How do you know if your roof is suitable for solar electricity?
If you are considering taking advantage of the benefits of solar power, there are few things to think about before getting started.
The size, shape, angle and orientation of your home’s roof all matter when it comes to selecting the perfect system for you. Although it might feel like a daunting task to check your roof’s suitability, there are no ladders or compasses involved – we’re here to guide you through the process from start to finish!
Three key considerations before going any further:
Which direction does your roof face? The direction that your roof faces can affect the amount of power your solar panels can produce. The more southerly the direction your roof faces the more power your system will be able to generate for you, this can include, South, South West, South East.
What is the angle of your roof? The angle or pitch of your roof can affect the performance of your solar system. The ideal angle is 30-40 degrees however we are still able to provide systems for a variety of angled roofs which can be established as the assessment stage.
Does your roof have any shading? Even a small amount of shading can affect the performance of your solar system. Shading can come from a number of sources such as chimneys, trees and surrounding properties. Shading can be avoided during the plan of your system however changing elements such as trees may cause problems in the future.
Although it might feel like a daunting task to check your roof’s suitability, there are no ladders or compasses involved – we’re here to guide you through the process from start to finish!
Further key considerations are:
What is your property type? If your property is a mid -floor flat or basement apartment, it will not have a roof and therefore will not be eligible for a solar panel system.
If your property is a listed building or in a conservation area or an area of outstanding natural beauty (AONB) or heritage site it may still be possible to install solar however this will need to be discussed with your local planning department initially.
Does your property have a metered electricity supply? Your property will need to be connected to the National Grid to be eligible for the Feed-in Tariff and enable you to export the surplus electricity back to the grid.
Are you the owner of the property? You do not need to be the owner of the property to install a solar system on your roof, however you will need to seek the permission of the owner.
If there are elements of the about points that you are unsure of or have any questions about don’t worry one of our team will be happy to talk you through the process step by step to help you establish if your roof is suitable and to enable you to choose the right system for your home.
Simply call us free on 0800 093 40 50 or enquire online by clicking the button below.
