* All electrical work completed through GAF Energy (EC: EC13011344)
When homeowners make the decision to reduce their carbon footprint with solar energy, they now have options outside of bulky roof-mounted panels that won’t break the bank, thanks to GAF Energy. Working with GAF, North America's largest roofing and waterproofing manufacturer, GAF Energy offers roof-integrated solar options that are reliable, durable, cost-effective, and aesthetically attractive.
Early in 2022, Timberline Solar™ launched its Energy Shingle (ES), the world’s first nailable solar shingle. Manufactured in the US at GAF Energy’s R&D facility, Timberline Solar™ is the only system that integrates solar technology directly into traditional roofing processes and materials.
AKVM’s roofing division is a GAF-certified installation team, which means that as installers of GAF products, each member of the team is required to pass rigorous standards set forth by the manufacturer to ensure safe and proper handling, installation, and maintenance practices.
AKVM wants to do the best thing for our customers, even when it’s not profitable for us. We advise homeowners who are thinking about going solar to combine the project with their next roofing project. This is most affordable AND least disruptive since the crew is fulfilling both needs in a single project.
The Timberline Solar ES™ has received multiple awards and honors, including:
Not only is Timberline Solar™ comparable in cost to rack-mounted systems, but it is also more attainable than other solar roof options (it’s about half the cost of Tesla’s solar roof shingles, and has a much shorter lead time).
Timberline Solar™ Energy Shingles are, on average, 22.6% efficient, which is considered to be far ahead of the curve on standardized efficiency testing.
GAF Energy’s custom diode layout creates a system that outperforms rack-mounted systems in real-world conditions without additional components. Additionally, the ES are flexible, allowing more units to be installed in areas that will not accommodate traditional 5-by-3-foot panels.
Timberline Solar™ Energy Shingles are ASTM D3161 Class F-rated, which indicates that the shingles passed wind testing at 110 mph.
If you still have questions about adopting solar shingles, browse these frequently-asked questions from gaf.energy.
Timberline Solar is warrantied for diverse weather conditions such as snow, rain, and wind, and the system is designed to require little to no maintenance. Seasonal rains should help keep the solar shingles clean of dirt and debris, but if not, homeowners can either gently rinse their shingles (only when they’re cool). Timberline Solar provides excellent, durable protection from the elements while generating reliable clean energy for the home. It’s a roof, with power added, designed to protect your home from leaks and other weather-related issues. Timberline Solar customers can monitor output and track their clean energy production by logging in to the GAF Energy homeowner portal. Solar roof monitoring puts data directly in customers’ hands and makes it easier to readily detect any issues.
GAF Energy’s strategic rollout process is well underway, with the immediate goal to bring Timberline Solar to every state in the U.S. Our vision is energy from every roof. Our major markets right now focus on the Southeast, Midwest, Northeast, Mountain West, and West Coast of the US. We operate in states like California, Colorado, Texas, Florida, South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia, Maryland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and New York–and add new service areas regularly. Please contact us at www.gaf.energy/timberline-solar to find out if we are available in your area—we may very well be! If you are not in an active territory yet, we can alert you when we open service in your region.
We encourage roofers and homeowners to consult their tax advisors on all available solar tax incentives.
Timberline Solar is designed to be operated in connection with the electric grid, and is compatible with many energy storage offerings on the market. AC-coupled batteries are designed to be added to existing solar installations at any time. Other energy storage systems may require unique equipment for existing solar installations. All options and features for energy storage are site dependent and unique to the particular energy storage system. Please verify with a licensed energy storage contractor in advance that the specifications are right for the installed solar components and the desired operation modes (backup, self-consumption, time-of-use load shifting, etc.).
Due to the unique design of Timberline Solar as a complete roofing system, efficiency cannot be calculated in the same way as a traditional solar panel. The ES is made out of the same high-efficiency mono PERC cell technology found in Tier 1 solar panels, and depending on a home’s specific roof geometry, Timberline Solar may fit more kW per roof than traditional solar panels.
Timberline Solar is the first true solar roof on the market. It incorporates the world’s first nailable solar shingle, which roofers can install as easily as regular roofing shingles, with only a nail gun. The benefit of this roof-integrated solar system is its seamless, waterproof installation that mimics traditional shingle installation.
With most residential solar systems on the market using rack mounted panels or tiles, these setups require specialized installation skills and they can puncture your existing roof with lag bolts. This could disrupt the waterproofing to your roof, possibly degrading your roof quicker. Plus, the smaller form factor of the Timberline Solar Energy Shingle as compared to a solar panel allows for installation on more complex roof shapes such as dormers or hipped roofs.
Pricing of Timberline Solar for the average home varies based on a number of factors, including the size and slope of the roof, the shading around the home, and how much sunlight reaches the roof throughout a typical day. A Timberline Solar roof is designed to be affordable and is typically comparable to a new roof plus traditional rack-mounted solar. Timberline Solar is currently available for residential installation, and may be available for commercial buildings in the future.
Timberline Solar, integrated solar roofing from GAF Energy, is the first true solar roof. It incorporates solar technology into traditional roofing materials and processes, and uses the world’s first nailable solar shingle, which lays flush against the roof deck, providing durability and protection that look great. With constant utility rate inflation, Timberline Solar was designed to be an affordable solar roofing option. If you’re using solar to power your home in lieu of electricity from the grid, your energy prices may be lower. This all means that your Timberline Solar roof could save you money, allowing those savings to offset the cost of your new roof over time. And with solar roofing becoming more popular, it could even benefit your home resale value.
Installing Timberline Solar™ on a roof that has obstructions like vents, chimneys, skylights, and satellite dishes may be possible. It all comes down to how much the obstructions would interfere with installation, and whether moving or eliminating the obstructions is possible and desirable.
Timberline Solar™ cannot be installed over existing obstructions, but it can be installed near them, within a certain proximity. Other options include removing the obstructions or relocating them on the roof, depending on the type of obstruction and the homeowner’s preference. What makes Timberline Solar™ Energy Shingles (ES) uniquely appealing is their size and installation method. Unlike some solar roofing products, which may be made up of large rigid panels with limitations in array options, Timberline Solar™ was designed to be smaller and capable of fitting individual shingles into areas on a roof that larger panels may not fit.
Solar power functions by capturing sunlight and converting it into energy. Therefore, if a solar power module is blocked from sunlight, it cannot function properly. That’s why many solar roofing systems – such as Timberline Solar™ – require optimal exposure to sunlight.
If a roof is heavily shaded by a permanent obstruction like a building or thick forestation, and sunlight is blocked regardless of the position of the sun, a solar installation is not advised. This is known as “hard” or “extreme” shading. If a roof experiences light shading, mitigation efforts may be taken to allow for solar installation, depending on the severity of the shading. Examples of light shading include a single tree whose shadow moves depending on the sun’s position (known as “sweeping shade”) or whose canopy is thin enough for sunlight to perforate. Maximum energy generation cannot be achieved unless no shading is present, but the value of installing solar roofing even in the presence of shade can change from project to project, and from house to house.
Florida homeowners interested in solar roofing options can learn more at: www.gaf.energy.
Would you like to learn more about the GAF Line of Solar Shingles? Browse the PDFs below: