Quality and Compatibility of Your Roof
Aside from the type of roofing material you have, you’ll also need to consider the quality of your roof, its age, and a few other important considerations.
The fact of the matter is that the older your home is, the less likely your roof is 100 percent compatible with solar panel installation. This is because most older homes were not built with this type of project in mind.
If you live in a newer build, you could find yourself with a perfectly compatible roof. Otherwise, you might need to consider replacing old roofing materials or making some sizable adjustments where needed.
Here are some of the most important factors a solar panel professional will consider about your roof:
The material (as mentioned)
The pitch of your roof
The size and shape of your roof
Its orientation — does it receive a good amount of sunlight?
Shade exposure
As a general rule of thumb, a roof that’s 20 years or older will need some work. Your solar panel installer will do a thorough once-over of your roof and tell you whether it will withstand the installation. In some cases, you might be better off replacing your roofing material first in order to substantiate the longevity of your solar panels.
This sounds like a huge amount of additional cost, but it will save you money in the long run. The last thing you want is to install solar panels on an older roof, only to have to remove the panels, and replace your roof at a later stage!
The good news is that solar panels last 25-30 years, or more. It’s important to ensure your roof is ready and up to the task of supporting them for this amount of time.