Storm Hit Your Solar? Here's What We Did for a Wynnum Homeowner

A Brisbane storm doesn't give much warning. One afternoon everything's fine, and by evening a homeowner in Wynnum is standing in their backyard looking at shattered solar panels — cracked glass, dead cells, and a system that hasn't produced a watt since.

That's the job that came through to us recently. The insurance builder managing the roof repair called DJ Edwards to handle the solar side of things. This is what the job involved, and why it matters if you're in the same situation.

Why Storm-Damaged Panels need to be inspected

Cracked solar panels aren't cosmetic damage you can put off dealing with. A panel with broken glass and exposed cells is still generating DC voltage every time sunlight hits it. Water ingress, arc faults, and degraded insulation all become genuine hazards the longer a damaged system stays energised.

It's also not a job for anyone without the right credentials. Solar systems run on high-voltage DC current on the roof-side of the inverter — and that voltage doesn't disappear when you flip the circuit breaker. Disconnecting a solar system safely requires a licensed electrician. Not a roofer, not a handyman, not a solar company that sends out a subcontractor and hopes for the best.

Check out our makesafe service if your smashed panels are still generating electricity.

Why Insurance Builders Call Us

When an insurance builder is coordinating a storm repair, they need trades they can count on completely. The last thing they want is a solar contractor who cuts corners, fails to document the job properly, or creates a liability issue down the track.

DJ Edwards has been around since 1999. We're CER authorised — meaning the Clean Energy Regulator has assessed and approved us to carry out solar inspections and work. That's not a badge every company in Brisbane can claim.

Our team is entirely in-house too, so when we show up to a job, you know exactly who's doing the work and can hold someone accountable if something's not right.

We make builders' jobs easier. Clear communication, thorough documentation, and a site that's left properly when we walk off it. When an insurance claim is attached to the work, that level of accountability isn't optional, it's the whole job.

The Removal: Getting It Done Safely

Before a new system goes up, the old one had to come down the right way.

That starts with isolating the system at the switchboard and safely disconnecting the DC side at the array. Each damaged panel was carefully removed without causing further harm to the roof, and all the old cabling, mounting hardware, and inverter were cleared and disposed of correctly.

The homeowner had a clean roof and a blank slate by the end of the day. No loose wiring left hanging. No components left half-fitted. Done properly, or not at all.

The New System: 13.3kW of Gear Worth Having

The installation is locked in for the near future, we're removing the old system and replacing it with modern panels paid for completely by insurance

These aren't budget panels ordered to keep a quote low. Jinko's N-type cell technology is more efficient than older P-type panels and degrades more slowly over time, which means better output in year ten than what most systems on Brisbane roofs are managing right now.

The Sigenergy inverter is a forward-thinking choice too. It's built with battery integration in mind, so if this homeowner decides to add storage down the track, the groundwork is already there. No ripping out equipment and starting again.

If Your Panels Are Storm-Damaged, Here's What to Do

Don't go up on the roof. Don't try to disconnect the system yourself. Cracked or shattered panels should be treated as live electrical equipment — because they are, regardless of whether the sun's out.

Get photos of the damage from the ground if it's safe to do so, and call your insurer to log the claim as soon as possible. Then, when it comes to choosing who handles the solar work, ask specifically for a licensed electrician who is CER authorised. A proper removal and reinstall protects your insurance claim, your roof warranty, and the warranty on your new equipment. A rushed job done by the wrong people can jeopardise all three.

Work With a Team That Insurance Builders Trust

If storm damage has hit your solar system in Brisbane, DJ Edwards can handle the removal, the safety documentation, and the new installation — from one licensed team, start to finish.

We've worked alongside insurance builders across Brisbane and South East Queensland for years. If your builder needs a solar contractor, point them our way. If you're a homeowner dealing with this directly, call us and we'll walk you through what

needs to happen.

Call DJ Edwards on 0400 571 610 or get in touch online for a proper assessment — not a rushed quote, a real one.