You must know your roof’s dimensions to decide if it is a viable candidate for solar. It’s one of the main issues every homeowner should consider before switching to solar. 

Roof Spacing

Solar energy is useless on a roof that cannot accommodate panels. 

Given that a typical roof is roughly 1,700 square feet in size and a standard solar system only requires 405 square feet, it would appear that most roofs have enough space for four solar systems. 

But you can rarely make use of all that space. Vents, skylights, and chimneys obstruct solar panels. Additionally, panels cannot span slopes and valleys, reducing the amount of usable roof area. 

Systems using solar panels also perform less well without direct sunlight. Solar panels in shaded places or on a roof with a north-facing orientation will produce less energy, even if you have plenty of space. 

You can still go solar despite having less-than-ideal sunlight, but you might need more panels (and roof space) than you anticipated. 

Measuring Your Roof

The best approach to measure your roof is to ascend there while holding a tape measure. 

This roof estimate tool provides a somewhat accurate estimate of the price of a roof replacement after accounting for skylights, vents, and dormers. 

Once you’ve taken your measurements, compare the solar system’s and your roof’s square footage. 

Your roof will do as long as you have more room than the projected square footage your solar array would require. 

Install high-efficiency solar panels if you have ample room, but the numbers seem too close for comfort. These panels generate more power per square foot, allowing you to install the required system in a smaller space. 

If you don’t have enough room for rooftop solar, you might want to consider ground-mounted solar panels and solar community initiatives.

• Uncategorized