Solar panels sit on your roof for many years, so the roof underneath matters. As roofing specialists, we install solar panels across Northampton, starting with your roof's condition and taking care over every fixing.
A solar array is fixed into your roof and expected to stay there for many years, so how it is installed matters as much as the panels themselves. On a tiled roof, the mounting brackets usually hook under the tiles and fix into the rafters. That means tiles have to be lifted, the brackets fitted and the tiles relaid so water still runs off cleanly. If that is rushed, it can lead to cracked tiles and leaks that are hard to reach once the panels are in place.
As roofers, we look at the roof first. We check the condition of the tiles or slates, the battens and the timbers, so any problems can be dealt with before the panels go on rather than after. We then fit the array with the same care as any other roof work, paying close attention to the fixings and the weatherproofing around them.
Once panels are on, reaching the roof underneath means taking them off again, which is why solar is best planned alongside any roof work you need.
Most pitched roofs can take solar panels, but some suit them better than others. The main things to consider are:
If your roof is near the end of its life, combining solar with a re-roof or new roof installation means the panels go onto a sound roof and the scaffolding only goes up once. We can look at your roof and talk you through which slopes would work best.
We install solar panels on properties across Northampton and the surrounding area, and further out across the county, including our roofing services in Towcester. Because we are a roofing company first, we look at your roof as a whole rather than treating it as somewhere to bolt panels.
That means being upfront if your roof needs repairs before solar goes on, or if a different part of the roof would suit the panels better. Our qualified and extensively trained team has over 15 years of experience on roofs in and around Northampton and Northamptonshire, and our work is covered by our full guarantee. Customers have given us an average of 4.8 stars across 180 Google reviews, and you can read what they say on our reviews page.
To find out whether solar is right for your roof, get in touch for a free, no obligation quote and we can arrange a visit.
In many cases, solar panels on a house are allowed under permitted development, so planning permission is not needed. There are conditions, though, such as how far the panels stand out from the roof, and different rules can apply to listed buildings, conservation areas and flat roofs. Check with your local council before going ahead if you are unsure.
No, a south-facing roof is ideal in the UK, but it is not essential. East and west-facing roofs still receive plenty of daylight and spread generation across the morning and afternoon. North-facing roofs are usually the least suitable. Shading matters as much as direction, so a clear east or west roof can work better than a shaded south-facing one.
Solar panels should not damage a roof that is in good condition and properly installed. Problems usually come from rushed fitting, such as cracked tiles around the brackets, fixings that miss the rafters, or poor weatherproofing that lets water in. That is why having the roof checked first, and the panels fitted by people who understand roofs, makes such a difference.
Yes, solar panels can be fitted to slate roofs, but it takes more care than a tiled roof because slate is brittle and cracks easily if it is disturbed carelessly. Brackets and flashings designed for slate are used to fix through the covering and keep it watertight. An older slate roof should be checked first, as failing nails or slipped slates are best sorted before panels go on.
If the area under the panels needs work, the panels usually have to be taken off, the roof repaired and the panels refitted. That is possible, but it adds time and cost, which is why checking and sorting the roof before installation is so important. Repairs to other parts of the roof can often go ahead without disturbing the panels at all.
Related services: Roof Installation · Roof Inspections & Surveys · Pitched & Tiled Roofing
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Weathershield Roofing and Guttering Services Ltd are a Northampton based roofing company, with over 15 years experience working in and around Northamptonshire and the surrounding areas.
Weathershield Roofing and Guttering Services Ltd
54 Abington Square
Northampton NN1 4AA
Tel: 01604 436331
Mob: 07464 080546
Email: Weathershieldroofin1@icloud.com
Monday to Saturday: 7am to 8pm
Sunday: 7am to 2pm