultimately pay for itself in the form of long-lasting tiles, renewable energy, and long-term savings on utility expenses.
Pro: Tesla Roofs May Increase the Value of Your Home
There’s little doubt that having solar capabilities installed increases the value of your home. Prospective homebuyers may be willing to pay extra for having a renewable energy option already installed, especially since it may result in a decrease in their overall energy costs.
In addition to the solar capabilities, a Tesla roof may increase the value of your home based on its appearance. Tesla roofing tiles look beautiful and give your home a sleek, modern appearance. Both solar and non-solar tiles look the same so you don’t have to worry about any unsightly appearance as you would with solar panels.
Pro: Tesla Roofs Are Durable
The tempered glass used to make Tesla roofing tiles is both strong and lightweight. It will not break down over time and should not crack or become damaged in bad weather. In fact, Tesla offers a warranty on the glass that, they claim, lasts “for the lifetime of your house, or infinity, whichever comes first.”
Con: Up-Front Cost Can Be High
Though a Tesla roof may eventually pay for itself in terms of energy savings, the up-front costs of buying the roof and having it installed may be high enough to send average homeowners looking for more affordable options.
Tesla claims the average cost for its roof is $21.85 per square foot. So for an average roof size of 1,700 square feet, you’re looking at an up-front cost of just over $37,000. Of course, both those numbers will vary greatly depending on the size of your house and your energy needs.
Con: There May Be Better Options
Due to cost, as well as other less definable factors, Tesla’s Solar Roof hasn’t experienced the popularity it initially expected. It has experienced its best success in the luxury market, never quite gaining the widespread business it hoped for among middle-class homeowners.
For those interested in solar power for their home, the best option may still be solar panels, though the best thing you can do is research all your options and know exactly what you’re signing up for before you decide to buy anything.
Should You Get a Tesla Roof?
Of course, the decision whether or not to invest in a Tesla Solar Roof is entirely up to you. You’ll need to have a good understanding of your financial situation, your traditional energy expenses, and the money you stand to save by investing in a solar roof. All of these factors will probably take some time to figure out.
If up-front cost is not a factor for you, then getting a Tesla roof may prove to be a wonderful investment. However, keep in mind that they are not always an ideal choice. If you’re considering getting a Tesla roof, your best bet is to get in touch with Tesla directly to find out the benefits and costs for your specific home.
How to Get a Tesla Roof Installed
If you’ve weighed all your options and decided you want to purchase a Tesla roof for your home, you may be wondering about the next steps. What is the process of getting a roof installed? How long will it take?
Step 1: Get a Quote
If you haven’t already done this, you’ll want to talk with a company and get a specific quote for your house before making any final decisions. Find out how much it’s going to cost, how soon the installation can begin, and how long it will take. All of these factors will vary from house to house.
Step 2: Installation
Certified Tesla installers will set up a time to begin installing your roof. The overall process of installation isn’t much different than having a traditional roof installed, and in most cases the installation will take about the same amount of time.
You may also choose to have a Tesla Powerwall installed at the same time. This super-battery of sorts will further increase your energy efficiency and long-term savings.
Step 3: Start Saving
You’ll begin to notice an immediate difference in your energy costs. Over time these savings will add up, giving you more of your own money to use for other things each month.
Does Tesla Offer Discounts on Solar Roof?
Tesla solar panels are already the lowest price-per-watt solar panels on the market, but are there any other ways to save money when ordering?
In short, the only way to get a discount on Tesla solar panels is by using an existing Tesla owners “referral link” when ordering your Tesla solar panels.
Tesla has did this same “referral program” concept with it’s vehicles and essentially it allows new customers to get a discount on their purchase by using an existing customers personal referral link.
In regards to Tesla solar discounts, using a Tesla referral link when ordering will save you $300 off solar panels or $500 off solar roof.
The referral discounts are typically only available for a limited time before Tesla stops offering the discount, so take advantage of the savings while you can.
Final Thoughts
And there you have it. Getting a Tesla Solar Roof installed on your house may very well prove to be an excellent investment, increasing your home’s value and decreasing your energy bills.
Remember, it’s important to research all of the solar energy options available before making your choice. But if you want a beautiful and relatively affordable solar energy choice, a Tesla Solar Roof may be the way to go.