Choosing the right size solar power system offers significant electricity bill savings. However, you should also consider location to ensure maximum energy efficiency.
Solar panels can be mounted on canopies and carports, although these are less popular choices. Rooftop systems have lower installation costs and allow you to utilize otherwise unused space.
Asphalt shingle roofing is weather and fire-resistant, while metal materials are lighter – so which offers the most benefits for solar powered systems? Keep reading as we explain which types of metal are suitable for effective solar panel installation.
Do Solar Panels Work on Metal Roofs?
Yes, solar panels work effectively on metal. Here are 3 reasons why:
- Versatile
Standard silicon solar panels are made from monocrystalline. This is an energy efficient, but expensive material.
However, a standing seam metal roof can support more affordable thin-film panels. These solar panels are easier to install and require less energy to produce. This makes them a much more environmentally friendly choice.
- Keep Your Home Cool
Sunlight bounces off standing seam or corrugated metal roofing. This ensures cool hot summers.
Conventional cooling systems generate electricity with fossil fuels like coal or oil. These fuels emit poisonous greenhouse gases when they are burned.
Indeed, solar panels are also a natural source of cooling for your home. These environmentally-friendly systems cast additional shade on the metal roof itself.
- Highly Durable
Metal roofing is sturdy and can handle heavy solar panels. That means the solar racking and other hardware. Metal roofs are also tougher than asphalt shingles. They live about 70 years, versus 15 to 20 years.
For a blacktop roof, it is not so feasible to install solar panels. This is because the solar system needs to be taken off and put back on when a new roof is installed.
Is My Metal Roof Suitable for Solar Panels?
If you’re considering solar panels, here are are a few factors that may impact their efficiency on a metal roof:
Metal Roof Types
Corrugated Metal
Corrugated sheet metal is employed in industrial building and construction, such as on barns and sheds.
Solar panels can be installed on a corrugated roof, but it is necessary to drill holes in the sheet to screw them into place. Holes can make your roof susceptible to bad weather. This produces moisture and promotes mold growth. The roof could be waterproof if the right sealer is applied.
But this could cancel the warranty on your roof, too. Consult your manufacturer before installing solar panels here.
Standing Seam Metal
A solar panel’s edges can be clamped to vertical ribs of a standing seam metal roof. Using an a rooftop mount protects your home’s roof and the warranty it came with.
Solar mounting hardware secures solar panels to metal roofs. They also tilt your panels so they face the sun. This ensures optimal energy production.
Metal Tile Roofs
Metal tiles Metal tiles are made to resemble either clay or slate roofing. Bigfoot Big Paws They are not, and never will be, the counters to metal roofing.
Solar panels are fastened directly to the metal tiles with special mounting shingles. This will give you a fashionable tiled look to your solar array.
Color
The color of your metal roof can also come into play when selecting a location for solar panels.
White, Pale Blue, Beige, and Light Gray increase your panel efficiency. “Brighter” metal roofs reflect approximately 90 percent of the sunlight shining on them—that, in turn, raises power yield. Darker colors like black absorb heat, and consequently reduce a solar panel’s efficiency.
A light-colored roof also helps keep the indoor spaces in your home cooler. This reduces the amount of work your AC system has to do, and helps reduce energy costs.