Tag Archive for: Texas

Are Solar Panels Worth It In Texas? 4 Big Benefits To Consider

Summer is right around the corner, so there’s no better time to harness the power of the sun for your home. Texas gets lots of sunshine each year! For example, Dallas residents enjoy an average of more than 200 clear days a year. If you live in the Lone Star State, you’d be wise to slot a few solar panels on the roof and reap the rewards.

Why Solar Panels Are Worthwhile Investments For Long-Term Savings

But what are those rewards? Aside from helping the environment, there are even better reasons to install solar panels on your roof as soon as possible. Don’t believe us? Here’s a breakdown of four major benefits to consider when installing solar panels in Texas.

How much can you save with solar panels in Texas?

According to energy.gov, solar power is competitive with electricity sold by local utility companies in several major cities around the country. In many cases, you can lower electricity bills by more than 60 percent, depending on how many panels you install and where you live.

When you take advantage of solar power, you’ll generate electricity for your home’s many appliances and systems, including the refrigerator, A/C system, lights, and more. That extra electricity is even more valuable during the year’s hottest months like July and August.

If your energy bill is well over $100 each month, solar panels may save you thousands of dollars within a year or two. If you ask us, this benefit alone makes solar panels from Stonewater Roofing well worth the time it takes to install them. Solar panels are a home improvement that pays for itself, especially since you can get your panels financed!

Does Texas have a solar tax credit?

More than one, in fact. That’s another great reason to go solar: you can pay fewer taxes. Depending on where you live and when you install solar panels, you can take advantage of both a federal tax credit and possibly one or more state-specific tax credits.

A roofing contractor installing solar panels

Federal Tax Credit

The federal solar investment tax credit (ITC) has been in effect since 2006. It was recently renewed, so it’ll still be around until the end of 2023 (and beyond, if Congress extends it again).

If you install a solar photovoltaic (PV) system before the end of 2022, you can claim up to 26 percent of the cost of your PV solar panel installation as a tax credit. This includes the costs for assembly and installation, permits, inspection fees, and sales taxes. With this tax credit, you can deduct that amount from your taxable income for the year.

However, you have to take advantage of the solar ITC soon. If you install your solar power system in 2023, you’ll only be able to claim 22 percent of your solar panel installation cost. In 2024, the tax credit could be gone, so you may not see any tax benefit if you try to install solar panels that year.

Solar panel installation can cost several thousand dollars no matter where you live. But the solar ITC can cover a big chunk of that cost by reducing how much you owe in taxes at year’s end.

Texas-Specific Tax Credits & Programs

On top of the federal solar ITC, you can also look into Texas-specific tax credits and breaks. For example, there’s the Solar Energy System Property Tax Exemption, which exempts your house’s added home value when you install solar panels in Texas.

Plus, your local utility company may offer its own solar rebates or special deals. These rebates can reduce the upfront cost of installing solar panels, lower the cost of labor, or provide other financial benefits after installation. Here are some examples of solar-related deals and credits you may qualify for:

  • The TXU Energy Renewable Buyback Plan: If you’re enrolled in an energy plan from TXU, you’ll get bill credits for the extra energy your solar panels produce. If you help the statewide grid by donating those extra kilowatts, you’ll be rewarded with free credits to use against your energy bill each month!
  • CPS Energy: Customers can earn up to $1.20 per watt for any extra energy generated by their solar panels and donated to the grid.

Regardless of who supplies your power or where you live in Texas, a residential solar system can save you money one way or another.

Become an independent Texas homeowner.

Solar panels are worth more than lower utility bills and federal solar tax credits. In some cases, they’re vital for safety.

February 2021 saw Texas’s power grid devastated by record low freezing temperatures and a winter storm that left many people without power. If you were affected by that winter storm, you already know the benefits of energy independence.

What better way to exemplify the independent spirit of a Texan than to supply and store your own electricity with an optional battery system? With solar panels and a battery, you’ll be better secured against energy interruptions if another winter storm rolls around this year or the next.

While your solar energy might not supply as much power as the overall energy grid, some electricity is far better than none. You can think of solar panels as insurance against future catastrophes. It’s always better to be prepared for the worst than be caught off-guard!

Roofing contractors installing solar panel tracks on a home.

Do solar panels add value to a house in Texas?

But what if you don’t plan to live in your current home for too much longer? In that case, solar roofing is still a beneficial investment. When you install solar panels, you increase the resale value of your house for future buyers, often by up to 6 percent!

That means a bigger profit you can put toward a larger house or homestead. As solar power becomes more popular around the country, odds are the value of solar roofs will become higher too. Whether you sell your house in the next year or in the next 10 years, those panels will put extra dollars in your pocket.

So, Are Solar Panels Worth It In Texas?

We think the answer is a resounding yes!

Simply put, solar panels save you money, make you money, and guarantee greater energy independence than any other home improvement project you can pursue. With so many upsides, there’s no reason not to see whether your home is a good fit for solar.

Luckily, you can get solar panels installed easily and as soon as possible with Stonewater Roofing. As experienced, family-owned and operated roofing professionals, we offer the best solar solutions for commercial buildings and residential properties just like yours.

Not only do we offer solar panel installation, but we’re also ready to provide energy assessments, site surveys, and anything else you may need — including a solar battery for storing excess electricity or charging stations for electric vehicles! You’ll get service honed by 11 years of dedication to our clients when you contact us.

Why wait? Put the sun to work for you and save a bundle of green with solar energy solutions from Stonewater Roofing.

Stonewater Is Certified To Protect Your Home From Snow

Snow doesn’t fall in Texas very often, but it can be extremely damaging to your roof when it does. This is especially true when we get several inches of snow and ice all at once. Is your roof covered in snow and leaking? You’re not alone. This can be a common problem across the Lone Star State, because many roofers do not take the proper precautions to weatherproof a roof in the event of an ultra-chilly storm.

A full roofing system that is properly installed should be able to hold up to the icy side of Mother Nature.

Stonewater Roofing uses GAF roofing products, which are among the highest quality on the market. Plus, we have been named a GAF Master Elite certified installer, meaning that we have a reputation and can be trusted to construct a roof that will keep you safe and dry, and hopefully bring you some much needed peace of mind.

For instance, we install a GAF Leak Barrier in areas where ice dams may form. That includes ridges, valleys, dormers, chimneys, eaves, side walls, plumbing vents, and any skylights. This is an extra layer of protection that uncertified roofers may not include. It keeps your home dry in the places where snowy leaks are most likely to occur.

Your roof protects everything under it, both your property and your loved ones. You shouldn’t settle for a subpar roofer. Choose an accredited company that will back up its work with a strong warranty. Choose the experts at Stonewater Roofing.

Hurricane Laura Bringing Strong Winds & Rainfall To East Texas

Hurricane Laura was upgraded to a Category 3 storm early Wednesday morning and remains on track to make landfall along the Texas and Louisiana coast on Wednesday night. Data from the National Hurricane Center shows that it could become a Category 4 storm before slamming into the shore.

Cities along the coastline, such as Galveston and Port Arthur, are likely to see catastrophic damage.

The impact on East Texas will naturally be less severe, but still significant, starting late Wednesday night. “Winds are expected to begin increasing over the southernmost sections of East Texas, spreading northward during the day on Thursday,” stated KLTV Chief Meteorologist Mark Scirto. “Maximum wind gusts of 80 mph or more are possible.”

Scirto also predicts 4-6 inches of rain for eastern counties, 2-4 inches of rain for central counties, and 1-2 inches of rain along the western fringe. This begins with scattered showers and thunderstorms on Wednesday afternoon, as the outer bands of Hurricane Laura reach East Texas. The rain and wind increase Wednesday night and continue throughout all of Thursday.

There is also a chance for isolated tornadoes and Flash Flood Watches in some counties.

Clear skies return to East Texas on Friday afternoon, making this weekend a perfect opportunity to assess potential damage from the storm. Strong winds can tear shingles from roofs and heavy rainfall may lead to leaks inside of homes and businesses. Let the highly trained experts at Stonewater Roofing help you locate the damage and get it properly repaired, providing peace of mind for many years to come.

Customers Trust Stonewater After Hailstorms Hit During Pandemic

Stonewater Roofing would like to thank its customers new and old for trusting us with your roofing needs. From emergency tarp services to complete commercial roof repair and replacements, the company saw more than 170 contracts signed during the month of April. This is a 20 percent improvement over the previous year, and it comes at an unusual time as our nation grips with a global pandemic.

As previously stated, Stonewater Roofing temporarily ceased all door-to-door sales efforts in response to the coronavirus threat. Gov. Greg Abbott ordered all Texans to remain at home and practice safe social distancing

However, while these measures were in effect, cities across East Texas and western Louisiana saw multiple severe storms. There were reports of golf ball sized hail in areas like Nacogdoches and Tyler on Easter morning. Bossier City saw softball sized hail less than two weeks later.

A sampling of some of the hailstones that struck East Texas during April 2020.

Curtis Jackson, Vice President of Sales for Stonewater Roofing, explained, “The Easter storm in Tyler was followed by two rounds of storms in Nacogdoches and a pretty large one that stretched from Marshall to Benton.”

In the days that followed, a massive number of homes and businesses sought help from Stonewater Roofing. With stay-at-home orders in effect, many customers took advantage of Remote Roofing by Stonewater. This allows the roofing process to take place with no direct contact with salesmen or contractors, in most cases.

Remote Roofing By Stonewater

With state and local governments beginning to ease some restrictions, Stonewater Roofing plans to resume door-to-door sales in the near future. “At this time, we are still adhering to the safety practices put in place with the stay-at-home order,” Jackson said. “I think you will see us back on the streets in mid-May.”

This, we hope, will allow us to more easily bring some peace of mind to property owners throughout the area.