While every house in San Diego can benefit from installing solar panels, not every rooftop is suitable for their installation, so it’s crucial to know whether your roof is right for solar before you even consider making the jump to residential solar panels.
Luckily, determining whether your rooftop is suitable for solar panels or not is fairly easy.
Roof Size
Solar panels are all about surface, which means the bigger your roof, the better. The more solar panels your rooftop has, the more electricity it will produce; by contrast, if your rooftop is too small, the electricity produced might not be worth the expense of installing a solar panel.
Roof Orientation
Even in a city as sunny as San Diego, solar panels work best when they’re facing East, as that way they receive direct sunlight for longer and can generate energy more efficiently.
A rooftop that doesn’t face the right direction can still generate electricity, but it won’t be as efficient, and this might translate to having to install more solar panels to compensate.
Roof Condition
The biggest determining factor will be the state of your roof. If your rooftop is too old or is damaged, installing solar panels is very risky, as the solar panels can fall and break or, even worse, injure someone.
Luckily, EZ Solar & Electric can handle both roof replacements and solar panel installations, removing the hassle of having to hire two contractors for the same job.
The biggest determining factor will be the state of your roof. If your rooftop is too old or is damaged, installing solar panels is very risky, as the solar panels can fall and break or, even worse, injure someone.
Luckily, EZ Solar & Electric can handle both roof replacements and solar panel installations, removing the hassle of having to hire two contractors for the same job.
Roof Construction
While they all serve the same purpose, not all rooftops are made equal, and this can have a big impact on residential solar panels:
- A too steep rooftop can make installation more complicated and costly, as adjustments will need to be made to compensate for the angle.
- Tile roofs, though beautiful, are nowhere near as effective as asphalt shingles when it comes to installation, and nothing beats a metal rooftop when it comes to efficiency.
- Finishes, like soffits, may need to be replaced if they’re not sturdy enough to hold the weight of a solar panel, or they might need to be removed entirely.
- Gutters will need to be inspected and possibly replaced, as if they’re not sturdy enough, they can compromise the integrity of the residential solar panel installation.
The Verdict
While a roof inspection is recommended to determine whether your rooftop is suitable for solar panels or not, it boils down to three things:
Its age, its shape, and how willing you are to change the way it looks.
- A damaged rooftop will never be suitable for solar panels and will need to be replaced before doing anything else.
- The size and shape of your rooftop will determine just how cost-effective solar energy will be for your house.
- To put it bluntly, solar panels change the way a house looks, and while they’re capable of raising a house’s resale value in the San Diego market, some people care more about a house’s sentimental value, and appearances matter a lot when it comes to that.
If you’re still unsure if your rooftop is suitable for solar panels, just give EZ Solar & Electric a call.
We’ll answer your questions and take the time to explain how the installation process usually works, giving you the tools you need to make an informed decision!