Equipment
Existing solar panels, new on-roof mounting system, bird protection mesh, replacement battens, membrane and roof tiles
Recent Bespoke PV installation
Solar PV Removal, Roof Repair and Reinstallation
Completed May 2026
A full solar PV remedial project where Bespoke PV project managed the removal of a leaking in-roof system, coordinated roof repairs and reinstalled the existing FIT solar panels on a new on-roof mounting system with bird protection mesh.
Existing solar panels, new on-roof mounting system, bird protection mesh, replacement battens, membrane and roof tiles
Whiteley, Fareham, Hampshire Installation
Installation Specification
Key details from this Bespoke PV installation.
Location
Whiteley, Fareham, Hampshire
Project Overview
The customer had an existing in-roof solar PV system installed around 15 years ago under the Feed-in Tariff scheme.
The installation had not originally been carried out by Bespoke PV, but the customer contacted us after experiencing roof leaks around the solar array and Velux windows.
The issue was traced back to flashings around the in-roof solar array and roof windows that had not been installed correctly. Over time, this allowed water to get into the roof build-up, causing damage inside the property and rotting the battens beneath the tiles.
Fortunately, once the roof was opened up, there was no structural damage to the rafters. The repair still required a carefully coordinated approach: the existing solar panels and mounting system needed to be removed, the roof repaired properly, and the original panels reinstalled in a way that protected the customer’s existing FIT arrangement.
Project at a Glance
Key elements of this solar PV remedial and reinstallation project.
15 years
Approximate age of the original FIT installation
Full removal
Existing panels and in-roof mounting system removed
Roof repair
Battens, membrane and tiles replaced
On-roof system
Existing panels reinstalled on new mounting
Bird mesh
Protection fitted around the completed array
The Challenge
The customer’s roof had suffered from water ingress because the original in-roof solar flashings and Velux window flashings had not been installed correctly. The damage was not limited to the solar equipment itself — water had affected the inside of the property and caused roof battens to rot.
Because the system was part of an existing FIT scheme, the aim was not simply to replace everything with a new system. The existing panels needed to be removed, protected and reinstalled once the roof structure and covering had been repaired.
Bespoke PV therefore took responsibility for project managing the full job, coordinating both solar PV removal and reinstallation as well as the roofing repair works required in between.
Identifying the Source of the Leak
The original in-roof solar detailing showed signs of incorrect flashing installation and previous attempted repair work.
The first stage was to understand how water had been entering the roof. The flashing details around the in-roof solar array had not been formed correctly, and there were areas where previous repair work had not resolved the underlying issue.
This kind of problem can be difficult for a homeowner to diagnose because the visible symptom is often an internal leak, while the actual cause may be hidden around the array, roof windows, membrane or tile interface.
Once the problem areas were identified, the safest route was to remove the existing solar installation and allow the roof covering beneath and around the array to be properly repaired.
Removing the Existing In-Roof Solar System
Bespoke PV organised the removal of the existing panels and in-roof mounting system so the damaged roof could be accessed.
The existing solar panels and in-roof mounting system were carefully removed to expose the affected roof area. This allowed the condition of the battens, membrane and surrounding roof details to be properly inspected.
The removal stage was important because it gave the roofer clear access to the failed detailing and damaged areas. It also ensured the existing panels could be retained and reused, which was important for the customer’s long-standing FIT installation.
Roof Repairs and Replacement Materials
The roofing works involved removing tiles, replacing damaged battens and membrane, and reinstating the roof with new materials where needed.
Bespoke PV organised a roofer to complete the repair works once the solar PV system had been removed. The repair involved removing the existing tiles, stripping out damaged materials and replacing all affected battens and membrane.
The original panels were not refitted as an in-roof system. Instead, the roof was made good with tiles, including new tiles where the solar array had previously formed part of the roof covering.
This approach restored the roof as a complete tiled surface first, giving a sound base for a new on-roof solar mounting system to be installed afterwards.
What Bespoke PV Managed
The project required coordination between solar PV works and roofing repairs.
Solar PV removal
Existing panels and the original in-roof mounting system were removed to allow the roof to be opened up.
Roofing contractor coordination
Bespoke PV organised a roofer to complete the roof repair works between removal and reinstallation.
Roof covering reinstatement
Battens and membrane were replaced, tiles were refitted and new tiles were installed where the panels had previously formed part of the roof.
On-roof solar reinstallation
The existing panels were reinstalled using a new on-roof mounting system.
Bird protection mesh
Bird proof mesh was fitted around the completed array to help protect the roof space below the panels.
Single point of project management
Bespoke PV managed the whole process for the customer rather than leaving them to coordinate multiple trades separately.
Rebuilding the Roof Before Reinstalling Solar
The roof was repaired and reinstated as a tiled roof before the existing panels were reinstalled on a new on-roof mounting system.
Once the damaged materials were removed, the roofer replaced the battens and membrane and reinstated the tiled roof. This included fitting new tiles across the area where the in-roof solar system had previously been installed.
A new on-roof mounting system was then installed for the existing panels. This changed the solar installation from being part of the roof covering to being mounted above a repaired tiled roof, reducing the complexity of the waterproofing detail.
Project Gallery
Selected images showing the progression from failed in-roof detailing through to roof repair and solar reinstallation.
The Result
The completed project resolved the underlying roof problem while preserving the customer’s existing solar PV system.
By removing the original in-roof installation, coordinating full roof repairs and reinstalling the panels on a new on-roof mounting system, Bespoke PV helped the customer avoid the complexity of managing solar and roofing contractors separately.
The repaired roof now has replacement battens, membrane and tiles where required, with the existing panels reinstalled above the roof covering and bird proof mesh fitted around the array. Most importantly, the work addressed the root cause of the leaking roof rather than applying another temporary repair around the old in-roof system.
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