Roof mounting systems for solar panels
There are a wide variety of solutions in the market for roof mounted solar panels.
Some of the more commonly used companies include K2, Renusol, SL Rack and Van der Valk.
All of the mounting systems do pretty much the same job, which is to fix the solar panels to the roof or to the substructure of your roof system.
Some systems are designed for flat roofs and use a plastic basin type component to hold the solar module. These are not recommended by us for use in Ireland as your solar PV system will underperform.
One common method is to attach a roof hook to the roof substructure, which holds a rail in place, and the solar panels are mounted on the rail a few inches above the surface of the roof – be that slate or tile.
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Type of Roof
The type of roof will determine the type of mounting system which is used.
If you are a homeowner, bear in mind that companies often charge more for slate roof systems, as there are increased costs attached to a mounting system for slate roofs.
Likewise metal roofs come in different variations and there are slightly different systems for attaching your solar PV array to a metal roof.
The simplest mounting systems available are designed for flat roofs, however these are usually not the best roofs in terms of output from your solar PV system. This is particularly true in Ireland, if you have a flat roof system your solar PV system is certainly underperforming.
Next comes a trapezoid metal roof, followed by corrugated metal (which can have increased costs attached), next may be a flat tile roof, and lastly we place the slate roof (due to it’s increased cost and complexity).
Standing seam roofs, such as zinc roofs, are not ideal when it comes to roof mounted solar PV systems. This is because standing seam roofs are often glued or epoxied to the roof substructure and have no obvious point to securely attach the solar module.
If you have a standing seam roof, please consider carefully whether a ground mounted solar PV array would be more suitable for your circumstances.
Type and condition of roof
The type of roof you have is important, and so is the condition of your roof.
If you are fitting a new solar PV system, your roof should be in good condition, and capable of supporting the weight of your solar array. This includes the weight of the solar panels and the weight of the mounting system – all of which can accumulate to a significant additional load.
The roof mounting system is just one part of your solar PV system, and should be selected correctly to give you the best results from your solar investment.
Contact Us if you are ready to begin your solar PV journey.
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