Metal Roofing: The Best Choice for Solar Panels

The quality of the roof matters when installing solar panels

Building a solar installation on a roof that’s past its prime is like constructing a house on a cracked or crumbling foundation. It’s only a matter of time before the home’s structure will be compromised and the entire foundation-structural unit will require serious repairs and/or replacement. This is why steel and metal roofing options make the most sense if you’re planning to migrate a home’s energy system to a PV array.

The racks used to hold the solar panels are incredibly durable, designed to handle strong winds as well as extreme rain and snow conditions. It makes sense, then, to install them on a roof that is designed to meet the same conditions and that has a similar lifespan and warranty. The majority of homes in the U.S., however, are built with asphalt and composition shingles.

Unfortunately, these do not make the best foundation for a residential solar system, especially if the system is a retrofit on a roof that is more than seven or so years old. Roofs that are older than that run the risk of failing long before the solar panel racks fail. This can mean a hefty bill when you combine a complete roof renovation or replacement along with the labor costs associated with removing and re-installing the solar racks.

Solar Installation on a Classic Metal Roof

Traditional solar panels can be integrated nicely with our metal roofs. With clip-fastened standing seam roofs, the panels can be clamped onto the raised seams so that no or very few actual roof penetrations are necessary. With other types of metal roofs, penetrations of the roof will be necessary but there are many commercially available fastening brackets designed for water tightness that work very well.

Metal roofs are ideal for solar installation. The durability of the metal roof will hold up to roof traffic when the solar array is installed and serviced. The metal roof will also easily last as long as the solar panels themselves. Additionally, cool metal roofs can help to increase the efficiency of the solar panels. And, finally, using a metal roof to save energy while producing energy at the same time with solar, is the best of both worlds.