Avoid Roof Damage When Installing Solar Panels

How To Avoid Damage To The Roof When You Install Solar Panels:

Installing Solar Panels on your property just got a whole lot easier and
far less expensive. Numerous companies offer do-it-yourself kits and step
by step guides online that show even the most unskilled of builders how to
get the job done at the lowest cost possible. One of the biggest concerns
however, when taking this task into your own hands is the potential for damage
when attaching the panels to the roof.

One of the best ways to avoid a major headache when installing new panels is
to do the installation when the house is being re-roofed. It is much easier for
you to locate the rafters during a roof reconstruction and these are where the
panels must be bolted down with steel lag bolts. The panels can then be flashed
in during the reconstruction process making it easy to totally eliminate the
possibility of any leaks or other latent issues. If you are considering panels to
your home but have not had regular roof maintenance, now might be a good time to
start pricing the costs of a roof replacement in order to ensure lasting and
satisfactory results.

The trick for getting them on without causing damage is to have structural attachment
points for the panels that have been flashed in. This is far less costly than a roof
tear down, and makes far more sense if the roof that you are working with is already
in good condition. These mounts will need to be aligned with the rafters and then
drilled in for optimal security.

The panels however can be attached to nearly every kind of roof. Tile roofs can be a
bit more difficult to work with and on. Carrying the panels across a tile roof is
delicate business. When you are working with a tile roof it is best to do a bit of
online searching to see which methods and tips have worked well for other homeowners.
If you have a composition shingle roof you are in good luck as these have consistently
been reported to be the easiest to work with in the operation, making it easy to get
optimal results.

Regardless of the make-up of your roof, the mounts must be installed into the rafters
using steel lag bolts to get maximum strength and durability. Making certain to secure
the mounts to the rafters is the surest way to avoid major damage. All other installation
methods fail to provide the weight bearing structural integrity needed to protect your
roof and the delicate panels. Once in place, the mounts should then be covered with metal
flashing. Once the flashing is in place a layer of roofing can be hot mopped around all
of the mounts. Metal rails to which the Solar Panel will attached can then be secured to
the posts.

Opting to use a professional to install the panels is one of the best ways to eliminate
the risk of damage to your roof. If you have fashioned the panels yourself you have already
saved a ton on materials. Calling in a professional to do the last bit of work to get your
eco-friendly system up and running will certainly not offset your savings entirely and is
a great way to ensure that the job gets done without causing any damage.

One extra bit of good news is that Solar Panels on the Roof of your home may actually serve
to lower your homeowner's insurance. Given the current surge in environmentally friendly
building and maintenance practices, many insurer will actually cover a new solar panel
installation and without even raising your premium. The idea is that eco-friendly individuals
are a lot less likely to file a claim which means that opting to install the panels could
lead you towards a much lower rate. If you live in an area prone to storms however, there
is likely to be a higher likelihood for roof and solar panel related claims which means that
you won't enjoy the full discount that homeowners in areas with more temperate weather
conditions will be privy to.

Choosing to install solar energy panels on your roof is a stellar way to save money and become
more ecologically efficient in your energy use. It is important however to find the proper
installation method for your particular roof type and to invest time and energy into researching
the vast number of ways to ensure the integrity of both your roof and the panels. With a little
earnest effort you can spend the least on this do it yourself project and get the most from
your results.