Table of Contents
Short answer
Whether a roof is suitable for solar depends mostly on its condition, the direction it faces, how much shade it gets and what it’s made of. If your roof is likely to need repairs or replacing in the next few years, the federal Solar Consumer Guide says to do that before solar panels are installed.
- Condition: repair or replace an ageing roof first, so panels don’t need to be removed later.
- Material: corrugated steel roofs are generally easier to fix panels to than tiled roofs. On some flat roofs, care is needed to protect the waterproof membrane.
- Direction: north-facing roofs usually generate the most. East-facing panels generate more in the morning and west-facing panels more in the afternoon. South-facing roofs generate less and may not be cost-effective.
- Shade: a little shade isn’t necessarily a problem, but long periods of shade reduce output. Think about future tree growth or building work nearby.
SEA checks all of this in our site and technical assessment. See Do you need to inspect my property?
Want advice for your home or business? Call 1300 732 679 or request a quote and our team will be in touch.
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