Tesla Solar Roof Frustration

I was really excited to pursue the Tesla Solar Roof for my house. I’ve been wanting solar energy and storage; since my roof is old anyway, this seemed like a great fit. I priced out options for a conventional roof with conventional solar panels with storage, the Solar Roof and Powerwall products were in the ballpark and aesthetically, far superior to those options. However, unlike the pleasure I had getting my Model 3 delivered a few years ago, getting my Tesla Solar Roof project underway has been very painstaking with a procession of delays and moving goalposts.

My original project advisor was promoted and I’ve been handed off three times in the six months since then. My second one was actually from the wrong department, she was very nice but she handled new construction, not re-roofing projects. I had a minor issue with my third advisor. There were some old asbestos flues in the attic, one was no longer used at all, the other lined the top of the water heater vent. Did my project advisor tell me these need to be abated after my permits were done but before it was time to schedule the project? Nope. I subsequently had the asbestos abated and was then able to proceed. I didn’t mind having to get that done as not much finding out until that was presented as a gating factor to getting permits. Then I got handed off to yet another, my current project advisor.

My current project advisor seems to show no interest in proactive and responsive support. He does not follow up as he says he will and he does not proactively inform me of changes. When I get notifications from the Tesla site that indicate I need to sign another contract due to changes in my pricing, I have to send email and leave voicemail messages to get an explanation, he’s slow to respond. I actually wouldn’t mind if their notifications would detail, “Our engineering team found this issue and so we’ve modified your project plan with X, Y and Z” but absent that, some outreach and professionalism seems like a reasonable expectation.

I specifically asked my project advisor to have someone from out in the field to walk me through any issues. He didn’t follow up to let me know that someone was coming but a field project manager did show up. Nothing more major than taking the bird feeder hanging from the eaves was identified. Now, materials were dropped off at my house (which was another amusing drama) for my project to begin tear off of the old roof in a couple of days. How did I find out my project was “disqualified”? The delivery driver came back and told me his dispatcher told him to pick the materials back up. I asked him to hold off, it sounded like a mistake. I had to call the field project manager and my project advisor to find out what, if anything is going on. The field project manager referred me to someone who said maybe there were problems with dry rot … somewhere. Then my project advisor said there was a problem with inadequate room between the bottom of the roof and where the awning cover frame (for corrugated fiberglass over the back deck) for the roof flashing. Yes, they wanted to cancel at the last minute because they weren’t sure about the space for flashing after they’ve surveyed and reviewed the design multiple times.

So here I am. This project has grown protracted, disjointed and it now seems ambiguous as to whether it will ever be done. I would still like to have the Tesla Solar Roof and Powerwalls installed. I’d like to lower my carbon footprint. I’d like to be more resilient to PG&E’s rolling blackouts. I’ve had trees removed and trimmed. Asbestos is abated. I’ve literally got multiple tons of materials for the sheathing and underlayment in my driveway (the tear-off of my old roof was supposed to start in a few days). All of my permits are in place. I’ve a deposit down for the gutters to be installed after the roof is done. My project advisor told me he’d get back to me about what needs to happen next and I haven’t heard a word. At this point, it’s clear there is something systemically wrong with how the engineering reviews, project managers, field teams and support teams work together at Tesla energy. Since he hasn’t had the professionalism to tell me what we need to do to proceed, I’ve contacted Tesla support to request a new project advisor. But the larger systemic issues with workflow, responsibilities and professionalism is something they’re going to need to fix within Tesla.