With the environmental awareness on the rist, solar panel installation is.
Combine that with falling prices and greater energy-efficiency than ever before, and it’s no wonder solar panels are appearing on more and more Aussie roofs!
You might be one of them. If so, you’re making the right decision not just by the environment, but by your wallet too.
Of course, just like any other major home improvement project or big change to your building plan, there are a lot of things that go into planning for solar panels.
On top of no-brainers like sunlight and shade, you’ll also need to think about whether or not your roof is “solar-ready”.
What do we mean by this? Our metal roofing installation experts explain…
What makes a roof “solar-ready?”
While solar panels can be installed on most roofs, installing solar panels on certain roofs takes a lot more effort to get it to work.
Are you dead-set on choosing solar panels for your upcoming construction project?
Leaning towards solar panels to bring down your energy bills and reduce your reliance on the grid?
If so, you’ll want to pay attention to…
Roof material – why metal roofing is a great choice
Installing solar panels involves a lot of cutting and drilling.
Certain roofing materials are better suited to this than others – for example, drilling into tile runs the risk of breaking it if not done properly.
Roof angle and pitch
For maximum efficiency solar panels have an optimal angle for energy production – a “sweet spot” of sorts.
If your roof is at an angle that’s too steep or flat, you might end up needing to drill in mountings and brackets to make up for it.
Roof condition
Another thing you’ll need to think about is roof condition.
While today’s modern and sleek solar panels are nowhere near as heavy as their vintage counterparts, they’re still a decent weight.
Your roof needs to be strong enough to support solar panels – before going solar, be sure to book a roofing inspection, just to be sure.
Why metal roofing installation is perfect for solar panel installation
Solar panels can be installed on most roofs. However, if you ask us, metal roofing is without a doubt the easiest to work with.
Metal roofing has several qualities and traits that make it more appropriate for solar panel installation.
The big one is installation.
Like we mention above, solar panel installation requires a lot of extra drilling, either to attach solar panels or mountings.
With tile roofs, you can’t drill directly into tiles – not only can this cause tiles to crack, but it’s also less stable due to the way tiles are attached to your roof.
To attach solar panels to tiles, individual tiles need to be removed and panels attached to the roof frame, with gaps cut into the tile to go around the panel.
Metal roofing doesn’t have to contend with these problems.
Solar panels can be drilled directly into metal roofs without the need to worry about cracking or breaking.
All your solar installer needs to do is find a section of metal roof with a timber rafter underneath and drill. The area is sealed with a waterproof coat.
This saves a lot of effort and work. Not only does this dramatically speed up installation, but it saves you money too!
Choose Watermaster Roofing for your metal roofing installation
Metal roofing has plenty of advantages over tiled roofs:
- It’s lighter and more flexible than tile
- Protective coats and advanced metallurgy make them rust-resistant
- Metal roofing installation is quicker and cheaper
- It offers superior thermal protection
On top of these however, metal roofing is also more solar-friendly than other roofing materials – keep this in mind if you’re on the fence about what material to choose for your roof.
And if you’ve decided to go forward with metal roof installation, you can’t go past Watermaster Roofing for expert installation.
Give our experienced team of metal roofing pros a call today on 1300 576 075, or get in touch with us here for answers to all of your metal roofing questions!