The Benefits Of Solar Panel Roofs
Solar panel roofs have proven to be a great investment.
These are appliances and a method that is worth investing in since they will increase the value of your property, and provide a cleaner environment.
Some benefits of solar panel roofs include:
- Reduces the need to rely on fossil fuels, which pollute our air and degrades our environment.
- Solar panels are a clean energy resource that doesnt produce any pollution or greenhouse gases.
- They require less maintenance than traditional roofs, since they dont wear out as quickly .
- Solar panels also offer protection from the suns heat and UV rays, which reduces cooling costs.
- They can be used for hot water heating in colder climates.
Now that solar panel roofs are being exposed to the normal average houses,It is now possible for homeowners to take advantage of solar energy without having to worry about high costs or installation.
Not only is it a natural way to get electricity, but it benefits us by lowering greenhouse gas emissions.
There are many people who think that installing renewable power sources such as roofs with solar panels is one way we can reduce our dependence on fossil fuels like coal and gas.
Your Roof Isnt Compatible With Solar Panels
In virtually all cases, you will need to drill into the rafters and seal it properly during installation. While solar panels can be installed on virtually any residential roof, some shingle materials arent as compatible with solar panels and may require additional consideration during this phase.
If you dont have the ideal roof for solar panels, poor installation tactics are more likely to make it leak. Roofs made from wood shingles, clay, slate, and terracotta tiles are particularly vulnerable to leaks and damage during installation. We advise replacing the areas of the roof where solar will be installed with composite shingles in this case, since it will be hidden under the array anyway.
If youre experiencing leaking with one of these roofs, youll want to contact your solar installer. Their warranty will hopefully cover the damage and help you resolve the problem quickly.
How To Remove Solar Panels
If you need to have, your solar panels removed or repaired, removing a solar panel may be as simple as unbolting the solar panels from their mounting device and unplugging the connecting power wires below. However, for full solar removal service, the solar circuit must also be disconnected from the mainline. You may also need to remove the mounting hardware. Once they remove these pieces, you may expose roof penetrations or openings where the original solar installation company cut into your roof to add the mounting device. These will need to be patched up and correctly filled to ensure that your homes roof doesnt leak due to the roof penetrations. This wide array of different scenarios can complicate the work, increase the chance of roof penetration leaks, and increase labor costs.
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Missing Or Broken Tiles Or Shingles
If shingles are missing, cracked or completely broken, they cant do their job properly. They wont be doing their bit to protect your home. Missing or damaged tiles can cause leaks, structural weakness, and can shorten the longevity of your roof.
A damaged roof will struggle much more when it comes to supporting the weight of solar panels. Installing solar panels with damaged tiles can make the problem worse, so this is definitely something you want to sort before installing panels.
And remember, your roof also needs to be safe for the installers to work and walk on.
What Are Solar Panel Roof Tiles
Solar roof tiles are small solar PV panels which are designed to look like traditional roof tiles. If you’re replacing your roof these tiles can be fitted alongside standard tiles to generate solar electricity for your home.
Solar roof tiles are often referred to as solar shingles or sometimes as solar slates. Solar tiles are more widely available in the US at the moment but they are becoming more and more of a popular choice in new builds in the UK, or they can be installed as part of a complete roof replacement.
A solar tile roof is viewed by many as a more attractive alternative to traditional solar panels as these can protrude out and often don’t match the colour of the roof. However, they are not suitable for all roof types and there are pros and cons to consider before making an investment.
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Can You Use Solar Panels In Place Of A Roof
Solar panels are easy to place on top of an existing roof, but since your roof is made of more than just the part you see, it wouldnt make sense to put them in as your actual roof.
Solar shingles can be used as an actual part of the roof while solar panels are used in addition to the whole roof.
Compared to installing a whole solar roof with shingles, solar panels take much less time to install. They also will cost less upfront, which is appealing to many people but doesnt necessarily make them the best option.
Its wise to learn about the different types of solar panels before going forward and understanding the cost and implications of each for your roof.
What Are Solar Roof Shingles
Solar shingles are roofing shingles that contain solar cells. They are designed to look and offer the same protection as traditional asphalt shingles while generating solar electricity at the same time.
Many homeowners are hesitant to install solar power systems on their roof, despite the positive economics, because they dont like the look of traditional solar panels. Solar roof shingles are the answer to this dilemma – they allow homeowners to still get all of the benefits of solar without having to sacrifice the aesthetic of their home.
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How To Replace A Roof With Solar Panels
There is a symbiotic relationship between solar panels and the rooftops that support them. Each must complement the other to ensure good performance by both, and as long as they are both well-maintained trouble can be avoided.
But solar panels have a long lifespan, and that can create complications. Since a properly sized and installed solar array is expected to last at least 25 years, unless your roof is relatively new or recently restored , the chances are good that your roof will need to be replaced long before your solar panels stop functioning.
This could be considered a complication, but it is not an insurmountable one. Even if removal and reinstallation are necessary solar panels are a financial winner, and knowing you might need a new roof someday is not a good reason to avoid solar.
What Our Clients Say
I ordered Roofit.solar roof, because I like the visual appearance of this solution. The solar cells inside roof panels are almost invisible. In the long run the price of a solar roof is even cheaper than regular roof because your roof generates electricity over time. My first experiences this summer are great: my solar roof created so much energy, that 20% we used ourselves in the household, but 80% sold back to the grid
Solar Roof owner from South East Estonia
My summer cottage roof has partially Roofit solar panels and partially traditional roof panels. I like the idea that my roof repays its own cost and it is an investment that does not disappear. Solar roof is a great alternative to conventional roof and as source of energy. In 5-10 years time when electric cars with reasonable price would be available, the roof will produce electricity for the car and the household. Definitely solar roof is good investment.
Solar Roof owner from North Estonia
I was happy to find out that Roofit.Solar roof is a modern solution suitable also to old and historical houses. The visual appearance of the house is important, so we chose the elegant solar roof panels. We have 1,85 kW as active part facing South-West and during first 3 months it produced 650 kWh. The roof is quiet, no problem with wind, rain and hail. As a nice surprise, the 45 degrees roof doesn’t need cleaning, the rain does it for us.
Solar Roof owner from South Estonia
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Should I Buy Solar Shingles
Over the past couple of years, solar shingles, like those offered by Tesla, have captured many US homeowners attention. This is undoubtedly an attractive alternative to consider. Solar shingles promise the best of both worlds. Since the solar shingles also act as a roofing material, you dont have to spend money on two separate projects. But you can still enjoy the benefits of both.
Due to being a relatively new invention, solar shingles are not always the best option for every homeowners needs. The complex production technology behind them makes these shingles very expensive compared to other roofing materials.
Also, solar shingles are much less efficient than classic solar panels. You would need a much larger roof area to generate the same amount of solar power. In the current market, solar shingles upfront installation cost is still significantly higher than just installing a roof with traditional solar panels.
What Is A Rail
This type of system is based on aluminum rails that are attached in rows to your roof. The rails are secured to the roof with footings . You can see an example in the photo at the top of this article.
Rail-based solar mounting systems are strong and are the most common type in use. This popularity is advantageous because installation crews have a lot of experience with them.
Their strength can be an important factor in regions where a solar array can be subjected to strong forces, such as hurricanes. Because the rails provide rigidity, they are a good choice when high winds or heavy snow loads are a possibility.
Another benefit of rails is they provide a convenient mounting point for wiring and inverter components. Good wire management is a particularly underappreciated part of a solar installation. Poor wire management can be ugly, but can also lead to electrical problems down the road. Loose wires can flap around in the wind, eventually causing insulation to wear away, exposing the wire underneath.
On the other hand, rail-based systems may have higher costs and take longer to install than railless systems.
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Roof Repair And Solar Panels: What You Need To Knowjune 1 2020
Weve been getting a particular question a lot lately from new Urban Solar customers, so we thought wed spend some time talking about it here on our blog.
The question is this:
If I install solar panels onto my roof, wont they need to be removed when my roof needs repair in the future?
The question is a valid one. After all, if youre going to make the leap and go solar, you want to be sure you know what youre signing up for. And, if youre signing up for a costlier roof repair job if and when its needed in the future, it would help to know that before making the buying decision.
To address this, lets talk about what goes into removing and replacing solar panels.
Replacing Roof Shingles With Solar Panels
The average price to install new roof solar shingles ranges from $21 to $25, including labor, totaling $31,500 for a 1,500 sq.ft. roof. Compared to installing a shingles roof for $6,960 and adding new solar panels for $18,000, this seems to be more cost-effective than installing solar shingles. It can be tempting to get solar shingles because combining roof replacement and solar energy eliminates the need to spend money on both. However, since so few contractors offer solar shingles, the price is very steep. Also, since solar shingles need more coverage area to produce the same amount of electricity as panels, they arent as effective.
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How To Replace Your Roof After Going Solar
Taking down the solar PV system, reroofing, and reinstalling the PV system back on the new roof, will involve some costs.
The costs of such operation will depend on the size of the PV system , but will be much smaller compared to the costs paid when you first installed the solar PV system on your roof.
Solar Shingles Vs Solar Panels
If you were trying to decide between installing solar shingles or installing traditional solar panels on your roof, here are a few advantages and disadvantages to consider beforehand. The benefits of solar shingles include being more aesthetically pleasing than bulky solar panels, being more cost effective , and are able to be removed and reinstalled if you were to move homes.
The disadvantages of solar shingles is they can sometimes be less energy efficient than regular solar panels, you will need a particular roof slope with high sunlight exposure, lifespan is less, many solar installers do not offer solar shingles yet as they are still growing in popularity. Traditional solar panels can also produce more energy per watt in comparison to the cost of solar installation.
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Are Solar Shingles Better Than Solar Panels
The main reason why people are more interested in solar shingles than solar panels is that shingles look more aesthetically pleasing. They definitely give your roof a nicer look, but are they really better than traditional solar panels? Lets assess the situation:
Pros:
- Have a higher home value
Cons:
- Less efficient in comparison to conventional panels
- Higher module temperatures
- Only a few contractors offer this option
It is apparent that solar shingles have quite a few drawbacks.
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How Much Do Solar Shingles Cost To Install
The cost to install solar shingles varies, depending on the brand you choose and how you choose to compare the costs.
If youre looking strictly at the cost of solar, Tesla is the cheapest at $2.01 per watt before incentives. Other solar shingle brands will cost between $3.80 to $7.00 per watt.
However, its important to note that Tesla requires you to invest in a total roof replacement when you install their solar shingles. This means that the overall cost of a Tesla solar shingle installation could be much higher than that of other brands, like CertainTeed, that can be installed with your existing roof – especially because Teslas roofing materials can get expensive.
Find out which solar incentives your home could qualify for
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How Solar Installations Are Done With Different Roof Types
While asphalt shingles are the most common roofing material in the country, many homes have other products such as tile and metal. These materials can make it relatively easy to install solar panels, or make it so difficult that some solar companies will decline working on a project.
For example, its possible to install solar panels on a standing seam metal roof without drilling any holes, making this one of the easiest materials for solar installers to work with.
In contrast, clay tile roofs are so brittle that simply walking on them can crack them. This aspect of clay tiles can increase the cost of installation so much that many solar companies will say that its not worth it for them to take the job. Other types of tile, such as composite and concrete, are more durable and easier to work with. However, they still require special techniques, so a solar installation on any type of tile roof is typically a little more expensive.
Roof Restoration After Solar Panels Are Installed
Roofs need looking after, and every now and then they need restoring. If you have solar panels, the chances are, theyll outlive your roof.
Solar panels last at least 25 years, and can often last up to 40 years. And ideally you should have your roof repaired every 10-15 years or so. But if you have noticed your roof is looking particularly run down, or you have experienced a leak or higher energy bills, it might be time for a roof inspection and restoration.
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As previously mentioned, a roof restoration with solar panels can be more complicated than a standard restoration. So, how should you go about roof repairs with solar panels?
The first thing to do is get a team of trusty Roof Restoration professionals in Melbourne on-board to see the process through from start to finish.
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Things You Need To Know When Reroofing Your Home With Solar Panels
Getting a new roof for your home is a major project as it is, and adding any additional obstacles or processes to it only makes the process even more involved. However, if you have solar panels on your roof, youll need to undergo at least two more additional steps to your roof replacement. Things brings up a lot of questions from those who have solar energy systems constructed on their rooftop. Will you have to remove your panels to replace your roof? Will the roofers remove the panels, or do you have to call your solar installer to do it? Can you build your solar mounting hardware directly into your new roof? In this blog, well do our best to answer these and several other common questions you may have as well as tell you about four things you need to know about your roof replacement project.
Your Local Roof Replacement Experts
If youre in the market for a roof replacement, look no further than the high-quality roof installations provided by the roofing experts at RBS Construction & Roofing. At RBS Construction & Roofing, we are dedicated to providing you with quality products and services at an affordable price.
Having served the Orlando area for over three decades, our veteran craftsmen can carefully navigate around solar panels to provide superior roof replacement or repair services. We will also keep you informed every step of the way, giving you the peace of mind you deserve when it comes to the integrity of your commercial or residential roof.
For more information on our roof replacement services or to schedule a free consultation, call us at today.
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