Solar Panels on Flat Roof | All You Need to Know

Solar is an excellent energy choice for flat-roof houses and businesses, but there are a few things to keep in mind as you go through the installation process. Sometimes it happens that you start considering installing a solar system in your home. You’ve heard about all of the ways it can help you save energy, and it appears to be a fantastic chance.

The only problem that may arise is that you’ve always heard that solar panels should be installed at an angle to catch the sun’s rays. Your roof is also perfectly flat. So can you put solar panels on a flat roof? Yes, but there are other options and challenges to consider that aren’t required for solar panel installation on a sloped roof.

It is critical to carefully analyse the various flat roof mounting techniques available on the market. It only takes a little investigation from a professional energy engineer to get you on the correct track to installing solar panels on a flat roof.

Can You Put Solar Panels on a Flat Roof?

When installing solar panels on a flat roof, one of the decisions you’ll have to make is whether to set the panels flat or tilt them up to a more regular 25° angle using tilt-up mounting equipment.

You’re probably picturing either a utility-sized ground-mounted solar panel system or a rooftop solar panel system when you think of a solar installation with a best quality roof material. If you have a flat roof, you may not realize that solar is also a viable option for you.

Flat roof solar panel systems are more flexible than sloped rooftop installations in terms of design, making it easier to get the most out of your panels. Solar panels on sloped roofs and ground-mounted solar panels have different design issues. Solar panels on flat roofs are no exception.

As a result, you may come across solar installers that claim they don’t work on flat roofs, especially if you don’t reside in an area where flat roofs are common.

Do You Need Special Equipment to Install Solar Panels on a Flat Roof?

Solar panels on a flat roof are not available from every solar panel company in U.S.

If that type of roof is common in your area, however, many of your local solar installation firms will likely be able to accommodate you. Even if it isn’t, there are certainly some installers in your region who can assist you. Find a solar provider that can meet your needs in your area.

While you may simply lay solar panels flat against a sloped roof, mounting solar panels on a flat roof necessitates the use of specific equipment. Sun exposure and energy output are aided by angled mounting.

There are now many sophisticated tilt-up racking and mounting solutions that may be utilised to tilt up the panels to the ideal level for a fraction of the cost of normal pitched roof mountings.

Is it More Expensive to Install Solar Panels on a Flat Roof?

It could be a little more costly. Your installer’s use of angular mounts adds a minor amount to the overall cost of the system. Other factors, however, help to balance out the price disparity.

The cost of installation and labour accounts for about 10% of the overall cost of most solar systems. However, those expenditures are decreased on a flat roof because it is intrinsically more accessible and safer than a tilted one.

Workers on an angled roof require particular safety equipment to avoid falling off. Furthermore, roofing materials like shingles are likely to fall free during the installation.

On a flat roof, neither of these are a problem. Installers are free to move around, and the materials are in good condition.

Are there any Downsides to Installing Solar Panels On a Flat Roof?

Installing solar panels on flat rooftops for houses or businesses is a wise decision. Solar modules assist homeowners and business owners in not just saving money but also making the most of their roof space. While flat roof solar panels have a lot of drawbacks, keep in mind that most of them may be overcome by employing a tilted mounting system.

1. Installation

Solar panels on slanted roofs are typically oriented southerly to maximise sun exposure and generate more energy. Because they won’t get as much sunlight if they’re laid flat, panels won’t be able to convert as much energy.

In order to build a good solar panel system that generates optimum electricity, there are two critical aspects to consider.

• Angle of solar panel tilt
• Orientation of solar panels

On a flat roof, an optimal tilt angle and orientation of your solar panels will ensure that your system produces the most energy. Only the best manufacturers offer warranties on panels put at less than a two-degree slant. Although these guarantees exist and make sense in some instances, when putting your solar panels horizontally – or near horizontally – you’ll need to consider the production differential.

The route of the sun in the Northern Hemisphere is constantly across the southern half of the sky as it goes from east to west each day. As a result, panels that are laid level do not face the sun as much as panels that are slanted to the south.

Also, if your yard is small or you’re lacking in space to install solar panels, there is an option for portable solar panels for those who doesn’t want solar panels to cover up the space in their house or backyard.

2. Output

The angle of the solar panels on a typical sloping roof is determined by the roof’s angle and the direction it faces.

You may face your solar panels in any direction and tilt them to whatever degree you desire on a flat roof. Because you have this freedom, you can maximize your energy output. You may maximize your solar panels’ sun exposure and create more energy by pointing solar panels in the south and adjusting them to an angle equal to your home’s latitude.

3. Leakage

When solar panels are laid flat, the manufacturer’s guarantee on the solar panels may be void. This is because when panels lie flat, water collects in the gap between the frame and the module’s glass layer. Given that these are just sealed with silicon, comparable to what you’d find in a bathroom to keep water out, there’s a chance that they’ll leak.

To avoid leaking due to water pooling, there are three ways for placing solar panels on a flat roof. The attachment which is drilled into the roof, Ballasted by way of weights that are used to keep the system in place – very little drilling is required in this, or Ballast and attachments are used in tandem in the hybrid option.

4. Dirt Settlement

Over time, they become significantly dirtier, and dirt limits production. Rainwater washes dirt and debris off the panels of a tilted roof. Without this self-cleaning capability, dirt will remain on the solar panel, lowering its efficiency.

5. Cleaning

On a typical sloped roof, rain alone is usually adequate to keep solar panels clean (check how to clean solar panels on roof) because precipitation flows down them, washing dirt away.

When panels are laid flat, however, water collects on top of them and remains there after the rain stops. Dust and windborne material, such as leaves, can gather in this water, which will be left behind after the water evaporates.

This implies they don’t clean themselves well and can grow filthy. After 15 months without cleaning, Google discovered that the output of their flat panels was cut in half, yet rain alone was enough to keep their slanted solar panels in good shape.

It is advised that panels be mounted on racks that tilt them at an angle to keep them clean on a flat roof.

Final Words | Solar Panels on Flat Roof

You can have a completely functional solar system in your home even if you have a flat roof. It can even deliver more energy output for the same price as a slanted roof (since the tilt can be controlled).

Solar panels installed on a level roof are identical to those installed on a tilted roof. You can technically install the solar panels on a flat roof in the same way that you would on a sloping roof, but this will limit their ability to absorb as much sunlight as possible and may result in water damage.

That’s why, in most cases, a tilted-mounting system is required in addition to the panels; this allows them to self-clean in the rain and minimise harm from pooled water.