The biggest fear of most homeowners is that the solar panels could damage their roof. The good news is that with proper installation the solar panels can actually protect your roof from damage.
Panels Act as a Weather Shield
Solar panels are mounted a few centimeters above the roof tiles on aluminium rails, thereby catching all the rain, hail and debris before it hits the tiles underneath the array. The roof tiles under the solar panels will get far less wear and tear and will likely last longer than the remainder of the roof surface.
Flashing and Sealing Protect Penetration Points
Every bracket fixed to a rafter will require a correct sized flashing collar to be fitted around it. This flashing can be made of EPDM rubber or even lead dress. The flashing is then sealed with the correct roof sealant to ensure the penetration is made weather tight. In many cases this will be made weathertight better than the adjacent tile.
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Materials also deteriorate due to exposure to weather and the effect of heating up and cooling down. For example tiles on the lower section of the roof can suffer from cracking as they flex in the heat of the day and contract at night. Tiles that are in permanent shade beneath solar panels will suffer far less from thermal movement and as a result suffer from less cracking and progressive deterioration of the pointing and felt beneath the tiles.
Racking Can Stabilise Ageing Tiles
A well-designed racking system fixes into multiple rafters across the roof plane, this can even have the effect of drawing an older roof together, providing stability to tiles that have already started to move. Of course, this is not an alternative to repair of damaged tiles, but it can be a useful addition to extend the life of the roof.
What to Check in Your Installation Spec
When choosing to install Solar Panels on your home it is always worth reading through the specification of how the roof is to be installed prior to the work commencing. For Solar Panel Installation Cirencester homeowners should look no further than Precision Green Energy who cover all areas and will also check the Permitted Development rules regarding roof mounted solar panels to ensure that the work is compliant from the outset.
A roof with Solar Panels properly installed is likely to be in better condition than one without.
