So you’ve decided that you are ready to take the plunge and get solar panels installed onto your roof. How exciting! Royal Solar can take your energy bill, plug in some numbers, and if you are a good candidate-design a system sure to slash your energy bill in half, maybe even MORE than half!
Often times, homeowners get knee-deep into the process of going solar when roofing troubles get in their way. You don’t want to let roof issues be your roadblock! The best thing you can do is to be prepared for this, which you do by getting a thorough roof inspection to start.
Your Roof Is The Key To Your Solar Panel Installation
When you make the decision to go solar, you will most likely begin to do your research on solar and solar panels. At this step, you will learn about all the different types of panels, inverters, and racking (what holds the panels in place). Unfortunately, you will NOT find much about your roof and what you should do to prepare for solar installation. Your roof is the key component of your solar system!
While you do have options to install your panels elsewhere, such as another structure or even on the ground, the majority of them are installed on rooftops. This means the roof must be structurally sound and in good shape to be able to handle the solar panels.
Some do not realize just how complex a roofing system is. It is MUCH more than just shingles or tiles in neat little rows. A roof is made up of multiple layers that all work together to protect your home!
A standard roof consists of:
- Roof Truss
- Decking
- Insulation
- Ice and water barrier
- Underlayment
- Wood Frame
- Shingles/Tiles
If any one of these parts are damaged-it can compromise the entire roofing system. How do you know if your roof has damage in any of these components? Well more often than not-your roof will tell you!
Identifying Roof Damage
The most common types of roof damage are:
- Loose or broken shingles: This type of damage is the easiest to spot. Often times, shingles will blow off and you will find them in your yard around your home. You can also usually see missing shingles from the ground.
- Worn down materials: Like everything else, your roof takes a lot of wear and tear and will eventually wear out. Some examples of age damage are bare shingles, shingle granules (the material on the shingles coming off), or rust. Once your roof has aged, it becomes more fragile and susceptible to damage.
- Water damage: As any part of the roofing system breaks down, water damage quickly follows suit. Things like broken or missing shingles, worn out sealants, and more can result in water damage quickly during the next rain storm.
- Punctures and cracks: Underlayment can be punctured on your roof, which is a problem since underlayment services as a layer designed to keep water out. If something like a tree limb falls on your roof, or roof installation is done poorly, cracks or punctures can be the result.
- Standing water: Your roof is designed to effectively deflect water from its surface, using the angled design, as well as flashing and guttering systems. If you ever notice there is standing water on your roof’s system, something is not working the way it is supposed to be.
- Structural damage: On rare occasions, the supports of your roof may shift, which presents a serious danger to you and your family. Roofs with structural damage are liable to collapse and must be addresses immediately.
Not all roof damage is easy to spot, but will eventually become noticeable. The easiest to spot is water damage. Water damage presents itself by water stains on the ceiling, interior walls, or exterior walls. This could even turn into mold or result in active leaking.
If you notice these things, there’s a good chance that your roof needs repairing or replacing before you consider putting solar panels on.
Why Your Roof’s Age Matters
If you do not see any water stains or have any active leaks, does not necessarily mean your roof is or is not ready to handle solar panel installation. Age is obviously a huge factor to take into consideration.
The lifespan of your roof depends on a few different factors, including:
- Materials
- Environment
- Care
If you live in a particularly harsh environment, your roof’s lifespan may be a little shorter than others. If you’ve never resealed it or repaired any noticeable damage, this can shorten your roof’s lifespan as well.
What does it mean if your roof is nearing the end of its life, and how does that affect you installing a solar system for your home?
If your roof is nearing the end of its life, it would be in your best interest to have it inspected and most likely, replaced, prior to installing solar panels onto it. An old roof will not hold up well to the drilling for the racking installation and in all honesty-older roofs simply were not built to handle the weight of a solar system.
It Makes Sense To Repair Or Replace Your Roof Before Getting Solar Panels
It’s understandable that replacing your roof is an expensive thing to do, especially if you are already getting ready to drop a lot of money on solar. However, roof replacement becomes much costlier when solar panels have to be removed and then put back on in order to complete the replacement! Much like the purpose your foundation serves to the structure of your home, your roof serves as the foundation to the structure of your solar system.
In addition to that, you can save money long term by investing in a new roof. Your roof plays a huge role in insulation for your home. A new roof can make your home more energy efficient, which can not only save you money in your regular energy costs-but could potentially save you money in solar energy costs as well.
Choose A Company That Provides Roof Replacements And Solar Installation
Now that you also want to replace your roof-you will need to find a reputable roofing company. This means scheduling
inspections, signing a contract, getting the work done…and then having to do it all over again to get your solar installed! Who wants to do that twice in a row?!
This is why using Royal Solar is beneficial. We can save you a ton of time and effort by getting your roof inspected AND your solar system designed. Plus, when we combine our Royal Solar solar systems and Royal Roofing & Solar roofing systems, it allows us to be as efficient as possible, which means we get to pass those savings onto YOU.
Sometimes installing solar panels on your roof means repairing or replacing the roof first. Royal can take on both for you and have your home running as energy efficient as possible in a blink of an eye! Contact us today to schedule your FREE consultation.
