You can put solar panels on an old roof when the roof is sound, compatible with the proposed mounting method, and not reasonably expected to need disruptive work soon. An old installation date by itself is not a reason to replace a roof. A newer date is not proof that a roof is ready either.
The useful question is not, “How old is too old?” It is:
What does the evidence say about this roof, this solar layout, and the likelihood that the roof will need work while the array is in place?
That answer should come before you accept a system design, financing, tax assumptions, or a combined roof-and-solar proposal. The ENERGY STAR rooftop-solar guidance tells homeowners to consider roof condition and address needed renovation before panels so they can avoid removing and reinstalling the array later. It does not give one age that decides every roof, and neither should a contractor.
Choose among five paths, not just “replace” or “do nothing”
Most older-roof decisions fit one of five paths. Use the table as a conversation guide, not a remote diagnosis.
| Path | When it may fit | Evidence to require before signing |
|---|---|---|
| Proceed on the existing roof | The roof condition, structure, material, mounting approach, and planned ownership horizon are supportable | Written site findings, identified roof assembly, proposed array plan, attachment/flashing basis, responsible contractors, and warranty review |
| Complete a defined repair first | A bounded defect can be corrected without turning the project into an uncertain patchwork | Repair scope, affected roof area, material specification, acceptance criteria, price/change method, and written roof-to-solar handoff |
| Replace the roof first | Findings show broad deterioration, unresolved leakage, unsuitable substrate, structural work, incompatible planned work, or a reasonably foreseeable reroof | Full roof scope, concealed-condition method, solar-ready handoff, attachment coordination, and separate roof/solar pricing |
| Evaluate another solar location | The primary roof is a poor host but another roof plane, accessory structure, or ground location may be viable | Site-specific shading, space, setback, trenching, structural, electrical, permit, and cost review |
| Pause | The roof recommendation is verbal or disputed, records are missing, responsibilities conflict, or a seller pressures you to sign before the scope is resolved | Independent clarification, revised written documents, and a proposal that identifies every legal party and unresolved assumption |
“Replace first” is not the cautious answer in every case. Unnecessary roof work spends money and may create a new set of product, installation, and warranty decisions. “Install now” is not automatically the economical answer either. If roof work later requires array removal, the owner may face a second solar work scope involving shutdown, removal, storage, roof handoff, reinstallation, testing, and monitoring restoration.
The right path is the one the evidence supports and the contracts accurately describe.
Roof age is a clue, not a universal replacement threshold
Roof age helps establish history. It can tell an assessor which installation records, material documents, repairs, storm events, and warranty terms to look for. It cannot establish remaining serviceability on its own.
Two roofs installed in the same year may have different:
- roof coverings, underlayments, decking, flashing, fasteners, and ventilation;
- installation quality and manufacturer requirements;
- geometry, slope, orientation, shade, drainage, and access;
- repair, leak, impact, and maintenance history;
- exposure and site-specific design conditions; and
- changes from additions, skylights, vents, chimneys, or prior reroofing.
That is why this guide does not publish a table claiming that one material lasts a fixed number of years or that every roof above a certain age must be replaced. Even South Carolina’s current Energy Office system-selection page presents its age number as something consumers “may want to consider,” then tells them to ask about structural integrity. Treat that page as a prompt to investigate, not as approval or rejection of your property.
Start with records. Ask for the roof installation date if known, product and contractor information, invoices, permits, warranty documents, repairs, leak history, storm or insurance work, and changes to the roof assembly. If the age is uncertain, mark it unknown; do not let a guessed date become the premise for a major purchase.
Records also help reconcile conflicting advice. A salesperson may call the roof “fine,” while a roofer recommends replacement. Ask each party to state what they inspected, what they did not inspect, the observed condition, the applicable product or design basis, and what finding supports the recommendation. A conclusion without its scope is difficult to evaluate.
Collect safe evidence before the roof-and-solar visit
A homeowner can prepare useful information without climbing onto the roof or attempting a structural evaluation. Roof access, electrical equipment, and active PV components should be left to qualified people.
Gather:
- the roof installation invoice and product information, if available;
- roof material and workmanship warranty documents;
- records of repairs, leaks, storm damage, insurance work, and interior restoration;
- permits or inspection records for reroofing, additions, or structural changes;
- photos taken safely from the ground or from existing records;
- interior water-stain history and when any mark last changed;
- information about attic or ceiling alterations, where relevant and safely accessible;
- the solar proposal, preliminary layout, equipment list, and proposed attachment system;
- any planned skylight, vent, chimney, addition, or roof work; and
- your likely timing for moving, remodeling, or completing a reroof already under consideration.
Do not try to prove that a roof is structurally adequate by walking it, lifting roofing, probing decking, or inspecting energized solar equipment. The homeowner’s job is to make the history visible and insist that the qualified parties document their parts of the decision.
A useful assessment output should identify what was observed, any access limits, records reviewed, roof areas relevant to the array, conditions requiring more investigation, and the next responsible party. “Looks good from the driveway” is not a complete roof-and-solar decision.
Separate the roles: who decides what?
No single opinion automatically answers every part of roof readiness. The exact team depends on the property and scope, but responsibilities should be distinguishable.
| Party or source | Decision it can help support | What it should not be assumed to prove |
|---|---|---|
| Homeowner and records | Installation history, known leakage, repairs, future plans, ownership goals | Structural capacity, code compliance, hidden condition, or warranty approval |
| Qualified roofing party | Roof covering and assembly condition, repair/replacement scope, material requirements, roofing warranty issues | Solar electrical design or utility acceptance unless separately qualified and assigned |
| Solar designer/installer | Array layout, equipment, attachment concept, wiring, access, expected installation work | A concealed roof or structural condition that was not evaluated |
| Structural professional when required | Project-specific load path, framing or reinforcement analysis within the assigned scope | Roofing workmanship, product warranty, or solar contract terms outside that scope |
| Roof and mounting manufacturers | Current instructions, compatibility conditions, limitations, and written limited warranties for identified products | Suitability of unidentified products or compliance with instructions not actually followed |
| Local authority having jurisdiction | Permit, document, code-interpretation, correction, and inspection requirements for that jurisdiction | Product or workmanship warranties and private contract disputes |
| Utility, when applicable | Interconnection requirements for the proposed electrical system | Roof condition or roofing scope |
South Carolina assigns credentials according to the work performed. The South Carolina Energy Office licensing guidance distinguishes electrical, roof-mounted, and structural-framing scopes for residential projects. Ask for the legal business name and applicable license or registration for each scope—not only the brand on the proposal.
A prime contractor may coordinate qualified subcontractors. That structure is not automatically good or bad. What matters is whether the contract discloses the parties, work, credentials, supervision, handoffs, warranty obligors, and claim route.
Sunburst’s solar roofing service is the relevant service path when roof condition and a new solar design need to be evaluated together. The proposal and signed documents should still identify the legal parties, exact work, and controlling terms for the property.
What a roof-readiness assessment should resolve
The assessment should connect the existing building to the proposed solar design. A generic roof checklist without the array plan misses important interactions; a solar plan without roof evidence does the same.
Roof covering and assembly condition
The assessor should identify the known or apparent roof covering and the areas planned for modules, attachments, conduit, and access. Conditions such as active leakage, displaced or damaged materials, repeated repairs, flashing defects, moisture evidence, movement, or uncertain substrate may require more investigation or work before installation.
Visible symptoms do not always reveal cause or extent. A stain may be historic or active; a local defect may be repairable or part of a broader problem. The written recommendation should distinguish observed fact, professional judgment, excluded or concealed conditions, and any further investigation needed.
Structure and load path
Solar modules do not simply rest on the roof covering. The design has to transfer applicable forces through the mounting system into an adequate structure. Existing framing, alterations, deterioration, spans, attachment locations, and site-specific design requirements may affect the result.
The NREL/DOE Photovoltaics Standard Work Specification calls for the roof to be inspected and necessary repairs made before installation, and for required reinforcement to be completed before PV load is applied. That is a process principle. It does not authorize a homeowner or salesperson to certify a structure from a general rule.
If the project needs a structural professional, the proposal should state who engages that person, what documents or field information are required, who pays for revisions, and what happens if the proposed array cannot proceed as drawn.
Roof material and mounting compatibility
Asphalt shingles, standing-seam metal, exposed-fastener metal, tile, membrane, and other assemblies do not share one attachment or waterproofing detail. Even within a material category, product profiles, deck conditions, manufacturer instructions, and system listings vary.
Ask the bidder to identify:
- the existing roof assembly as far as it is known;
- the proposed mounting and attachment products;
- where the load is intended to transfer;
- the applicable roof and mounting manufacturer instructions;
- flashing, sealant, or clamp requirements;
- incompatible conditions or required substitutions;
- who approves any field change; and
- what closeout evidence will document the installed details.
Current IronRidge flush-mount instructions, for example, separate composition, tile, and low-slope attachment methods and direct installers to the relevant manufacturer instructions. That example shows why a named system and current manual matter. It is not a recommendation for a product or evidence that Sunburst will use it on your home.
Water management, flashing, and roof access
Roof readiness includes more than whether an attachment can be fastened. The design should account for how water is managed around roofing, flashing, penetrations, valleys, edges, vents, and existing details. It should also preserve the access required by the applicable design and reviewing authorities.
Ask who owns each penetration, flashing detail, and repair boundary. If a field condition forces an attachment or conduit change, require the approval path before work starts. “Installer standard” is not enough when the contract does not name the standard, product, or responsible party.
Solar layout and future roof work
The best roof plane for energy production may not be the best place to cover when future roof work, shade, vents, additions, or access are considered. The residential solar installation service is the broader design context; this page focuses on whether the roof can responsibly host that design.
Ask the designer to show the roof planes, module boundaries, access areas, attachments, roof penetrations, conduit path, and equipment locations. Then compare that plan with known repair areas and planned property work. Moving a vent, replacing only one roof plane, or changing the solar layout may be options, but each needs its own technical, permit, warranty, and price review.
Repair first, replace first, proceed, or relocate?
Once findings are documented, compare the actual paths rather than relying on a slogan.
Proceed on the existing roof
Proceeding can be reasonable when the assessment supports the roof assembly and structure, the proposed mounting system is compatible, no unresolved condition sits beneath the planned array, and the owner understands the future-removal terms.
Before signing, ask the roofing and solar parties to accept the relevant condition and handoff in writing. This does not require either party to guarantee that the roof will never need work. It requires them to state the basis on which installation is proceeding and the scope of their obligations.
Complete a targeted repair first
A repair can be the right answer when the defect is defined and the surrounding roof is suitable for the planned project. The repair scope should identify exact areas, materials, flashing or accessory work, concealed-condition treatment, documentation, and acceptance before solar begins.
Avoid a vague allowance such as “roof tune-up included.” Ask what is being changed, why it resolves the finding, whether the solar layout touches the repaired area, who verifies completion, and how the repair and solar warranties interact.
Replace the roof first
Replacement may be practical when the roof already needs broad work, when a planned reroof is likely to interrupt the solar project, or when identified assembly, structural, or compatibility findings make repair an unsound basis for the array. The recommendation should be traceable to findings—not an age script or financing pitch.
Coordinate the roof specification and solar attachment plan before tear-off. The roof proposal should define materials, covered areas, disposal, flashing and accessories, ventilation work, permits, and how concealed decking or framing conditions become change orders. The solar proposal should state the intended layout and what roof-ready condition allows its work to begin.
For pricing and bid normalization after replacement is supported, use the roof replacement and solar cost guide. It explains how to separate roof-only cash scope, solar-only cash scope, conditional work, financing, and claimed coordination savings without publishing a generic package price.
Use another location or pause
An unsuitable primary roof does not prove that every solar option is unsuitable. Another roof plane, accessory structure, or ground-mounted system may be worth studying. Space, shade, setbacks, trenching, equipment location, structure, cost, and local requirements determine whether an alternative is realistic.
Pause if a seller offers no written roof conclusion, dismisses a documented defect without investigation, will not identify the responsible license holders, or asks you to sign before the repair/replacement scope is known. A proposal expiration date does not make unresolved construction risk disappear.
South Carolina permitting and code are property-specific
Rooftop solar generally goes through local permitting and inspection. The Department of Energy permitting overview explains the role of local government review and post-install inspection. A contractor’s site assessment is not a substitute for that process.
As of August 10, 2026, the South Carolina Building Codes Council adoption page lists the codes in effect and the ongoing newer-code adoption record. The Council’s FAQ directs code-interpretation questions to the local building official because jurisdictions enforce the applicable rules locally.
For your proposal, require written answers to:
- Which authority has jurisdiction over this address?
- Who confirms the requirements applicable on the filing date?
- Who prepares and submits the building, electrical, structural, product, and roof documents required for this scope?
- Who answers plan-review comments and pays for corrections or redesign?
- Who schedules required inspections and supplies access?
- What happens if the approved array, attachment, roof scope, or equipment differs from the proposal?
- Which closed permits and inspection records will the owner receive?
Do not accept a statewide claim that a particular roof layer, framing condition, wind detail, setback, or permit outcome always applies. Ask the responsible professional and local authority for the project-specific answer.
Understand the cost of installing solar before a future reroof
If the roof needs replacement after solar is installed, affected equipment ordinarily has to be removed or repositioned so roofing work can occur. DOE’s rooftop-system replacement guidance notes that roof replacement requires panels and mounting equipment to be removed.
That future project may include:
- ownership/provider authorization and document recovery;
- safe shutdown and baseline condition records;
- module, electronics, wiring, rail, attachment, and flashing removal as applicable;
- labeling, packing, transport, and storage;
- roof dry-in and roof-to-solar handoff;
- new or revised attachments and flashing for the replacement roof;
- design, permit, inspection, or utility review when the scope changes;
- reinstallation, electrical/mechanical checks, energization, and monitoring restoration; and
- replacement of damaged, incompatible, or unavailable components under an agreed change process.
Do not assign a generic price to that list. The array size, equipment, ownership model, roof scope, access, storage, permit path, warranty requirements, and contractor market can all change the work. Do not assume a roof warranty, solar warranty, service plan, lease, power-purchase agreement, or homeowner policy pays for it.
If you already have panels and need roofing work, use the dedicated solar panel removal and reinstallation guide. It covers custody, reuse, contractor handoffs, permits, recommissioning, and acceptance in detail. For a new project, ask the seller now how a future detach/reinstall would be authorized and priced.
Roof-first, in writing
Get the roof question settled before the array is designed
We assess roof condition, attachment detail and remaining life before proposing solar, and we will tell you when repair or replacement should come first — even when that delays the solar project.
Book a free assessment See solar roofing · residential solar
Put contractor and warranty responsibility in writing
“One project” can involve a solar seller, roofing contractor, electrical contractor, structural professional, lender, equipment manufacturers, warranty administrators, and subcontractors. A single contact person may simplify communication, but it does not erase the legal parties or separate written warranties.
Build a responsibility matrix before signing:
| Event or duty | Written answer to obtain |
|---|---|
| Roof condition assessment | Who performs it, under which credential/scope, what is delivered, and what is excluded? |
| Structural question | Who determines whether analysis is required, who performs it, and who pays for resulting design changes? |
| Repair or reroof | Which legal entity contracts and performs the work, and who holds the applicable license/registration? |
| Roof ready for solar | What completion evidence is required and who authorizes solar work to start? |
| Attachment or flashing change | Who approves the change, which instructions apply, and how is it documented? |
| Concealed roof condition | How is it photographed, priced, approved, and incorporated into the solar schedule/design? |
| Leak near the array | Who receives the first notice, who investigates, who pays for access/removal, and how is cause assigned? |
| Future roof work | Who may detach/reinstall, what notice is required, and how are storage, parts, testing, and price handled? |
| Sale of the home | Which obligations transfer, what notices are required, and which documents go to the buyer? |
| Contractor unavailable | Who administers each manufacturer or third-party warranty, and what remedy remains? |
Read each warranty, not just the headline term. Roof material coverage, roofing workmanship, solar workmanship, mounting/penetration coverage, module product coverage, module performance coverage, and financing obligations are different documents. A long term on one layer does not prove that diagnosis, access, labor, shipping, array removal, interior damage, another contractor’s work, or transfer is included.
Sunburst publishes a warranty overview, but the dated documents supplied with the specific proposal should control. Ask for those terms before deciding, and reconcile them with the roof product documents, solar equipment warranties, legal contractors, and ownership arrangement.
The FTC’s homeowner solar guidance specifically recommends comparing warranties and repairs and asking what happens if roof repair is needed after installation. Put the answer in the signed agreement; do not rely on a sales presentation or text message.
Roof and array, one team
Get the roof and the solar scope priced together
One assessment covers roof condition, attachment detail, structural questions and the array design, with both scopes itemized and the penetrations under our lifetime warranty.
Compare the proposal without invented prices or timelines
An older roof can change both scope and uncertainty. A useful proposal separates the known work from the conditions that cannot be confirmed until access or tear-off.
| Proposal field | What a decision-ready answer includes |
|---|---|
| Roof conclusion | Findings, access limits, records reviewed, repair/replace/proceed rationale, and additional investigation |
| Roof scope | Areas, materials, removal, disposal, flashing/accessories, ventilation, permits, exclusions, and workmanship terms |
| Concealed work | Unit price or pricing method, evidence, authorization, and change-order limit |
| Solar scope | System size, equipment, layout, attachments, roof planes, electrical work, permit, inspection, and interconnection duties |
| Responsibility | Legal entities, license holders, subcontractors, project manager, handoffs, and claim route |
| Cash prices | Roof-only, solar-only, additional work, and combined cash price for comparable scope |
| Financing | Amount financed, APR, fees, payment schedule, total payments, security interest, and prepayment terms |
| Schedule | Dependencies, sequence, responsible party, assumptions, milestone updates, and change events—not a universal duration |
| Warranties | Exact document, obligor, covered work, term, transfer, exclusions, access/removal, remedy, and claim steps |
| Closeout | Photos, product information, permits, inspections, as-built documents, warranties, monitoring access, and open-item list |
Build the schedule from dependencies: roof investigation, design, engineering when required, product selection, contracting, HOA review if applicable, permitting, material availability, weather, roof work, inspections, solar work, utility steps, and corrections. The responsible parties should provide project-specific estimates and update them when a dependency changes. No statewide article can promise a number of days or weeks.
If an HOA applies, its architectural process is a separate workstream, not proof that the roof or solar design is technically approved. Clarify the submission and owner responsibilities; Sunburst’s HOA coordination service describes the available support. The association, contractor, local authority, utility, and product manufacturers answer different questions.
Keep roof costs separate from 2026 solar-tax assumptions
Do not let a tax-credit claim decide whether an old roof should be replaced.
The IRS Residential Clean Energy Credit page, updated July 4, 2026, says the federal Section 25D credit is not available for property placed in service after December 31, 2025. It also says traditional roof trusses and shingles that support panels generally do not qualify as clean-energy property.
South Carolina has a separate state solar credit for qualifying taxpayers and eligible owned systems, but the South Carolina Department of Revenue’s ruling excludes ordinary roofs and structural elements. Eligibility and use depend on the taxpayer and facts.
For a 2026 proposal:
- require separate roof and solar scopes and prices;
- do not move ordinary roof work into an “eligible solar” line;
- do not subtract a new federal homeowner Section 25D credit from the payment illustration;
- ask what state-credit assumptions the proposal uses and which costs are treated as eligible; and
- have a qualified tax professional review your facts and current law.
This is general consumer education, not tax advice. A financing product may include roof work, but financing an item does not make it tax-eligible.
A final old-roof decision checklist
Before approving solar on an older roof, you should be able to answer all of these:
- Do I have the roof’s known installation, product, repair, leak, permit, and warranty records?
- What roof areas will the proposed array, attachments, conduit, and access affect?
- What did the roof assessment observe, and what could it not observe?
- Is the recommendation to proceed, repair, or replace tied to findings rather than age alone?
- Who decides whether structural analysis or reinforcement is required?
- What roof and mounting products are involved, and which current instructions apply?
- Who is legally responsible for roofing, electrical/solar, structural, and permit scopes?
- Are subcontractors and license holders disclosed?
- What is the written roof-to-solar handoff and change-order process?
- What happens if a hidden roof condition changes the layout or price?
- Who investigates a future leak, and who pays for access or panel removal while cause is determined?
- How would future detach, storage, reinstallation, testing, and monitoring restoration be authorized and priced?
- Do roof-only, solar-only, combined, and financed totals reconcile?
- Are schedule dependencies and milestone updates stated without a guaranteed completion date?
- Do I have the actual warranty documents, not just summary terms?
- Are ordinary roof costs excluded from solar-tax assumptions?
- Would another location or a pause be better than forcing panels onto this roof?
If several answers are unknown, the next step is clarification, not a signature.
Get a property-specific roof and solar decision
Bring your roof records, known repairs or leaks, warranty documents, and any solar proposal or layout to a roof-and-solar assessment. Sunburst can review the property and discuss whether the evidence points to proceeding, a defined repair, replacement, another design path, or more investigation before you commit.
Sunburst does both sides of this decision, which is why we can answer it without a conflict of scheduling. Our solar roofing and residential solar teams assess the deck, the covering, the attachment detail and the remaining service life together, then recommend one of the five paths in this article and price it. Where the roof is sound, we say so; where it is not, we would rather reroof first than mount a 25-year array on a covering with five years left.
Both scopes carry our lifetime full-system and roof-penetration warranty, so responsibility for the penetrations does not sit in a gap between two companies — the failure mode this article warns about.
Read next: roof replacement and solar cost together, whether the structure can carry the array, and what removal and reinstallation involves if the roof is replaced later. See roof-first solar in Beaufort, Bluffton and solar installers by city or book a free assessment.
Frequently asked questions
Can solar panels be installed on a 15- or 20-year-old roof?
Sometimes, but those ages do not establish suitability. The outcome depends on the actual roof assembly, condition, history, structure, proposed mounting and flashing, project horizon, and written responsibility. Ask for a documented assessment rather than treating an age band as approval or rejection.
How many years of roof life do I need before solar?
There is no universal remaining-life number that applies to every roof, product, owner, or solar agreement. Compare the documented likelihood of disruptive roof work with the proposed solar ownership and service plan. If a contractor uses a threshold, ask for the product, warranty, inspection, and project evidence behind it.
Can panels make an old roof last longer?
Do not treat solar panels as a roof repair or life-extension method. An array changes exposure and access on covered areas, but it does not correct deterioration, leakage, weak substrate, unsuitable framing, or defective flashing. Roof condition and solar suitability still need their own evaluation.
Can a roof be replaced without removing solar panels?
Roofing beneath or immediately around an array ordinarily requires affected equipment to be removed or repositioned so the roofing scope can be performed. The exact removal boundary depends on the array and roof work. Require a qualified detach/reinstall plan rather than assuming a roofer can work around energized equipment.
Is a roof inspection from the solar company enough?
It depends on who performed it, their applicable qualifications, what they inspected, and what the deliverable covers. A solar site survey, roof condition assessment, and structural analysis are not interchangeable. Ask for the written scope, findings, limitations, and referral path when another professional is needed.
Should I replace only the roof plane that will receive panels?
That may be an option for some buildings, but it is not automatically the correct or less expensive scope. Roof geometry, transitions, valleys, ridges, drainage, material matching, warranties, remaining areas, access, permit requirements, and future work all matter. Ask the roofer and solar designer to document the boundary and consequences.
Does installing solar void the roof warranty?
There is no universal answer. It depends on the identified roofing product, written warranty, installer requirements, attachment and flashing method, notice or registration rules, and work actually performed. Obtain the roof manufacturer’s terms and the solar contractor’s workmanship/penetration terms, then resolve conflicts before installation.
Who pays to remove and reinstall panels for later roof work?
The signed solar ownership, service, warranty, and roofing documents should answer that. Ask who may perform the work, what notice is required, how price is set, who stores equipment, what happens to damaged or unavailable parts, which approvals are needed, and what testing and monitoring restoration are included.
Does a new roof qualify for a solar tax credit in 2026?
Ordinary roofing and structural components do not become eligible solar costs merely because panels will be installed above them. The IRS says Section 25D is unavailable for property placed in service after December 31, 2025. South Carolina’s separate solar-credit rules also exclude roofs and structural elements. Consult a qualified tax professional about your facts.
Sources and methodology
This guide was researched and updated on August 10, 2026. Research included the full 226-URL Sunburst sitemap, both overlapping live roof-readiness articles, the solar-roofing service page, adjacent roof-cost and panel-removal content, current search results, forum objections used only as question discovery, and current official or primary sources.
Decision-critical sources include ENERGY STAR rooftop-solar guidance, the NREL/DOE Photovoltaics Standard Work Specification, the DOE permitting and inspection overview, South Carolina solar contractor-license guidance, the South Carolina Building Codes Council adoption page, FTC homeowner solar guidance, the IRS Residential Clean Energy Credit page, and South Carolina Revenue Ruling 24-2.
This article provides general consumer education, not a roof certification, structural opinion, code interpretation, insurance determination, warranty decision, legal advice, financial advice, or tax advice. The property, written contracts, qualified parties, manufacturers, authority having jurisdiction, utility, and current law control the actual result.