Many Duluth Roofs Are Due, and Solar Can Be Part of the New One
Duluth has one of Minnesota’s oldest housing stocks. About 43% of the city’s homes were built before 1940, compared with roughly 16% statewide. Many of those houses sit on steep hillside lots, and their roofs have withstood decades of Northland winters.
When a roof on one of these homes reaches the end of its life, the replacement creates an opportunity a repair never does. Solar shingles are built into the roofing layer itself, so the cleanest time to add them is when the old shingles come off. You get a new roof and a power source in one project, with no rack-mounted panels bolted on later.
Empire Roofing installs solar shingles in Duluth, MN as part of a full roof replacement, using GAF Timberline Solar. Every project starts with an inspection of the decking and framing underneath before any solar layout is planned.
Find Out How Much Life Your Current Roof Has Left
A free roof inspection shows how many years your existing roof can still give you. That answer tells you whether solar belongs in this year’s plans or a few years down the road.
How a Solar Shingle Roof Powers a Duluth Home
A solar shingle roof combines two products. Solar shingles, which hold thin silicon cells, go on the roof planes that get the most sun. Standard GAF Timberline shingles cover the rest, so the finished roof reads as one surface. Each solar shingle is nailed down like a regular shingle and is less than a quarter inch thick.
The cells produce direct current (DC) electricity when sunlight hits them. Wiring under the roof carries that power to an inverter, which converts it to the alternating current (AC) your home runs on. Lights and appliances draw from the solar first, and the grid supplies whatever else the house needs.
Duluth homes stay connected to Minnesota Power’s grid. When the roof produces more power than the house uses, the excess flows back to the utility. Minnesota’s net metering law credits that power at the average retail rate for systems under 40 kW, which covers nearly every home system.
What a Solar Roof Project With Empire Roofing Includes
A solar shingle project blends roofing work with electrical work, so it involves more steps than a standard roof replacement. Here is what the job covers from start to finish.
- Roof and Structure Assessment: We check the decking, framing, and ventilation so the new roof starts on a solid base.
- Tear-Off and Deck Repair: The old shingles come off, and soft or damaged decking is replaced.
- Solar Layout Planning: Solar shingles are placed on the sunniest roof planes, with trees, chimneys, and hillside shade factored in.
- GAF Timberline Solar Installation: Solar shingles and standard shingles go on together as one roofing system.
Keeping the roof and the solar in one project puts both on one schedule. After installation, the amount of power the roof generates depends on the season.
Talk Through Your Solar Options With a Local Roofer
How Much Power to Expect Through a Northland Year
Duluth averages about 90 inches of snow a season, and the gap between its longest and shortest days tops seven hours. Those swings make monthly output rise and fall more sharply than in a southern city. The fairest way to judge a solar roof here is by its yearly total.
Spring: Rising Output After Snowmelt
As days lengthen and snow melts or slides off, production climbs quickly. Spring is also a smart time for a post-winter roof check, since ice and freeze-thaw cycles can loosen flashing around the solar section.
Summer: Peak Production Months
Minnesota gets roughly 15 to 16 hours of daylight around the summer solstice. These months produce the largest share of a system’s yearly power. Long evenings also keep the roof producing well past the typical workday.
Fall: Lower Output Under Lake Clouds
Shorter days and gray skies off Lake Superior cut output through October and November. A slow week of output this time of year is normal.
Winter: Minimal Output Under Snow Cover
A roof buried under snow produces little or nothing until it clears. On bright, cold days after the snow is gone, the cells convert sunlight more efficiently, since solar cells perform better in cold temperatures. Contact our team before using a roof rake on solar shingles.
Over a full year, summer output makes up for the slow months. A production estimate based on your roof’s direction, pitch, and shade gives the most realistic picture. Empire Roofing can walk you through what that estimate means for your home.
Why Duluth Homeowners Choose Empire Roofing for Solar
Empire Roofing is a locally owned company led by a Duluth native. Our owner opened the business in 1999 and built hands-on experience across the city’s older homes, where surprises under the shingles are part of the job.
As a GAF Master Elite contractor, we hold GAF’s top contractor tier, a status only about 2% of roofers nationwide reach. Installing GAF Timberline Solar alongside GAF roofing keeps the solar and the rest of the roof from the same manufacturer.
For homeowners weighing a larger roof and solar investment, financing options can help spread out the cost.
What Northland Homeowners Say About Their Roofs
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Casey L., Verified Google Review
“Crew did a great job and worked efficiently. Shingle installation looks great and crew did a quality clean up. Team lead Dean had prompt communication with me throughout the process, made sure all of my concerns were addressed, and the install went as planned. On final inspection a couple small issues were quickly and easily addressed. Overall very satisfied with the final product, quality of service, and price. I definitely would recommend Empire Roofing and use them again.”
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Rick P., Verified Google Review
“We were very pleased with Empire Roofing. Brandon was a very personable guy to work with. He made us feel comfortable with the whole process. As for the work crew, they were top notch and got the work done in one day. I suggest anyone looking for a dependable roofing company to give them a call!”
Get a Clear Picture of Cost and Fit
Solar Roofs Across Duluth, From Lester Park to Fond du Lac
Our London Road office keeps us close to every part of the city. On the east side, we work in Lakeside-Lester Park, Hunters Park, Woodland, and Congdon Park, home to Glensheen and Northland Country Club. Central neighborhoods such as Duluth Heights, Piedmont Heights, Kenwood, Lincoln Park, and the Hillside are part of our service area too.
Out west, we serve Spirit Valley, Denfeld, Irving, Morgan Park, Gary-New Duluth, and Fond du Lac. Beyond city limits, Empire Roofing also works in Cloquet, Hermantown, Proctor, Two Harbors, and across the bay in Superior, Wisconsin.
Duluth Solar Shingles FAQs
Is the federal solar tax credit still available?
What solar rebates can Duluth homeowners get?
Will solar shingles raise my property taxes?
Do I need permits for a solar shingle roof?
Will solar shingles keep my power on during an outage?
Is the federal solar tax credit still available?
No. A federal law signed in July 2025 ended the 30% Residential Clean Energy Credit early. Homeowner-owned systems installed after December 31, 2025, don’t qualify. A tax professional can confirm how the change affects your situation.
What solar rebates can Duluth homeowners get?
Minnesota Power’s SolarSense is an income-qualified rebate. It multiplies a system’s estimated output by $0.27 per kWh, capped at $5,000 or 60% of installed cost, whichever is less. Funding is awarded by lottery to households under 150% of area median income.
Will solar shingles raise my property taxes?
Usually not. Minnesota exempts solar energy systems from property tax. Solar equipment is also exempt from the state’s 6.875% sales tax. Together, these exemptions lower both the upfront price and the long-term cost of owning a solar roof.
Do I need permits for a solar shingle roof?
Yes, solar roof projects in Duluth generally need permits and utility approval. That typically means a building permit, an electrical permit, and interconnection approval from Minnesota Power before the installation starts. Local contractors usually handle these steps as part of the project.
Will solar shingles keep my power on during an outage?
Not on their own. Grid-tied solar systems shut off automatically during an outage so they don’t send electricity onto lines that utility crews are repairing. Keeping lights on when the grid goes down requires a battery storage system paired with the solar roof.
Plan a Roof That Generates Its Own Power
A solar roof stays on your home for decades, so it deserves a careful plan. We’ll answer your questions honestly and give you room to decide on your own schedule.
When you’re ready, contact Empire Roofing to set up a time that works for you.
