A solar roof installation is a fantastic option in a world where we’re all trying to reduce our reliance on fossil fuels and reduce our carbon footprint. With solar roofing, you can do your part to save the environment, support the growing solar industry, and reduce the cost of your electricity bills.
Of course, making the most of your new solar PV array means taking the time to plan your installation correctly. You’ll need to think about everything from which solar panels you’re going to use, to who you’re going to buy your solar systems from, and how many solar panels you need.
Today, we’re going to look at some of the different things you need to consider when working with a solar company to install solar roof panels. By the time you reach the end of this article, you’ll have a better idea of how you can leverage sunlight for your electricity needs, and how you can reduce solar roof costs.
How Many Solar Panels Can I Fit on My Roof?
One of the first questions most people ask when considering solar roof panels is how many panels they need. Although you can access things like tax credits and discounts to reduce the cost of your solar system, the more solar panels you need, the more you’re going to spend.
Choosing the right solar PV array means that you can earn the most return on your investment from your rooftop panels. Having the correct number of solar panels ensures that you’re balancing your energy usage with the energy that you create.
So, how do you calculate your solar roof cost and the number of panels that you need? There are a few points you’ll need to think about:
- Roof size: The size of your roof will have a direct impact on your ability to install a certain number of rooftop solar panels. If your existing roof is particularly small, then you might be able to add some solar panels to a ground-based system too. However, this will only be an option if you have land surrounding your home.
- Roof quality: Take a look at your home today. Does everything, from your roof pitch to your roofing tiles, seem in good condition? If not, then you might need to add the cost of a roof replacement to your solar strategy too. The last thing you want is to invest in a new form of renewable energy, and then end up with a caved-in roof.
- Roof product size and quality: There are many different kinds of solar panels available for homeowners today. Some are designed for excellent efficiency and take up very little space, like Tesla solar roof tiles. However, these products are often more expensive. You’ll need to think about what kind of panels you’re going to get, and how much energy each one can produce when planning your solar array.
With those three factors in mind, you can begin to figure out how much your solar panels cost for your home. Start with an accurate measurement of your roof size, removing any parts of your roofing that might not be suitable for solar panels.
Ideally, you want your solar roof panels to sit on a south-facing roof with a pitch of at least 40 degrees. This will give you more clean energy from direct sunlight throughout the day.
Next, calculate the number of solar roof panels that you can fit on your roof by dividing the size of your roof by the size of individual solar panels. You should be able to get a good idea of how many solar panels your home can hold at a maximum. Remember, you may not need all of these panels in your installation.
Calculate the amount of energy that each solar panel can create for you on average. The best-insulated options with reliable efficiency can deliver more electricity than you would expect for a lower cost. Use your previous energy bills to figure out the minimum number of solar panels you’re going to need to fulfill your energy needs.
Are Solar Panels Bad For Your Roof?
As you calculate the cost of your solar panel installation, you might begin asking yourself whether installing insulated solar panels onto your asphalt or metal roof is a good idea. After all, experts advise homeowners to avoid placing heavy items on our roofs, or walking on it too often, as this can cause damage to the roof tiles and roofing seam.
With that in mind, it’s easy to assume that solar cells and roof panels might not be suitable for your roof. There are a lot of heavy metal panels out there that can add up to a lot of weight for a solar project. Not all options can be as lightweight and efficient as a Tesla solar roof.
Having a pile of metal on your roof generally isn’t a good idea. Still, it’s important to remember that engineers in the solar landscape have been building products specifically designed to work well on a roof for many years. While you do need a durable roof that features the right materials and coating, you shouldn’t damage your roof if you have the proper support from professionals for the construction and installation of your solar system.
If you have glass tiles to think about or a less than flat roof that needs extra support, the best thing you can do is talk to your local solar contractor about what you need. The companies in your region will have a great deal of practice in installing a solar roofing panel. Some companies will even come out and evaluate roofing for homeowners to see whether their property is suitable for roof solar panels.
How Can I Protect My Roof With A Solar Panel Installation?
Although it’s tempting to keep the average cost of your solar panel project as low as possible, you should never cut corners when it comes to installation. Working with an electric company or solar panel installation team who understand how to deliver energy efficiency with your solar panels is crucial. A professional team will:
- Tell you if you need to repair your building roof before an installation: If you have hail damage or metal roof panels that have been damaged by rust, you may need to fix them before you can begin your solar project.
- Offer advice for maintaining your panels: Your company might be able to help you out with protecting any corrugated metal panels on your roof or maintaining the galvanized steel in your solar panels over an extended period.
- Suggesting specific solar panels: Depending on your roof and your goals, your solar company could offer you insights into which solar panels have the best corrosion resistance. They should also recommend whether you should use monocrystalline panels or a more advanced option like solar glass.
Going forward, as manufacturers continue to experiment with new kinds of solar roof shingles and renewable energy options, we may see more advanced ways to protect your roof from panel issues. For instance, you can currently use things like a standing seam panel on a seam roof, and insulated roof panels that require minimal maintenance.
However, in the future, the solar laboratories may approve more kinds of thin and lightweight panels designed to blend into your roof or wall without damaging your home. That’s the kind of performance we’ve begun to see with things like the Tesla solar roof design.
What To Expect From Your Solar Roof Panels Installation
If you’re concerned about the kind of impact a set of insulated metal roofing panels will have on your roof, it might help you to learn more about how experts install these panels.
Most of the standard roof solar panels, like monocrystalline solar cells, come with galvanized steel racking that holds your solar array in position using your roof and wall for grip. This galvalume rack for an insulated wall panel and monocrystalline solar panels holds onto some of the core components of your home’s structural makeup.
Your workers will drill holes into your roof to secure your solar cells in place. The roof panel can connect to the seam or various other components of your roof using lag bolts. The depth and size of the holes created will vary depending on your roof’s makeup.
While holes in your roof, wall, or siding might not seem like a good idea for your home’s structure, it’s worth noting that installers do put various safety measures in place. These strategies make sure that your roofing remains structurally sound and safe. Usually, if a metal roofing panel is installed, the company responsible for installation will surround bolt fixtures with flashing, using a metal or plastic shield to protect your roof. The hole will also be filled with sealant to ensure that your solar installation doesn’t cause roofing performance issues.
What Kind Of Roof Is Best For Solar Panels?
There are many different kinds of roofs around the world today. The design of your building could impact the efficiency of any solar panels that you choose to install. Because of this, before installing a metal roof panel,it’s best to ensure that you have the right kind of roof or the best type of roof tiles for your needs.
Let’s look at some of the best kinds of roofs to have solar roof panels installed into.
- Composite: Composite roofing is the most common type of roof for most homeowners. Because of this, there are a lot of options when it comes to solar energy for composite roofing. Composite or asphalt shingles are great for durability, and they can often provide an angle that’s excellent for collecting sunlight from your panels’ insulated surface. You can find plenty of design options that suit your solar energy system if you have an asphalt or composite roof.
- Tile: Tile is a pretty standard roofing option when it comes to installing solar energy solutions. Tiles are available in a range of different materials. The type of roof tiles you have, from clay to concrete, will impact the cost that you pay for your solar solution. When companies are installing solar panels on a tile roof, they often need to use brackets that lift the solar panels above the roof on a kind of roof deck.
- Standing seam metal roof: A standing seam roof panel is one of the most efficient options. With steel roof panels on top of a metal roof, you can benefit from excellent energy efficiency. Moreover, attaching monocrystalline solar cells to a metal roofing system is often substantially easier than it is with other materials. Metal roofs with the right standing seam and a corrugated panel allow you to install a range of thin-film and standard PV panels for net metering. All you need to do is protect your roof from corrosion with a standing seam roof system.
- Flat roofing: Tar and gravel roofing, otherwise known as flat roofs, are made out of layers of corrugated panels combined with hot tar in most cases. These homes often require steel brackets that can hold the solar panels at the right angle. It’s usually relatively simple to have panels installed on flat roofing, which makes it a desirable option for a lot of homeowners. Check with your installation company to see if your design is suitable for solar power.
Whether you have a metal roof or a roof that’s perfect for Tesla solar roof applications, it’s essential to have a talk with your installation company in advance. The solar company you work with will help you to figure out which applications of solar will work best for your energy usage. You might also be able to access some information about the cost of your roofing, and whether it’s best to use a polyurethane core or monocrystalline.
Making The Most Of Your Solar Roof
Solar roof options come in a range of different colors and styles to suit various applications. The solution that you choose for your roof will have a significant impact on how much your installation is likely to cost, and how efficient it’s going to be.
Remember, although incentives can reduce the cost of your solar roof strategy, it’s still important to plan exactly how efficient your new solar roofing system is going to be. This way, you can ensure that you will continue to earn a return on your investment for years to come.
