How Solar Panels Affect Your Roof
One of the first questions we often hear from homeowners is “How will solar panels affect my roof?” The answer is simple. Our prestigious solar installers at NEC Solar are licensed professionals that take precautionary steps throughout your entire installation process to prevent leaks or damage. We provide a 10-year roof workmanship warranty on all of our installations, backed by a robust insurance policy.
As part of our consultation process, we will ask about the age and condition of your roof, to make sure your roof is qualified for a solar installation. It is important to begin with a healthy roof in good condition. At your site visit, your project manager will confirm that your roof is in good condition before we proceed with a solar installation. We also can install a GAF composite roof, in the case that you do need a new roof before installing solar panels.
The Installation Process and Your Roof
The installation process begins when installers place a metal sheet called flashing halfway beneath your shingles. An L-foot is then placed above the hole in the flashing and a lag bolt secures everything to your rafters. There are no holes left in your roof, since all penetrations go directly into a solid surface, like a rafter or truss, depending on your home’s unique architecture.
Lag bolts are designed to uphold forces from intense weather conditions and are more than strong enough to support your solar panels. Water hitting the roof will continue to flow off of the flashing due to its raised, convex design. All penetrations are filled with watertight sealant for additional leak prevention. are filled with watertight sealant for additional leak prevention.
