How You Can Tell If Your Roof Is Great for Solar Panels

There are various reasons to buy a solar system and to invest in harnessing power from the sun. Two of the largest reasons are to deplete your carbon footprint and to save money in the process. Before you go and buy a solar system, however, it is important that you examine your roof to see if a set of solar panels is suitable. If not, your roof can get damaged from all the weight that solar panels provide. Here are all the things to consider for a roof that can accommodate solar panels.

Materials

There are some materials of shingle that work better than others for supporting solar grids. Thankfully, if you own a roof with asphalt shingles, you won’t need to look for something better; they are very suitable for solar panels. Other materials that best work with solar panel mounts include rubber, standing seam, clay tile, and metal. Roofs that have slate tile or wood shingles might not be so compatible, as they are brittle and might not hold the weight of these panels for long.

Condition of the Roof

Many solar systems have warranties that last around 25 years, and most of them are made to last past that. With that said, be sure that you will not end up needing to replace your roof in just a few years. If you think your roof needs repairs or a replacement, first take care of your roof, and then talk with the best solar panel companies about installing a solar system on it.

It is possible that you can get your roof replaced after you have installed a solar system. However, it is very costly to do so as you will require professional uninstallation and reinstallation from solar panel specialists. If your roof doesn’t need a replacement for a good 10 or 15 years, however, you should feel confident with buying a solar system.

Shape of the Roof

Solar panels will need an adequate amount of space for installation. The most ideal type of roof is one that is big, rectangular, and does not have any chimneys or vents. But there are a just a few homes that meet these criteria, according to the best solar panel companies. Professional installers, however, can work around any issues that the solar panels might face, such as chimneys, skylights, dormers, and turrets. Drain pipes can also be moved and modified if need be.

You will need to have your solar panels installed on angled roofs. If the solar panel is facing directly upwards, rain and other precipitation will not be able to slide off the panel. Also, if the panels are set too steep, you might not get all the sunlight that is available. Solar panels with a 20 to 30-degree angle will work the best.

If you have a flat roof, however, the mounts are able to give your solar panels a slight tilt.

Direction of the Roof

The direction that your roof is facing will also make a difference to your solar panels. Solar panels in the United States work best when they face south. You will want to set up solar panels on the side of your roof that faces that specific direction. If there is no way to install solar panels that face directly south, don’t worry. You can still get decent energy from the sun if your panels still face southwest, southeast, or even west or east. If you opt for the latter options, however, make sure that no shade, caused by buildings, trees, or other structures, is present in the spots that you place your solar panels.