There’s no doubt that there are rising concerns about energy costs and the need for climate change prevention. However, before you invest in solar panels, is your house suitable for installing solar panels?
Does My Roof Meet the Necessary Requirements?
A sturdy and spacious rooftop is necessary to install solar panels to generate enough electricity for your home’s use. If your rooftop is not sturdy enough, your solar panel installers can advise you on ways to improve your rooftop to ensure you enjoy solar energy all year round.
Other requirements that will determine if your house is suitable to have solar panels installed include:
- Roof material
- Roof type
- Roof pitch and orientation
- Amount of sunlight and shading
- Local climate
Roof Material
Here are the different roofing materials and how they fare to solar panels installation.
Asphalt shingles/composite
Asphalt shingle roofs are relatively easy to work with for solar panel installation. The installation involves attaching mounting brackets to the roof and securing the solar panels to the brackets. However, shingle roofs may require extra precautions to ensure proper waterproofing and sealing around the mounting brackets.
Tile
Installing solar panels on tile roofs is more challenging compared to other roofing types. This is because tiles are fragile, and the removal and replacement during solar panel installation can be time-consuming and can cause tiles may break. Also, solar installers will need specialised mounting systems and techniques to secure the panels properly.
Metal
Most solar panel installers favour metal roofs for solar panel installation due to their durability and are often produced from eco-friendly materials.. For metal roof solar panel installations, mounting brackets are attached directly to the metal roof, and the panels are secured onto the brackets.
Wood
Although not very common, there are still wooden roofs around that are loved for their aesthetic appeal. If you own a home with a wooden roof, such as one with cedar or shake shingles, you should note that installing solar panels on wood roofs can be more challenging than on asphalt, shingle or metal roofs.
Roof Type
Hip roof. A hip roof has all four sides sloping downwards from the tip and without a flat end. With this roofing type, the panels are mounted on the slopes, thus requiring customised mounting brackets or racking systems to secure the panels. The angles of the roof can affect the orientation and tilt of the panels, which can impact their overall energy production. It’s essential to work with a professional solar installer who can design a system that maximises solar panel exposure to sunlight on a hip roof.
Skillion roof. A skillion roof is a single-sloping roof surface that is good for solar panel installations. For this roof type, solar panels can be mounted directly onto the sloping surface using standard mounting brackets or racking systems. Due to the simplicity of the roof design, installation costs and time are often lower compared to more complex roof types. However, your solar power installer will need to consider the angle of the skillion roof to optimise the solar panel’s orientation and thereby maximise energy production.
Flat roof. As the name suggests, flat roofs have no tilt, as with other roof types. To install solar panels on this roof type, your solar technician will mount solar panels on racks or frames that tilt the panels at an optimal angle for sunlight exposure. Since installing solar panels on this kind of roofing is easy, you should consider factors such as shading from nearby objects such as tall trees for maximum solar exposure.
Amount of Sunlight and Shading
When a solar panel is partially shaded, it leads to reduced energy production, decreased system efficiency, and potential hotspots on the shaded cells, which can damage the panel over time. During installation, consider possible shading from nearby buildings, trees, chimneys, and other structures.
Solar panels have an optimal angle at which they can capture the maximum amount of sunlight. This tilt angle is usually determined based on your location’s latitude. By positioning the solar panels correctly and ensuring they are not shaded, you can optimise their efficiency and harvest the most sunlight throughout the year.
Do you think your house is a good candidate for solar? Have a qualified solar installer assess your roof and provide expert services to ensure maximum energy production of your system so that you can get the most out of your investment in solar energy.
