The Roof Should Not Be Too Steep
When you install a solar panel on a steep roof slope, chances of poor performance are higher. This arises because of the poor angle inclination that prevents proper sun exposure. Additionally, a steep roof may be hazardous, particularly during adverse weather and environmental conditions.
In case of earthquakes, hailstones, or strong winds, your solar panels may be at risk of destruction. Coupled with the gravitational force that acts against the solar panel installation, you may incur significant losses in panel repairs.
If your roof is determined to be too steep, you can explore alternative options like installing your solar panel system in a secluded area on the ground. You will receive the same benefits as a roof installation, but you will need to invest more in protecting the panels from damage hazards.
Do Solar Panels Void Your Roof Warranty
Solar panels generally wont void your roof warranty, but it depends on the roofing material you have.
If your roof is made of asphalt shingles or tiles, solar panel installation will require you to drill into the roof deck to attach the solar panel bolts, and this could potentially void your roofing warranty, so you need to check it before going ahead with the installation.
However, by ensuring you follow the roofing warranty and choose a solar panel installer who mounts and waterproofs the solar panels properly, you reduce your risk of encountering problems.
The Shape Of The Roof
A crucial parameter to consider before getting solar panels is the shape of your homes roof. It can affect how many solar panels you can get and, therefore, the amount of power you might harvest. With that in mind, here are the three roof shapes you can come across.
1. Gable Roofs
are a common roof shape in most homes. They have a pyramid shape comprising two rectangular faces that meet at a point. This provides a large enough surface where you can place several solar panels.
2. Flat Roofs
are often found on commercial properties however, some residential properties have them as well. Theyre the most optimal roof shape for solar panel installation. As such, they provide a wide array of creative opportunities for setting up a solar system.
3. Hip Roofs
have slopes on four sides. They are the best roof shape to install solar panels in areas with high winds and extreme weather. However, they limit the number of panels that can be placed on a single roof.
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Solar Panel Cost Savings
The cost for roof installation of solar panels has come down significantly in recent years, making them a more viable option for homeowners. The average cost of a 5kW system is around $15,000 before rebates and incentives, but the final cost will vary depending on the specific system and location.
Solar panels typically have a payback period of 5-10 years, after which they will start to produce positive cash flow. In addition, solar panels increase the value of your home by an average of $15,000.
Whats The Best Type Of Roof For Solar Panels
If you have asphalt shingle roofing, youll be pleased to know that its a great type of roof for solar panels. This is because it makes installing solar panels really easy.
Standard mounts and studs that get drilled into the roof will be used so that the solar panels can be attached to it. Spaces between the panels and studs are sealed with flashing to prevent water leaks.
However, tiles also accommodate solar panels well. The solar panels will have to be installed on the tiles with brackets that lift the panels off the roof.
The best type of roof for solar panels, however, is actually a standing metal roof. This is because it allows for easy and cheap installation because you dont have to drill directly into the roof.
If you have a wooden shingle roof, another problem that presents itself is that installing solar panels on the roof could be a fire hazard.
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Do You Have Any Trees In The Way
You should be aware of the type of trees in your yard. If there are any that grow too high, they can shade the panels and reduce their efficiency. You may be able to trim them or even remove them completely if they are interfering with your solar panel’s exposure to sunlight. If you want to keep the trees in place, you can plant other species that grow at a lower height so that they don’t block as much sunlight from reaching your solar panels.
Stronghold Roofing & Solar In & Near Lakeland Fl
When you need the best roofing company in Florida for solar panel installation or other solar roof services, contact Stronghold Roofing & Solar. Our team of experienced roofers can help you find the best and most affordable roofing and solar options for your home or commercial building.
We offer a full range of other commercial and residential roofing services as well, including roof installation, repair, inspections, and maintenance.
We are available 24/7, because we know that roofing emergencies can happen at any time. Roof financing is available, and we can work directly with homeowners insurance if needed.
Contact us at today for a free estimate.
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Installing Solar Panels On Different Roof Types
If youre considering installing a residential or commercial solar panel system, you might be wondering if your roof type is appropriate for a solar installation. The good news is that solar panels can be installed on just about any roof type, but the installation process and mounting hardware might vary from material to material. In this article, well explore the many types of roofs solar panels can be installed on and how each has a unique installation process.
Are Solar Panels Becoming More Budget
If youve refrained from installing solar panels on your home because of their expense, theres good and bad news.
The good news is that their price has decreased over the last decade and prices are still expected to decrease further.
The bad news is that the installation cost of solar panels is not predicted to decrease because hardware costs make up less than 40 percent of the price tag for setting up a solar energy setup in your home.
There have also been shortages in raw materials such as polysilicon used to make solar panels that have made solar panels become more expensive recently, but this is a temporary condition.
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Roof Strength Requirements For Solar Panels
Solar panels and their required mounting equipment, whether thats penetration or weight mounts, typically weigh in around 3 to 4 pounds per square foot. This weight is usually acceptable for any roof type.
However, solar panels using weighted ballasts on flat roofs typically weigh a bit more since concrete blocks are used to hold the system in place.
As long as your home has a relatively newer roof thats in decent condition, weighted ballasts are a fine solution especially if your panels are from SunPower, which offers the lightest solar panels in the industry, weighing in around 33 pounds per panel.
What Is The Best Roof Material For Solar Panels
Over the past decade, more homeowners have started using solar panels to power their homes. Many are turning towards the clean energy of solar panels to help the environment and reduce their electricity bill.
If youre looking to install solar panels, you may be looking to place them on your roof, especially if you lack the space for a ground-mounted system. However, one of the biggest questions homeowners ask before moving forward with installation is if their roof is the right fit. Luckily, most roofs are solar-friendly though some materials are more suitable for solar panels. Below, well review the best roof materials for solar panels.
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The Best Roof Types For Solar Panels
- solar company erie co
When it comes to a solar company, Erie, CO residents can talk to them to learn more about the details of getting solar panels installed. One of the aspects to consider involves the type of roof that you have. There are five roof types that are better than others. Now, if you have another type of roof, this does not mean that you cannot get solar panels. Simply let the professional know so that they are able to install your panels as easily as possible.
Spanish and Standard Clay Tiles
This type of roofing is a good choice for solar panels because it allows for relatively quick and easy installation. The penetrating mounts that are standard work well with roofs that are made from this material. This means that it is easy to anchor the solar panels to the roof and make sure that they stay there.
EPDM Rubber
This is a roofing material that you might not be familiar with if you do not have a commercial building. However, if it often seen when it comes to flat commercial roofs. The EPDM stands for ethylene propylene dienterpolymer. When solar panels are being installed on this type of roof, installers will take advantage of a weighted mounting system. This means that no holes are necessary, helping to protect the integrity of the roof and this also saves money and time.
Metal Standing Seam
Asphalt
PVC and TPO
Trust Any Roof To Solar Liberty
Solar panels can be installed on just about any roofing material. Some are less complicated to mount than others, but they all have what it takes to support this game-changing energy source.
Whether its for your home or your business, contact Solar Liberty if youre considering installing solar power. We offer free solar evaluations and will help you determine what the installation process will look like for your type of roof.
Get started today to learn how Solar Liberty can increase your energy production and save you money!
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What Is A Solar Panel
Solar panels are devices that convert light into electricity. They are called solar panels because most of the time, the most powerful, free, and absolutely clean source of light available is the Sun. A solar panel is a collection of photovoltaic cells and that is why they are called PV Panels. A solar panel consists of lots of small solar cells spreading over a large area working together to provide enough power to be useful. The more light hitting a cell, the more electricity it produces.
The Photovoltaic cells are sandwiched between layers of semiconducting materials such as silicone. Each layer has different electronic properties that energize when hit by photons from sunlight, creating an electric field. This is known as the photoelectric effect creating the current needed to produce electricity.
Solar panels generate a direct current of electricity. This is then passed through an inverter to convert it into an alternating current, which can then be funneled into the National Grid or used by the home or business the solar panels are attached to.
What Is The Square Footage Of Your Roof
Roof size matters when it comes to solar. Your roof may need to meet a minimum requirement of usable surface area to have solar panels installed.
The minimum usable surface area allows solar panels to be correctly installed on your roof, helping you to meet your solar goals and comply with building codes. Most building codes require pathways of open roof area for access and ventilation to clear smoke, fumes, and heat in a fire.
Your solar consultant will address these details during your project.
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Best Roof Types To Install Solar Panels
by AWS Roofing | Sep 19, 2022 | Blog
Many Americans have turned to solar panels to help lower painful, rising energy costs over the past few years. Many others have started their solar journey as a simple effort to contribute to a greener tomorrow. Regardless of the reasoning for installation, ensuring your home is right for solar is a great first step to take if youre interested in going solar. In this blog, well discuss some of the best roofing types for solar panels, so that you can make an educated decision.
Are Clay Slate And Concrete Tiles Suitable For Solar Panels
Clay, slate, and concrete tiles offer beautiful aesthetics and design options, which are not available with other roofing types. These tile types are suitable for solar panel installation with a few provisos.
The tiles may be old, brittle, and easily damaged during the solar panel installation. Ensure that you have access to enough replacement tiles so that the look of your roof is not compromised if you are forced to remove the cracked tiles.
The installation costs are higher because the roof tiles need to be removed. Then specially designed batons, which support and position the solar panels, are connected directly to the roof trusses.
Make sure you use a qualified and experienced installer to ensure that:
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Place The Panels At The Optimum Angle
Solar panel installation experts also provide the recommended installation angle for the panel to receive maximum sun exposure. Ideally, a thirty-degree angle installation provides optimum solar energy conversion, as the panel constantly receives light energy.
However, the installation angles may vary slightly depending on your roof design. If so, you do not have to worry, as your solar installation team can work within the thirty to forty-degree angle bracket. Any inclination angle above this would defeat the purpose of a solar panel, as sun exposure is limited.
What We Dont Like About Tesla Roofs
Tesla Roofs are expensive. Theres no getting around the fact that you pay for the name. To make matters worse, Elon Musk announced on Twitter in April 2021 that Tesla Solar Panels & Solar Roof will only be sold as an integrated product *with* Tesla Powerwall battery. So, if you were looking for just a Tesla Roof, your cost outlay just got a lot higher .
The idea is that solar power from the Tesla roof would feed exclusively to Powerwall and that Powerwall will then interface with utility meters and a homes main service panel. The trouble, of course, is that some customers want a grid-connected system without battery storage. After all, batteries are expensive, require regular maintenance, and typically need replacing every 5-15 years.
This also gets to another downside of a Tesla Roof: inflexibility. Sure, the shingles themselves might be quite flexible, but the system isnt. The whole thing is designed for seamless integration with other Tesla products, meaning youre going to struggle to MacGyver anything. If you do, youll likely invalidate any warranties. So, if youre thinking you might want to eventually go off-grid, hook up a generator, or even add a wind turbine or microhydro system, a Tesla Roof, inverter, and Powerwall system can make that far trickier.
Installers are also hard to find, with Tesla Roofs most readily available in California and a handful of other test markets.
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How To Get Your Roof Ready For Solar Panel Installation
Roof-mounted solar panels are a great way to harness the power of the sun and save on your home energy bills.
A roof offers an ideal location for solar panels as it typically gets a great deal of sun exposure, which is good for maximizing your home solar energy production. Even on cloudy days, high-efficiency solar panels installed on your roof can generate power in low light as they capture direct and indirect sunlight.
What We Dont Like About Luma Solar
The trouble with Luma Solar is that the company is very choosy about who it works with. Luma readily admits on its website that it wont work with every homeowner, which may be why there are reports of potential customers trying to contact Luma and never hearing back.
This also means theres no pricing information available for Luma Solar. It stands to reason that this kind of integrated solar roofing system would vary enormously in price depending on the size, type, and shape of a roof, and any awkward angles and obstructions.
Find a Solar Energy partner near you.
Luma offers little information on the limits on its lifetime warranty, and the 5-year product warranty is very short, even for the solar industry. For such an expensive, luxury product, I would expect a far more generous warranty. After all, Tesla offers a 25-year product warranty for its solar shingles!
Luma shingles have an operating temperature range of -40 to 185 degrees Fahrenheit . This is around the same as CertainTeeds operating range.
Every Luma shingle weighs 19.8 lbs., which is quite light for a solar shingle. They can withstand mechanical forces of 2,400 Pa for static wind loading and 5,400 for static load snow loading.
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Best Solar Panels Based On Your Region And Climate
After considering the efficiency, temperature coefficient, and warranty on any particular solar panel, its important to take the next step and think about your homes individual circumstances. Its no secret that solar panels are more often found in the Sun Belt compared to other parts of the country, but thats not to say that homeowners in the Northeast or Midwest should totally rule them out.
First, several factors affect solar panel efficiencyfactors that can be impacted by your region and climate. These include irradiance, shading, panel orientation, temperature, location and latitude, time of year, and dust and dirt. For example, if you live in an area that doesnt get a lot of sunlight and your home is prone to shade and overcast clouds, youre not going to be able to produce as much clean energy for your home. When a panel is covered by shade, the power output is very loweven light shading can have a negative impact. In fact, subtle shading that covers a few cells or a single panel can reduce power output by 50% or more. This is why the orientation of your home in relation to the shade and wet weather patterns is so important.
