Sunday, July 7, 2013

Roofing & Solar System Panels

Roofing & Solar System Panels

There are many styles of residential and commercial roofing, and a variety of building materials which can be used in the process. In a majority of applications, solar system panels are installed in the roof space of a home or business. There are many qualities a roof has that can affect installation, and certain precautions will be taken by solar system panel installers to protect the roof itself as well as the panels.


Older roofs

When installing solar system panels on an older roof, we encourage you to consider the life of your current roof beforehand. Take into account how old your roof is, how many more years you expect to get out of it, and its current condition. If your home is due for a new roof in under five years, it may be more practical to go ahead and install a new roof before solar system panel installation. This will avoid the need to have the panels removed and reinstalled when your new roof is installed, and the panels will also help protect your new roof, possibly making it last longer than expected.

Roof pitch

The pitch, or angle, of a roof plays a part in determining how solar system panels are installed. Very steep roofs can add to installation time and may require special mounting equipment to secure the panels. Installing solar system panels on a flat roof will likely need ballast rack mounted to hold the equipment.

Roofing materials

Some roofing materials are more sensitive than others when it comes to solar system panel installation. Tile and shake shingles are fragile, and extra care must be taken when installing the solar system panels to avoid damaging the roof. Asphalt shingles are durable, and solar system panels can usually be installed easily with mounts that attach to the roof via the rafters. Regardless of your roofing material, any gaps around mounting equipment must be properly sealed to avoid weather damage to your roof.


When undergoing a solar system panel installation, it’s best to trust a company with experience and expertise in order to protect your roof and your home. Smith Sustainable Design is a highly qualified solar system panel installer who can protect the integrity of your roofing system throughout the life of your solar collection system.

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