Is Elon Musk's Tesla Roof Really Worth the Cost? | Inverse

Elon Musk has big plans to change the future of solar. The Tesla solar roof, fully unveiled in August, combines roof tiles that collect solar with regular tiles, creating a seamless roof that stretches all the way across. Orders for the textured black and smooth grey tile styles are expected to start shipping this year, with pre-orders for the remaining Tuscan and slate styles starting in November.

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[MassDynamic]

if the roof can net you enough money to cover the cost of replacing it (when the solar cells eventually stop working), then yes, it would be a good buy.

[richardclark]

Solar Tiles look good and produce energy.

Even if it’s not as efficient as normal solar tiles. This isn’t an ugly roof which makes it a clear winner.

[epicxknightwatchthevids]

Think about the Tesla solar roof as the NBN (Australians would understand this). The Labor plan was to connect every house with fibre to every premesis until we went to a mixed technology. The fibre might be more expensive than having a node from your street connected with fibre, but the operational costs would be less in the long running and dosen't need constant replacement or TLC maintance which is the case for the Tesla roof tile. More durable, combines roof tiles and solar panels to lower costs for the consumer and more efficient in the long running but expensive at the start.

[alexinaboxx]

Would like to point out that these roofs are only "really expensive" if you compare a tesla roof with the cheapest asphalt. If you are considering slate, tile, or even metal, the price starts getting comparable and you get a power wall, lifetime warranty and clean energy. Don't compare this to the price of an asphalt roof.

[Gollywog]

This is definitely not cheaper! Most people who put solar on their homes do it by retrofitting panels. New home builds don't bother. Most, it not nearly all people who buy a new home, having solar is last on their list. New home builder focus on the internals like fancy kitchens and bathroom rather than solar.

[Richard-ieif]

yeah, this roof might make you a measly 4% return or something if you're in california, get the federal subsidy, abuse some poor utility company who is forced to give you more than 1:1 credit for each KW produced because your's are "green" and have an ideal location....or you could just buy use the money to buy green energy credits and feel good knowing you're not stupid

[Richard-ieif]

so other than looks and the fact that it replaces a 3k-5k asphalt roof....it has nothing going for it...and the 1/4 loss in efficiency will only cost what you're saving over the long run....put them on a warehouse roof or in the desert not on your residential roof if you want to be a hippy then suck it up and do normal pannels....this product is literally only for rich snobs who wants to say theyre green by wasting 4x what their house would ever save with the panels but dont want them to look gaudy

[prankstergangster]

Maybe there a new second generation roof is coming that can charge very fast and new design i would love to buy it and install it on my dream house

[lorddoma]

Wait so installing it would cost me $50, 000 dollars but I'll only see a savings of $39, 000 over 30 years? Did I hear that right?

[tommavrakos]

A home costing 500, 000. It should be required by state or no permit

[greg]

Its like putting on a Metal Roof with some pay back, keep me in mine when it comes to Wisconsin

[zolikoff]

So it's equivalent to an over $25, 000 regular roof. Way on the expensive side.

[davidbeppler]

Let me get this straight... putting a Tesla roof on your house will pay for the cost of the roof? But that is just breaking even? Sounds like you are ahead by the cost of a roof to me. Just math things.

[patrickeh]

The answer (so you don't have to listen to all the hustle), is ...NO you will not see a return on your investment unless you live there over 30 years and you live in a Southern with the VAST % of days in full sunlight.

[oldtimeengineer]

10K for a regular roof and 27K of solar panels and more power 37K for a 30 year roof tesla roof like power wall is way to high priced to me

[dirtbag]

for the cost of the roof I would hope to be getting a check from the power company every month

[glockout]

I wonder if it would be worth it if you did all the labor yourself

[brianbrewster]

$50, 700 initial investment on an actual roof guaranteed for 30 years but only to save $39, 900 in that time? Sounds good but how many people can afford a $51K roof on their house? I've been a roofer at times in my life and can put a very handsome roof (based on the premium quality asphalt tiles out there) on your average 1800 square foot home for about $10K. It, too, will be guaranteed 25 - 30 years assuming nothing catastrophic happens to them like a hurricane for instance. His roofs are ridiculously high priced. A homeowner already has to be rich as hell to afford these to make minuscule savings. A homeowner's best bet is to have professionally installed solar panels that are around half the price of his solar tiles, and still out perform what he offers. I don't get it - where's the competition here? It certainly doesn't lie with his product line.

[InspireMe]

After 30 years i would want to move. No deal

[lorddoma]

I like to constantly move so it wouldn't work for me.