As a homeowner looking to replace your roof, you may not realize you can seamlessly incorporate solar technology at the same time. With GAF Energy Timberline Solar® ES 2 nailable solar shingles, a roofing contractor can install photovoltaic roofing shingles as part of your reroofing project. Unlike traditional rack-mounted photovoltaic panels, which are installed separately and sit above the roof, GAF Energy solar shingles can generate electricity for your home as an integral part of your roof.
GAF Energy gave us the world's first nailable solar shingle. Now, with Timberline Solar® ES 2, the bar is even higher. Here are some of the advantages of this recent evolution in solar shingle technology.
Powerful Performance
The new GAF Energy Timberline Solar® ES 2 shingle has notched an impressive 23% increase in power output from the previous 46 watts per shingle to 57 watts per shingle. James Cito, GAF Senior Director of Marketing for Residential Shingle Products, points out that the higher wattage per shingle means "more power is being produced in the same space." Therefore, fewer solar shingles need to be installed.
GAF provides excellent warranty protection for its Timberline Solar® ES 2 shingles and associated rooftop electrical components, including:
- A 25-year product warranty against manufacturer defects that cause leaks.
- A 15-year wind warranty.
- A 25-year power output warranty that matches the standard set by top-tier rack-mounted solar panels.
GAF Energy Timberline Solar® ES 2 roofing shingles are warranted to withstand 130 mph winds, and they're the only solar shingle product on the market to be approved by Miami-Dade County. This means they meet or exceed the High Velocity Hurricane Zone requirements of the Florida Building Code standards—the strictest in the nation—for safety, wind resistance, and waterproofing.
Fast, Easy Installation
A conventional roofing crew can install Timberline Solar® ES 2 shingles without the need for special equipment or tools. "I don't have to have a specialized crew to install solar shingles versus an asphalt shingle," says Cito. "If you can use a nail gun, it's the same tool for both. So, if you can do it faster with the same crew, that's a benefit."
Each Timberline Solar® ES 2 shingle is 5 inches longer than the previous version, covering 10% more area—or an impressive 220% more area than a conventional asphalt shingle. Best of all, these solar shingles can be paired with the complete line of GAF Timberline® shingles, giving you more options for achieving your desired look while maintaining superior performance.
Since GAF Energy solar shingles are durable enough to walk on, crews can move about more freely on the roof, unlike rack-mounted photovoltaic panels. In contrast to installing a new roof and then installing traditional PV panels afterward, the installation time for a new GAF roof with integrated Timberline Solar® ES 2 shingles is streamlined by as much as 50%.
Also included in the installation are the solar inverter (which converts DC power from the solar shingles to AC power for use in your home) and all of the necessary connections to the electric grid in your area. The electrical work, coordinated with and accomplished by trained GAF Energy-certified electricians after the roofing is installed, ensures a fully functional photovoltaic system for your home.
Enhanced Design
GAF Energy Timberline Solar® ES 2 shingles' low-profile, integrated design offers a sleek, modern appearance that's noticeably more discreet than traditional solar panels. Unlike unsightly rack-mounted conventional PV panels, which have to be fastened by drilling holes through your roof, these shingles integrate seamlessly into your roofline.
While previous versions of GAF Energy solar shingles were compatible with a limited number of specially designed GAF asphalt shingle products, you can now pair them with the complete GAF Timberline® product line in the full range of colors. Due to improved flashing and drainage design, which allows any of the GAF Timberline® asphalt shingles to be installed adjacent to the solar shingles, you have more choices for your roof's color and style.
Timberline Solar® ES 2 shingles also come with solar technology enhancements, including smaller transition boxes, simplified wiring, and a more symmetrical design. This further contributes to your roof's visual appeal from the street.
Superior Products and Service
When you choose a GAF Energy Timberline Solar® ES 2 system for your home, you're choosing more than a clean, renewable energy source that helps reduce your carbon footprint. You're also choosing an attractive roofing solution that helps pay for itself over time by shaving valuable dollars off your electric bill. You're choosing products from GAF, the largest manufacturer of roofing products in North America and the first manufacturer to introduce nailable solar roofing shingles.
If you're ready to explore the possibility of a solar roof, call a local GAF-certified* roofing contractor or contact GAF to find out if Timberline Solar® ES 2 is right for your home.
*Contractors enrolled in GAF certification programs are not employees or agents of GAF, and GAF does not control or otherwise supervise these independent businesses. Contractors may receive benefits, such as loyalty rewards points and discounts on marketing tools from GAF for participating in the program and offering GAF enhanced warranties, which require the use of a minimum amount of GAF products. Your dealings with a Contractor, and any services they provide to you, are subject to the GAF Contractor Terms of Use.
