Three layers, zero asterisk-fog
Warranty, translated from legalese
A solar system carries three separate warranties from two or three different parties. Salespeople love to blur them into one big reassuring number — here's what each one actually covers.
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01
10 years
Northbeam workmanship warranty
Everything we did with our hands: racking, wiring, roof penetrations, flashing, conduit runs. If our work leaks or fails, we fix it and any resulting roof damage at no cost.
Plainly: This is the warranty that actually depends on who you hire. Panels are commodities; the holes in your roof are not.
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02
25 years product & performance
Panel manufacturer warranty
Defects in the panel itself, plus a performance floor — typically guaranteeing ~85% of original output at year 25 (the spec sheet states the exact curve).
Plainly: Degradation is normal and slow (~0.5%/yr). The performance warranty kicks in only if a panel falls below the published curve.
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03
12–25 years by type
Inverter warranty
String inverters typically carry 12 years (extendable); microinverters carry 25. The inverter is the component most likely to need attention in the system's life.
Plainly: If a string inverter dies in year 14, that's a real cost — we quote the extension option up front so it's your informed choice, not a surprise.
Because someone should say it out loud
What's honestly not covered
Hail beyond the panel's impact rating
Hail beyond the panel's impact rating (Class 4-equivalent) — that's a homeowners-insurance claim, and we document the array so the claim is easy.
Damage from raking snow off panels with metal tools
Damage from raking snow off panels with metal tools (please don't — they shed on their own).
Roof leaks in areas we never touched
Roof leaks in areas we never touched — we photograph every penetration at install so there's never an argument about which is which.
Third-party work: if another contractor moves or rewires the array, their work is theirs.
Third-party work: if another contractor moves or rewires the array, their work is theirs.
How a claim works: call or email, we pull your closeout packet (layout, photos of every penetration, serial numbers), and we handle the manufacturer paperwork if it's a panel or inverter issue. You never get referred to a 1-800 number and wished luck.
No pressure — literally
The warranty that matters most is the installer's
Panels are commodities backed by factories. The holes in your roof are backed by whoever drilled them — ask every bidder how long they've been around and who fixes a leak in year seven.
Prefer a human? (970) 555-0134 — office hours only, and we never cold-call.