Are you ready to harness the power of the sun to reduce your energy bills and your carbon footprint? Installing a solar system is the perfect step towards battling the cost of living crisis and climate change too. Like all big decisions, you may find yourself contemplating and asking questions. One common challenge that homeowners often face when contemplating a solar system, is the suitability of their roof. “Does my roof get enough sun?” “Will it hold up solar panels?”

We understand why you may have your questions, and we’re here to assure you that even a less-than-ideal roof doesn’t necessarily mean you can’t enjoy the benefits of solar energy. In fact, we’ll show your how to assess your own roof’s suitability, so you can join in on all those cost-saving and environmental benefits sooner.

 

“Does my roof get enough sun?”, “Is my roof facing the best way?”

Shading from nearby trees, buildings, and other obstructions can definitely impact the efficiency of your solar panels. So you might be wondering if your roof gets enough sunlight to make solar worthwhile. As a solar installer we have various strategies and alternatives available to us, to mitigate the impact of shading and still provide a viable solar solution for you.

Firstly, we conduct a site assessment to determine the extent and patterns of shading on your roof. This helps to identify specific shaded areas and their overall impact on solar panel performance. Next, we design your solar system in a way that maximises exposure to sunlight that is available. This may involve placing panels on various sections of the roof that do receive optimal sunlight, or optimising the panel tilt and orientation. There’s also microinverters or power optimisers available, too. These devices can be installed with each solar panel to optimise the peformance of a single panel, reducing the impact of shading on the entire system. There’s also the opportunity to trim or remove obstacles in consideration with local regulations, install a ground-mounted system or install battery storage to store excess energy generated during sunny periods, to be used during later hours, to reduce the overall impact of shading.

Long story short, there’s more than a couple of solutions on this one.

“Is the condition of my roof good enough?”, “Is my roof too old?”

You may also have concerns that your roof isn’t structurally sound, or that your roof is too old. The good thing is, as a solar installer we can work closely with roofing experts to ensure that the roof is structurally sound and ready for your solar system installation. In some cases, we can provide customised mounting solutions that do not penetrate the roof. Ballasted or ground-mounted systems can be explored to avoid placing additional stress if a roof is to be found unstable. Rest assured, while homes built 30+ years ago weren’t designed to host solar panels on the roof, modern technology and customised mounting solutions can work to make this happen for you. And it’s our job to match you with the best fit.

 

Assessing your roof is one of the first steps in your solar journey. We’re here to assist you every step of the way. Our team of experts can answer your questions and provide personalised guidance and solutions tailored to your unique situation. No two roofs are the same, and we’re able to work together to design a solar system to maximise your return on investment.

Ready to explore the solutions for your property? Call us on 1300 4 SOLAR so we can help you take the first step to energy savings and a brighter future. Your roof might just surprise you with its solar potential!