Solar power is now an option for many businesses and homeowners, and it used to be that solar power was known for its inefficiency, but that was back then. Now, solar power is so efficient that you can practically live off the central electric grid. If you are considering solar rooftops in your home or business, you might’ve considered, does solar power need any particular type of rooftops to work? Although the costs of solar panels have steadily decreased these past few decades, they still need careful consideration before investing in them. Solar rooftops will be costly, no doubt, but the costs are not for the moment but long-term savings. You need to maximize the electric energy you can get to make your returns much more worth it.
Every day, your home or business receives ample sunlight, especially your rooftop. There’s great potential in harnessing the sun’s power right in your own property and converting it into electrical energy. To maximize the amount of energy you get, you need to consider what kind of rooftop you have and how efficient it will be if you place a solar panel there. Solar power is essential for the environment. Preserving the environment is a noble goal, but you can also use solar power for yourself to save money, be energy independent, and increase the value of your property.
Rooftop Requirements For Solar Power Installation
Here are some actions you can do right now to check if your rooftop is suitable for solar power installation:
Rooftop Orientation
The orientation of your rooftop will matter a lot before installing solar power in your home. If you live in North America, your roof should ideally face south or southwest to get the most out of the sunlight. On the other hand, rooftops that face north, northeast, or east won’t get as much sunlight. Use a compass to identify in which direction your rooftop is facing. A proper rooftop orientation is an essential requirement that will tell your cost-efficiency, thermal performance, and energy efficiency.
Shade
Check your surroundings and see if your rooftop frequently experiences shade in some areas. Several buildings, highrises, neighbor’s homes, trees, chimneys, and other vegetation can cause shadows and reduce efficiency. Check how much persistent shade is occurring and where they occur, and clear them out if possible. However, there are instances when removing these shades is not possible. If there’s no way around it, consider investing in micro-inverters that bypass diodes. Micro-inverters increase the efficiency of your solar panels by circumventing around the shaded parts and only passing through solar cells that experience sunlight.
Tilt
Finally, check your roof’s tilt. Rooftops that tilt as much as 30 or 40 degrees won’t get much sunlight. On top of that, the installation will also be more expensive since it will require more work to install the solar panels. Ideally, you want your rooftops to match the degree of your location’s latitude. On the other hand, if your rooftop is flat, installing solar panels is more accessible, and you could adjust their angles using brackets. It’s cheaper to install solar rooftops, and maintenance is likewise affordable. Many of these ideas and factors are significant in an ideal world, but unfortunately, many of these aspects are out of our control. Fortunately, thanks to the efficiency of modern solar panels, you can still save money and achieve energy efficiency even if you don’t have most of these requirements.
Which Rooftops Suits Best For Sonal Panels?
It’s possible to install solar panels in any roofing material. However, it doesn’t mean that each roofing material or rooftop structure is designed for installing solar panels. You will have to consult with professionals first to see how your rooftop material or structure will handle solar panels. We will discuss each of these roofing materials and see they affect your solar panel installations.
Asphalt Rooftops
The most widely used shingle currently in the United States is asphalt shingles. Since they are the most common rooftops, solar panel installation companies are experienced installing solar panels in asphalt rooftops. Likewise, asphalt shingles are made of cellulose material or fiberglass, making them durable and flexible, perfect for installing solar panels. Installing these panels is straightforward. Drill studs into the roof and attach the mounds to the studs, and it’s that simple. The space between the studs and the solar panels is sealed with flashings to prevent water from seeping into your homes.
Metal Rooftops
Metal rooftops are likewise a perfect fit for solar panel installation. If your metal rooftops have metal seams, it will eliminate the need for drilling, which reduces installation costs. The solar panels will be mounted and clamped securely in the raised seams. Metal roofs are durable and can last anywhere between 40 to 70 years. So maintenance will be cheap.
Flat Rooftops
Flat rooftops are also one of the best places to install solar panels. They are one of the most energy-efficient places since you only need to angle the solar panels to get the maximum sunlight. Flat rooftops are versatile, so it’s possible to add more features to your solar panel. You can add a solar tracker to your solar panel, which allows the solar panel to track the sun’s path along the day and get the most out of the sunlight. A solar tracker is possible in tilting rooftops, but it is more complex to install, unlike flat rooftops.
Tiles
Tiles are aesthetically pleasing for your home, but installing solar panels on top of them will be more complex. Installing solar panels on tile rooftops is labor-intensive, leading to higher labor costs.
Installers would first have to remove the tiles to access the studs and then mount and fasten the solar panel. Some of your rooftop tiles won’t be returned to the roof to make way for the solar mounting rack. Likewise, the installer will also spend more additional flashings to cover the holes created from the drilling into the studs. Your rooftop won’t be as aesthetically pleasing as before.
These complex methods apply to concrete tile roods, clay tile roofs, and slate tile roofs.
Takeaway
Many variables can affect your solar rooftops’ output efficiency and the costs of installing them. You need professionals to handle these complex tasks, and if you are looking for one, reach out to Spring Solar. Spring Solar can help you install solar rooftops into your homes, businesses, and even industrial buildings.
