Do you regret roof mounting your panels?
- Thread starter 1201
- Start date
I’m sure anybody that deals with snow, or cleaning panels, wishes they had a ground mount array.
BobT
New Member
Yeah, if I had it to do over again it would be a ground mount. The roof mount works fine but I'm getting too old to climb (safely) so maintenance would be much easier from the ground.
Even on my low shed roof (10 foot eves) I'm struggling to clean off the pollen
Next array is getting ground mounted
Next array is getting ground mounted
Zwy
Emperor Of Solar
Even better if it tilts, no clearing snow off the panels.
RCinFLA
Solar Wizard
- Joined
- Jun 21, 2020
- Messages
- 3,566
Particularly in Florida, homeowners' insurance is a big problem.
The insurance company may drop you because you have PV panels on roof, or they will tell you your roof has to be replaced to continue insurance because your roof is more than 12 years old.
The insurance company may drop you because you have PV panels on roof, or they will tell you your roof has to be replaced to continue insurance because your roof is more than 12 years old.
OffGridForGood
Catch, make or grow everything you can.
I like my shop roof mounts, here is why:
1. The roof is there, double duty to carry the PV and be a roof, rather than two separate structures each taking up space.
2. I don't need separate ground mounts for code reasons, does not have any impact on my home (next door) insurance.
3. PV over the roof reduces heat gain during summer, lowering the building temps while also collecting solar energy (a win-win).
4. The roof is a reflector - and the shop PV are bi-facial (win-win-win).
5. The wire lengths are shorter. PV on roof, SCC inside the building below. (win-win-win-win)
This works in my situation, but not necessarily so in yours.
1. The roof is there, double duty to carry the PV and be a roof, rather than two separate structures each taking up space.
2. I don't need separate ground mounts for code reasons, does not have any impact on my home (next door) insurance.
3. PV over the roof reduces heat gain during summer, lowering the building temps while also collecting solar energy (a win-win).
4. The roof is a reflector - and the shop PV are bi-facial (win-win-win).
5. The wire lengths are shorter. PV on roof, SCC inside the building below. (win-win-win-win)
This works in my situation, but not necessarily so in yours.
OffGridForGood
Catch, make or grow everything you can.
mine tilt, but snow can be sticky in mildly cold weather, and even at 60-degree tilt, panels will collect a layer of snow.
Below -15C (5F) snow doesn't stick to the PV at all.
If there is no wind, a 1" EMT conduit and a 36" push broom work well from the ground, once disturbed, the snow cascades off the panels very well.
Quattrohead
Solar Wizard
I am going roof mount because
1. New home build so new roof by default and I had the trusses built for the extra load.
2. They will be out of the way up there, I have plenty of space to ground mount if I wanted to.
3. Not a difficult roof to get too and 6/12 pitch is not too bad.
4. Some extra shading for the 2 roof surfaces.
I already bought the 44 panels, racking and solaredge system used from another Florida home so they should be good to pass inspection.
1. New home build so new roof by default and I had the trusses built for the extra load.
2. They will be out of the way up there, I have plenty of space to ground mount if I wanted to.
3. Not a difficult roof to get too and 6/12 pitch is not too bad.
4. Some extra shading for the 2 roof surfaces.
I already bought the 44 panels, racking and solaredge system used from another Florida home so they should be good to pass inspection.
timselectric
If I can do it, you can do it.
- Joined
- Feb 5, 2022
- Messages
- 19,301
No regrets here.
They're completely out of the way.
Higher up gets less shading.
And making use of otherwise wasted real-estate.
For me, the only downside is snow. But, I'm working on finding a solution for this.
They're completely out of the way.
Higher up gets less shading.
And making use of otherwise wasted real-estate.
For me, the only downside is snow. But, I'm working on finding a solution for this.
BuffaloTrace
Solar Enthusiast
- Joined
- Dec 3, 2020
- Messages
- 441
My only problem is roof access, but from what I understand is that your 30 year roof will last a helluva lot longer with the panels so that's a good trade off.
Also a lot of people in harsher climates go with a metal type standing seem roof, and I imagine with panels it would last a lifetime.
Carports. I really like the idea of the carport with panels.
*I wish had the space to ground mount, but that wouldn't stop me from carport or roof mounting, it would just be more power and more adjustability.
Also a lot of people in harsher climates go with a metal type standing seem roof, and I imagine with panels it would last a lifetime.
Carports. I really like the idea of the carport with panels.
*I wish had the space to ground mount, but that wouldn't stop me from carport or roof mounting, it would just be more power and more adjustability.
Xhumeka
Off-Grid'er
Even though they were a major pain to install in my remote location (that's me installing them in my profile pic) I still do not regret roof mounting them. Partly because I don't spend much time here in the winter so not much maintenance is required, but mostly so that I don't have to hear my wife bitch every day about the "eye sore" 
(happy wife, happy life! )
That being said, eventually I plan to install a ground array several hundred feet away from the cottage in the middle of a clearing in the bush - far enough away to prevent the "eye sore" nagging
(happy wife, happy life! )That being said, eventually I plan to install a ground array several hundred feet away from the cottage in the middle of a clearing in the bush - far enough away to prevent the "eye sore" nagging
Pretty much a case by case answer. Land area, shade, roof direction, roof material, roof age, access, climate. No box answer. I have a Terra-cotta tile roof and no south facing facets so no way am I going to roof mount. Sometimes desperation sets the location. Out of all shadows from 10 am to 3:30. Easy to unbolt and take it with me when I move. 
Last edited:
wattmatters
Solar Wizard
No.
While I have some production losses due to shading, ground mount here is very expensive and would have added more cost to the project than is worthwhile.
11 kW Grid-tied PV on the primary dwelling:
2.22 kW Off-grid on my small garage:
My neighbour has a ground mount array but he put that in before building his home. It initially helped power their shed for the home construction work.
dougbert
Solar Addict
5 ft of snow here this year, took a lot of effort to keep the panels on the roof clear, but I have a 18' pole and a Snow Joe foam brush
Xhumeka
Off-Grid'er
Those things rock - I have one for my truck and it clears it much faster than a brush.
