Solar power is an awesome innovation that can save you thousands in energy bills. There are also a host of solar rebates available nationwide, so you’ll save even more.
Solar is an eco-friendly option using an infinitely renewable source. There’s really no reason to put off investing in solar, but you probably have a few questions if you’re considering this option.
One of them may be, “what’s the best roof for solar panels?” Let’s find out.
Installing Solar Panels
In truth, a skilled contractor can fit solar panels to any kind of roof so don’t let this consideration put you off joining the move to solar.
The question is rather, how much do solar panels cost to fit on different kinds of roofs? A more complex installation will take longer, and ultimately affect your budget.
This is what’s involved depending on the material your roof’s made of.
Tile
Tile roofs can consist of various materials like metal, ceramic, concrete, and bitumen. Yet, it’s the structure of the tiles themselves that affect your solar panels.
Regardless of these materials, installing solar panels on tiles involves attaching them to brackets that rest below the tiles. This involves moving some of the tiles and will affect time and labor costs.
Metal
Metal roofs are a common choice for commercial buildings and well suited to solar panels.
It’s easy to place solar panels on a metal roof and your contractor will have no problem fixing your solar panels to this type of roof. This makes it a cost-effective roofing material for solar applications.
Tar & Gravel Roofs
This old-fashioned roof type consists of layers of asphalt and tar as well as supporting materials.
They’re heavy and difficult to maintain. Your solar installer may need to affix additional braces to your roof structure to accommodate the additional weight of the panels.
This can have a significant effect on the cost of installation.
Wood and Shake Roofs
Wood and shake roofs can be a tricky place to install solar panels.
Often, your contractor may need to affix some shingles to the roof to accommodate the panels. This is a time-consuming and expensive process but not impossible.
Foam Roofs
Foam roofs have many benefits for the homeowner. They’re lightweight, durable, and seamless.
They also present no problem when it comes to going solar.
Composite Roofs
Composite roofs are cheap and durable. They’re also the most widely-used roofing material in the USA.
Fortunately, these roofs also present no problems for solar installers, so you won’t accrue any extra costs for labor and materials either.
The Best Roof for Solar Panels
While the type of roof you have can affect your solar panel installation, the way it’s built is far more important.
Solar panels should always face south or southwest and must slate at 30-degrees. If you have a flat roof, you’ll need tilt-up brackets to achieve the correct angle.
More About Houses
If you’re interested in information beyond the best roof for solar panels, keep reading.
Our real estate section has plenty of interesting snippets about everything to do with homes and housing.
