Home Improvement

Is My Roof Good for Solar? The 4 Essentials Installers Consider

Now you have decided to go solar, but there is still the matter of installation.

Though it is not compulsory to install your solar panel on a roof (under the right circumstances, you could mount a panel on the ground or the side of a building). However, the roof is the most common location for solar panels.

image - Is My Roof Good for Solar The 4 Essentials Installers Consider
Is My Roof Good for Solar The 4 Essentials Installers Consider

This gives rise to the question: is my roof suitable for a solar panel?  In the article below, we list the 4 major factors which determine whether or not a roof is suitable for the situation of a solar panel.

The Material Your Roof Is Made Of

You had better avoid solar panels if your roof is made of slate or wood. They are hard to walk on, which makes installation expensive.

The best roofing materials for solar panels are tiles roofs, asphalt shingles, and, most especially, standing metal roofs. These make for cheap and easy installation processes.

By the way, you can get professional rood installation service at mouritz.com.au/solar-panel-installation-perth/.

The State of The Roof

Solar panels can only be installed on a roof that is in good condition. If your roof has shingles falling off or any other type of damage, you need to get it fixed.

The solar panels are going to be fixed to the surface of the roof, where they could be blown off by a wind (they are actually very light) so you need a roof that will not only ensure that the panels can be held down tightly, but can withstand extreme weather as well.


Read Also:


The Situation of Your House

This is one situation in which you will regret the presence of those beautiful trees casting shade on your roof.

Since solar panels utilize sunlight to produce electrical energy, they do not function to their full capacity in shade.

If you do not have enough sunlight (solar panels need to have at least 6 hours of uninterrupted sunlight) falling across your roof, it would probably be best to forego the solar panels.

Buildings or trees located around you may cause the interruption of this sunlight, so go outside and take a critical look at your house and its environment.

Critical, because it would be better to notice the shade before the installation of solar panels than to notice it after.

The Slant of The Roof

What direction is your roof slanted in? To optimize sunlight, your roof had best have at least one side slanted southward. However, if it is not and there’s not much you can do,  then that’s fine too.

Roofs slanted 30-40 degrees are best for solar panels. If your roof is flat, you can use brackets to tilt the solar panels in the direction you think best.

Above all, consult a professional to decide whether or not your roof is suitable for solar panels. Also, make sure to put the size of your roof into consideration.

 If your roof is not large enough to hold a sufficient number of solar panels to power your home, maybe you shouldn’t bother installing any.

Whatever you decide to do, think in the long term and take the decision that would be best for both your pocket

Solar panels are a definite upgrade. If you want to get started with solar panels but have an unsuitable roof for any of these reasons, be sure to talk to a professional. They just might be able to help.

Share
Published by
Perla Irish