Solar Tiles – An Innovative & Attractive Alternative to Traditional Panels

Burnham Nationwide

Posted by Burnham Nationwide

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Driverless cars, move aside! – Elon Musk and Tesla are out to disrupt the solar power industry even further with a forward-thinking product that looks and acts like ordinary shingles. 

Tesla has created quite a buzz in the roofing industry thanks to the introduction of its new solar roof shingles. Solar shingles work in a similar way to solar panels – they both absorb the sun’s rays, converting the light to thermal or electrical energy.

 With over five million roofs annually swapped out in this country alone, solar cell roof tiles have the potential to make a big impact.

Learn more about solar shingles from Tesla here:

Tesla Solar Tiles

Burnham Nationwide is also becoming a disruptive force if its own. Check out our innovative mobile application, BurnhamEYE, that provides a consistent and secure way of documenting installations for inspection, reporting, or archiving.

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BurnhamEYE Verification App

Is the federal tax credit for solar shingles still available?
No - the residential federal solar tax credit (which covered systems like the Tesla Solar Roof) was eliminated by the 2025 tax and budget legislation. Older estimates citing a 30% credit through 2032 no longer apply; check current state-level incentives instead, since those vary widely and some states still offer support.
Is Tesla still the main option for solar roof shingles?
No longer the only major player. Competitors like GAF's Timberline Solar and CertainTeed's Apollo II have entered the market, generally at somewhat lower price points and with wider installer availability than Tesla, which uses its own certified installer network exclusively.
How much does a solar shingle roof cost compared to traditional panels?
Solar shingles run roughly $25–65 per square foot installed as of 2026 - for an average 2,000 sq ft roof, that's commonly $50,000–130,000 before incentives. Traditional solar panels remain 30–50% cheaper per watt, since you're not also replacing the entire roof surface.
Does it make sense to install solar shingles if my roof doesn't need replacing?
Usually not from a cost standpoint - solar shingles make the most financial sense when you need a new roof anyway, since you're paying for roofing material and solar generation in one product. If your existing roof is in good condition, separate solar panels are typically far more cost-effective per watt.
How long is the wait time to get a Tesla Solar Roof installed?
Installation timelines have been a consistent pain point - wait times of 6 to 12 months are common in many markets, since Tesla controls installation through its own certified crews rather than a broader network of third-party installers.

 
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