Installing solar panels on your roof can be a great investment. You’ll be increasing your property value, slashing your electricity bills and investing in the ecological future of Australia by reducing your carbon footprint. When it comes to solar panels, not all roofs are simply ready for installation and there may be some work yet to do.
You’ll Need to Inspect Your Roof and Attic Space
You can inspect your roof and roof-space yourself but, to avoid problems, your best bet is to have a roofing specialist look at them. These professionals are well equipped to notice potential problems, saving you trouble now and in the future.
Things that need to be checked include mildew and issues such as leaks or stains in the attic or walls. These signs, along with excessive energy bills, may point to poor ventilation. In fact, many attics are improperly ventilated, which can lead to structural damage of a home and shorten the life of a roof.
Solar panels will add a fair amount of extra weight to your roof, so all issues will need to be rectified before you can go ahead with the installation.
Roof Replacement May Be Necessary
If there are serious problems uncovered during the roof and attic inspection, you may want to replace your roof before adding solar panels. Make sure you get in touch with a professional roofing materials company that understands what’s needed in a new roof to make it work with solar panels.
It’s essential you fix problems or get a new roof before any work starts – installation will involve people walking over your roof carrying heavy equipment and supplies. This means any problems, even ones that seem minor, could end up being exacerbated.
Your Roof Will Need to Be Measured Accurately
You’ll need to measure your roof carefully to make sure there is enough room for the solar panels – the more you can install the more power you can generate. As you measure the area of your roof, remember to multiply length and height. Portion your roof off into sections and write down how many sections there are. Measure the largest section first – be sure to include eaves, ridges and valleys in your calculations.
Your Roof Needs to Catch the Sun
Solar panels need sunlight to fulfil their potential. In Brisbane, we get a decent amount of sunlight year-round, which makes the panels feasible. You’ll need to ensure there is a section of your roof with the right orientation to catch those rays. You may also need to hire an arborist to trim back or even move trees that cast shadows over too much of your roof.
Some Additional Considerations
The best roofs for solar panels are relatively flat, as this makes for the most secure installations and maximum exposure to sunlight. If your roof has a steeper pitch, you’ll need to check with a solar panel installer to find out whether the job is feasible or your roof will need to be modified.
On average, one home needs its solar panels to generate about 6.5 kilowatts of power, so you need to have roof space available to fit enough solar panels to make their installation worthwhile. A healthy roof may still benefit from reinforcement before the heavy solar panels are installed.
Solar panels can be installed on all types of roofs, including tiles and both corrugated steel and Five Rib sheet metal roofing. However, not all contractors can install on all roof types, so make sure the team you hire have the relevant experience.
For expert roofing advice and help choosing the right materials, contact Rollsec today on 07 3267 7171 or make an online enquiry.
