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If you may have determined to put in a photo voltaic photovoltaic (PV) system in your roof, it’s a good suggestion to do some superior planning. Solar panels are designed to final 25 to 30 years. Some roofs solely final 20 years or much less relying on the local weather. If you’re going to set up a photo voltaic system and the roof must be changed quickly, it’s best to do that first.
Removing the photo voltaic panels to do roof work is a labor-intensive undertaking in itself. A easy solution to keep away from this extra expense is by replacing an old roof earlier than going photo voltaic.
Asphalt Shingle or Composite Roofs
Asphalt is the most typical roofing materials within the United States. These roofs are usually much less sturdy than the photo voltaic panels and are designed to final 20 years. In reality, it’s comparatively widespread for photo voltaic panels to guard asphalt shingle roofs from hail injury. Attaching photo voltaic panels includes drilling into the roof and attaching the mounting {hardware} to roof studs. The roof penetrations are then sealed off to stop water infiltration.
Tile or Ceramic Roofs
While it’s potential to put in photo voltaic panels on a ceramic roof, it requires care to keep away from injury to the roof. First, the ceramic tiles are eliminated, then the brackets are put in with flashing to stop roof leaks. Although there are different approaches, drilling via tiles may end up in them breaking.
Standing-Seam Metal Roof
These are the perfect roofs for photo voltaic panels however do come at a better upfront price than asphalt shingle roofs.
Metal roofs are designed to final between 40 and 70 years, which is longer than photo voltaic panels. Because of their longevity, the roofs are cheap to keep up, leading to long-term price financial savings.
The seams within the roof can be utilized for mounting {hardware} for the panels, eliminating the necessity for roof penetrations. Because it’s easier and faster than putting in photo voltaic panels on different roof varieties, you may also have decrease solar installation prices. If you do resolve to exchange your roof, ensure that the roof is designed for vitality effectivity and indoor consolation.
Another benefit of steel roofs is that they’re extra environmentally pleasant than asphalt shingles. Metal roofs may considerably cut back heating and cooling prices when a batten/counter batten system is used. This configuration promotes dwelling effectivity as a result of it helps cease warmth from getting into the house in the summertime and prevents warmth from escaping within the winter. Metal roofs final two to 3 instances so long as shingles, in order that they require fewer supplies over the lifetime of the roof. Another benefit is that they’re recyclable on the finish of life and generally include recycled supplies. Metal roofs with gutters are additionally nice for harvesting rainwater.
Like with every other main buy, it’s a good suggestion to do some superior planning. Installing a solar energy system may end up in important price financial savings, however needing to take away the panels a 12 months or two after the set up to exchange the roof would lower your photo voltaic funding return.
This article was initially printed on June 7, 2019.
