Over the past few years, many are starting to recognize the need to take better care of the environment. One of the more common practices now is to install solar panels on residential roofs to make your home more energy efficient and environmentally friendly. While we always support people for trying to have a better impact on the environment, solar panels can be tricky when installed on a residential roof. That’s why Coates Bros wants to share these three common problems that can occur when you install solar panels on a residential roof!
1. Solar panels can add stress to your shingles and decrease the strength of your roof.
When solar panels are installed on a residential roof, they are placed right on top of the shingles. If it is not done by a professional, your shingles could become damaged. Plus, if you have an older roof or if your roof has any weak spots, it might not be strong enough to support solar panels. Even if you don’t have any obvious signs of prior damage, you should still get a licensed professional to inspect the roof before the panels are installed.
2. Your roof might have damage already or become damaged later that will be covered by solar panels making it hard to access.
Roof and shingle damage might not be easy to spot. A cracked or missing shingle might not seem like a big problem, but if you put a solar panel over it and limit the visibility, you might not even see the problem getting worse over time. The panels can also prevent you from seeing any damage that happens after you install them!
3. Solar Panels installed on shingles that are over 10 years old can be higher risk.
If your shingles are over 10 years old, it’s important to have them inspected before solar panels are installed. Older shingles are higher risk for problems and once they’re covered, they’re much harder to access for repairs.
While we are not experts in solar panels, we are experts in residential roofing! If you’re thinking of having solar panels installed on your roof but think you might have some damage you need taken care of first, contact us to schedule a free estimate. You can call our office at 440-322-1343 or fill out our contact form on our website!