Can You Fit Solar Panels Onto Metal Roofs?

With businesses experiencing increased energy expenses, one commonly proposed solution is to fit solar panels onto an industrial building’s corrugated roofing sheets, much like they are commonly fitted to flat roofs or more conventional shingled roofs.

However, is it practical or desirable to fit photo-voltaic panels onto a metal roof? The answer is that you absolutely can, but there are some extra considerations to make when choosing the right type of solar panel for you to avoid offsetting the energy price benefits with additional repairs.

The first point is that, for corrugated metal roofing, you may need to have holes drilled into the roof to fit the mounting points for the panels or rails, so you will need to be mindful that this does not compromise your waterproofing and a solar installation expert can assist with this.

Other than that, metal roofs are ideal for fitting solar panels and are a more consistent and less difficult surface than a typical shingle roof.

One interesting double benefit for businesses that take advantage of reflective metal roofing to cool the building’s interior is that the shade that comes from photo-voltaic panels can help with this, converting what would have been unwelcome heat energy into electrical power whilst at the same time providing shade to the surface of the roof.

Both solar panels and metal roofing are recyclable and can last a very long time, although depending on the type of metal roofing you may need to be mindful of the expected lifespan of your current roof and consider replacing the roof at the same time you add solar panels.

One final important point to note is that metal roofs are inherently conductive surfaces, and so if you have not already, it is vital to ensure that your roof is electrically grounded to avoid a potential short-circuit risk.