CertainTeed solar shingle review: What you need to know

Before Elon Musk shook up the home solar power industry with the Tesla solar roof, homeowners and businesses were talking about solar shingles. The current leader in solar shingles is CertainTeed: You can integrate its solar roof products into your existing roof.

Solar shingles, or "building-integrated photovoltaics" (BIPV), are roof-shingle-sized solar panels. CertainTeed's solar roofing product consists of the same solar technology as traditional solar panels: monocrystalline solar photovoltaic cells.

However, unlike traditional solar panel systems, which attach to the roof with a racking system, CertainTeed solar shingles are integrated as part of your existing roof. The result is a low-profile, unobtrusive solar energy system that sits flush with your roof tiles.

CertainTeed currently offers one solar shingle, the Solstice Shingle (previously, it offered the Apollo II system and Apollo Tile II system). Each Solstice Shingle contains 14 solar cells, which enable a total output of 70W per shingle. The Solstice Shingle has a sleek and homogenous appearance, integrating easily with asphalt shingles and allowing for fast installation directly on roof sheathing. Each shingle is approximately 13.6 inches tall, 46 inches wide, and 0.9 inches thick.

CertainTeed Solstice Shingle on an asphalt roof

Solar shingles offer a sleek, low-profile solar option for many homes, but they may or may not be the perfect fit for your home. Here's how they compare to traditional solar panels and other solar roofing options:

Performance

CertainTeed solar shingles employ the same fundamental solar technology as standard solar PV panels and other solar roofing options: silicon solar photovoltaic cells. However, because of the nature of the product, CertainTeed's solar shingles will produce less electricity than a similarly sized roof-mounted solar panel system.

According to CertainTeed's product specifications, the Solstice Shingle system has an active cell efficiency of 19.85%, within the typical efficiency range for standard solar panels, with average ratings between 17% and 20%. SunPower and Canadian Solar lead the industry with a conversion efficiency of 22.8% for their respective M Series 440 W panel and HiHero 445H-AG panel. 

Like other electronic equipment, solar panels can overheat. One drawback to solar shingles is that they don't allow as much air circulation underneath the solar cells to cool them. So, while this installation style creates a low-profile look, it also typically comes with lower electricity production.

Installation process

Installers can complete traditional solar panel installations in just a few hours; the installation process for CertainTeed solar shingles is more complex. According to CertainTeed, their shingles "function both as the roof covering and the solar PV collector." However, unlike Tesla's solar roofing options, CertainTeed's offering works with your existing roof, so it doesn't require total replacement.

Aesthetics

If your primary concern is finding a truly "hidden" solar power installation, Tesla is the leading company offering a "solar roof" with solar cells that are essentially invisible from ground level. However, because CertainTeed shingles are integrated into the roof rather than installed on top of it, they are much lower profile than a standard solar panel system.

Price

In the world of home solar, the lowest cost option – and the one that offers the best long-term savings – will most certainly be a standard solar panel system.

EnergySage analyzed Tesla's solar roofing data and found that it costs about $6.40/watt, including non-solar roofing materials needed to complete the installation. Certainteed doesn't make specific pricing information available on its website. However, the complexity of installation means that we can expect their system cost to fall somewhere between a standard solar system and a complete solar roof.

Warranty

According to CertainTeed's website, the Solstice Shingle comes with the following warranty:

• Installation & workmanship: 25 years

• Inverter & other components: 10 years

• Power output: 25 years

• Wind warranty: 10 years

These warranties are comparable to other options within the solar industry, including Tesla.

Availability

Availability is an area where CertainTeed stands out from other solar roofing options. Tesla's solar roof product is technically available across the country, but you still can't request a quote in some locations. CertainTeed's product is currently available nationwide through its network of installers – and there's no waitlist!

Solar shingles are a compromise between the aesthetically pleasing, costly solar roof and a standard solar panel system. However, the aesthetic benefits of a CertainTeed Solstice Shingle installation mean lower electricity production and a higher price than a typical rooftop solar panel system. In many cases, a standard solar panel system is a much more cost-effective option for your home. The average EnergySage customer with a solar panel system breaks even on their solar investment in just eight to nine years.

If you're considering a solar roof, the CertainTeed Solstice Shingle, or standard rooftop panels, comparing your options can help you determine the relative costs and benefits of going solar. Join the EnergySage Marketplace to solicit competitive quotes for rooftop solar PV systems from installers local to you. Whether your top priority is aesthetics, long-term savings, or initial investment, reviewing offers from multiple providers is the best way to find the right option for your home.