You may be considering putting solar panels on your home or business and wondering if you need to worry about potential damage from the installation. Here is a brief guide to how they are installed and how they can actually prolong the life of your roof.
Any professional, experienced installer will get the job done right and there is little to no risk of causing damage to your roof. First the racking system will be installed and then the panels will be placed on top of the racking. The racking is secured by large lag bolts into the rafters of the roof. These are then covered with flashing to protect your roof from moisture. Some systems don't require drilling at all and are instead installed with a ballasted racking system.
If you are unsure of the state of your roof, it's best to have it checked out by a roofing professional. We highly recommend our friends at Sonntag Roofing in Dallas Center, IA. If your roof will need repair or replacement in the near future, we recommend completing that before installing the panels. Otherwise, you'll be looking at additional costs to uninstall and reinstall the panels.
Solar panels actually provide some inadvertent benefits, too - they protect your roof from the elements, whether harsh sun rays or snow, ice and hail, they add an extra layer of protection. Because there is airflow between the panels and the roof, they can reduce the temperature of the home by as much as 35%, limiting the need for A/C in the summer.
All in all, there's no potential threat from installing solar panels on your home or business, so you can rest assured!
