Views: 0 Author: Site Editor Publish Time: 2025-05-16 Origin: Site
As North America’s largest roofing manufacturer, we know that rooftops are a great location for solar. Roofs are out of the way, tend to have the least shade on a property, are close to utility hookups and usually do not need additional infrastructure. As a result, approximately 80% of solar installations take place on roofs. We have worked closely with the solar industry for several years and are big advocates of rooftop solar.
Choosing the Right Installer
A lot of solar installers take the roofing piece for granted or do not have the experience with roof top installations to understand the challenges of each roof. That is why choosing an EPC that is familiar with the roof, such as Advanced Green Technologies, is crucial. The property owner should insist on a solar installer with genuine roofing experience. Here are some tips for choosing a qualified solar installer:
• Ask the installer about other rooftop installations they have completed.
• Make sure the installer is respected by roofing-system providers.
• Ensure the company has installed solar on multiple roofing systems using a variety of technologies.
• The installer should be able to discuss rooftop conditions, know how the roof drains, have a strong familiarity with wire management plans, provide roof replacement and repairs, take down and re-install a system during roof replacement and repair and can provide follow up maintenance services.
Membrane systems should not be loosely laid or mechanically attached, but should be fully adhered. Higher performance membranes provide cheap insurance up front. Walkway pads should be used around the solar (and slip sheets are usually recommended underneath). Most importantly, the roof installation needs to be staged to facilitate the solar installation, considering both schedules.
1. Not matching the roof life to the solar installation’s life. This one should be obvious. A solar installation may generate power for 20 years or more and have financing or PPA lengths just as long. Putting a solar installation that may last 20 years on a roof that, like many new construction roofs, is only designed to last 10 years is asking for problems. A variety of roof systems, however, can last 20 years. Also, membranes are designed for conditions on solar rooftops and so can be warranted for 35 years. Membranes are the protective, waterproofing top layer of a roofing system.
3. Not understanding the flow of water. A good roof system should drain water away from the rooftop and shed it away from the building. But racking and wire harnesses can inhibit water flow, preventing water from draining in a timely manner. Even worse, water may be forced in the wrong direction, causing a leak. We have also seen drains clogged when cheap ballast disintegrated and ran out of the ballast tray. Repairs can be more difficult when solar is installed, so it’s important to take account of these concerns up front.
5. Not understanding rooftop conditions during installations. A good roof system is durable, but it’s not designed to be used as a construction site. Dragging panels or racking across the membrane will damage even the heartiest roof. Dropping tools can penetrate roof membranes. Debris will clog drains or cause other problems. We have seen staging areas on new roofs look like they were 15 years old by the time the solar installation is complete. While this problem was more common a few years ago, seeing roofs torn up from solar installation is still too common.
Many other rooftop issues can arise with solar. As new installation methods are developed, their effect on the roof system must be seriously considered.
This article is resulted from https://www.solarpowerworldonline.com/2013/03/6-ways-to-avoid-damaging-roofs/