If you’re thinking of installing solar panels for your home, one of the first things that you should figure out is whether your roof is suitable for solar or not. Most roofing materials are compatible with solar panels. However, your roof should meet other specific requirements to ensure the installation of the solar panels will be safe and effective.
Below are some of the top considerations that a roofer will take into account before installing a solar PV system.
The Direction Your Roof Is Facing
To ensure the maximum amount of sunlight that your panels will receive, the roof should face south at 180 degrees true orientation. If your roof is slanted east or west, it could still work as long as the roof meets the other requirements for solar panel installation.
Enough Space for Solar Panels
Roofs without obstructions like skylights, chimneys and dormers are usually the best matches for solar. Typically, solar PV systems use 20-30 panels. Each panel takes up around 18 square feet, so make sure your roof has approximately 400-600 square feet of available space.
Shading
Solar panels should have at least six hours of continuous sunlight, ideally from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Nevertheless, if your residential roofing is shaded by nearby trees, buildings or roof obstructions, these things can reduce the electricity production of your panels.
Roofing Material
As mentioned earlier, solar panels can be installed on most surfaces. Shingles tend to be the easiest roofing material for solar panel installation. Meanwhile, if your roof is made of clay or slate, extra precautions should be taken as the material may be prone to breakage.
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