Best Roof Types for Solar Panels

For the purpose of preserving nature, it’s very important to be as eco-friendly as you can. One aspect of doing so is changing how your household is fueled. Instead of using traditional sources that are soon to be out of supply and are dangerous for the environment, you can make the switch to a clean and renewable energy source- solar power. With this switch, you’ll be running a much cleaner household and lowering your bills in the process.

Here’s our guide to best roof types for solar panels.

Tar and gravel

Roofing felt and hot tar are the common materials which make up the layers of these roofs. If you have a flat roof, the assumption is that it’s made out of tar and gravel. These roofs are very compatible with solar panels, but the installation may be harder due to the flat surface. To angle the solar panels under 30 degrees, you’ll probably need some extra brackets.

Luckily, that’s not very hard to do. Still, because the installation is harder than on angled roofs, it may be more expensive. Other materials and tilted roofs usually count lower installation costs, but that doesn’t mean this surface isn’t a viable basis for eco-friendliness. After all, with more and more roofs being flat, there is no other choice but to work with what you got.

Wood

Wooden roofs are characterized by their specific angles and shapes. The common wooden roof can either have shingles at specific angles or be completely flat. This means that the specifics of your solar panel installation will depend on the structure of your roof. You should know, though, that you need to be very careful with solar panels on wooden roofs because of fire safety concerns.

This doesn’t mean a wooden roof can’t be eco-friendly. It’s still a viable surface for solar panels, but a different approach needs to be taken. People usually opt for community solar or ground mounted solar systems.

Metal standing seam

If you have metal roofing or are thinking of getting it, you definitely should. This is the dream type of roof for solar panels. Because it is metal, the installation is incredibly easy. In fact, you don’t even have to drill any holes in your roof. Of course, due to the easy installation, the cost will be a lot cheaper. Not only will you have a sustainable roof, but you also won’t have to invest in it a lot.

Anyone who already has a metal roof should know it’s eco-friendly in itself, even without the panels. This is because these roofs are made out of recycled materials, but also because they last for over thirty years. If you have a metal roof with a standing seam, you can fit both thin and standard PV panels. Yet another benefit is the cooling effect, as the roof reflects the sunlight that isn’t being absorbed.

Tiles

Tile roofs may be the most common types of roof you can find. In fact, every neighbourhood has at least one house with a tile roof. Thankfully, this type of roof is an excellent basis for solar panel installation. Before you proceed, you’re going to have to check what kind of material the tiles are made of, though. It can turn out that installing solar panels on clay tiles is way more expensive than doing so on metal tiles, for example.

One other thing you need to make sure is that your roof is fully functional. If it’s old, this means it needs to be restored. For these kinds of services, it’s best to turn to professionals like First Class Slate, as the replacement work won’t cost you much but will be done quickly. Then you can easily carry on with your plan involving solar panels.

Composite

Made out of fibreglass or cellulose mat, composite shingles are another very common roof type. As this is the general type of roof, solar panel installation usually doesn’t end up costing too much money. Another benefit of why people opt for solar panels on these types of roofs is the durability. Once you make the switch, you won’t have to worry about replacements any time soon.

The most appealing benefit might be the look flexibility, though. This means that it can be adapted to look like almost any other material you choose, allowing you to customize your roof a little. Of course, you should let a professional make the switch for you, regardless of how easy composite is to work with.

Conclusion

As you can see, there are different kinds of roof types for solar panels. Which one you choose depends on your preferences but also on your house shape and size. In any case, we’re confident that you’ll soon be capable of harvesting the eco-friendly power of the sun which will contribute to improving your life, as well as improving the world around you.