If you’ve ever looked at the housing market, you may have noticed there’s a wide variety of homes to choose from. There are single-family homes, townhomes, condos, manufactured homes, and more. For every different home you can imagine, there are about as many different roof types. And if you’ve been considering going solar, you may be wondering what type of roof is best for solar panels? The short answer? Your roof is the best roof for solar panels, no matter what type of roof you have.
But if you’ve come here looking to learn a thing or two, keep reading to find out about: all the different types of roofs, how solar can be installed on each, and why solar panels don’t damage your roof when they’re installed by a professional solar installer with roofing experience.
First, let’s go through all the different types of roofs out there and how solar is installed on each.
Installing Solar Panels on Many Types of Roofs
There are a variety of different kinds of roofs that homeowners can install solar panels on, including:
Installing solar panels on these different roof varieties necessitates different installation techniques, but experts can safely and efficiently install a brand new solar power system on any kind of residential or even commercial roof. First, let’s take a look at what it takes to install solar panels on each type of roofing material.
Wooden and Cedar Roof Tiles
Wooden and cedar roof tiles are common to older homes. Many homeowners with older homes might be asking themselves if they’re good candidates for solar power, and the good news is — they are. In order to install solar panels on wooden or cedar roof tiles, solar power installers will have to drill a stud into the tiles and insert flashing underneath the wooden or cedar roof tiles in order to prevent leaking. By installing solar panels in this manner, homeowners can rest easy, knowing that they can gain more energy efficiency and without concern for leakage.
Installing Solar on Clay Tile Roofs
In Southern California, many homes have traditional Spanish tiles on the roof. This is also a part of a Mediterranean trend in homebuilding, and traditionally these tiles are made of clay. As any homeowner with clay tiles knows, they are extremely fragile and can break very easily.
This is why when installing solar panels on a clay tile roof, experts take extra precautions. This means the experts will remove your clay tiles to mount racking feet, metal hooks and flashing directly onto the home’s roof. Then, new tiles will be inserted above these to conform to the roof’s aesthetics. In some cases, expert installers may place a new metal piece in its place instead.
Asphalt Shingles- the Most Common Type
The most common type of roof material is asphalt shingles. These affordable shingles are very popular with home builders. Because they are so common in residences, installing solar panels on asphalt shingles is easy and straightforward. Installers will typically drill studs, install panel mounts and flashing to prevent any water from creeping in.
Metal Roofs
Some homeowners have really artistic homes and use metal roofs. Installing solar panels on a metal roof isn’t as complicated as one would believe- it’s actually as easy as either clamping solar systems onto a raised metal seam or drill holes and add flashing to prevent any water damage.
Concrete Tiles or Rubber Roofs
Concrete tiles and rubber roofs are less common but are still found in multifamily units. In order to install solar panels on these roofs, solar power installation experts will install tilted or slanted metal racking in order to hold up the solar panels at the exact angle necessary to gather solar energy. Alternatively, a ballast system might be used as a weighted racking system to hold solar panels in place.
Read more: How long can a roof last depending on the material?
Does having solar installed damage your roof?
If you’re concerned about potential damage when getting solar panels installed on your home, you don’t need to worry about that when you choose the right installer. There should be no damage done to your roof in the process of upgrading your home to solar power.
This is why it’s especially important to choose an installer with many years of experience, especially with roofs. Unsure about how to choose the best installer in your area? Follow these simple guidelines:
- Expertise: Your solar installer should have expertise in the solar industry as well as experience in roofing, like ADT Solar, and our sister company, Buildpro. A company with expertise will have been open for more than a few years and have thousands of installations under their belt. Many companies subcontract their installation employees. Companies who have in-house installers are much more reliable and experienced.
- Credentials: A reputable solar installation company will have all of the necessary licenses, insurance policies and credentials needed for all areas they operate in. They should be listed on their website and easy to find. A company with all credentials will meet all of the state standards and is certified as a legitimate business.
- Track Record and Experience: The solar industry is growing and not many companies have decades of solar under their belt. Though, finding a company with a background in solar and years of experience is necessary. They should be able to discuss and show different installations and systems previously installed. They should have hundreds of reviews on their website and social media accounts.
- Reputation: Reading solar company reviews is a great place to start. Keep an eye out for companies that respond to their customer reviews and respond in a professional and timely manner. Companies who care about their customers will be helpful and thankful to their customers. Solar companies that have won solar awards and been named in the top of their industry are great companies to look into.
- Warranties: Warranties are a very important factor when considering solar installation companies. Many solar companies do not have reliable warranties. When buying an expensive system, it is important to know about the warranties and what the company will do for you if something goes wrong.
So, what type of roof is best for solar panels?
Yours! Regardless of the type of roof you have, solar panels can be installed on it. There are different techniques to installing solar panels on different types of roofs, but when you choose an expert in solar and roofing, you won’t have to worry.
Leave the work to the experts at ADT Solar, the top rated residential solar installer in the U.S., according to Solar Power World 2021, as well as a company that are experts in the field of roofing. Have a Solar Energy Specialist answer all your questions about solar panels and your roof.
If you’re ready to start, get a FREE solar quote and consultation:
