What a Homeowner Needs to Know Before They Get a Solar Panel Installation

You don’t buy a car without knowing anything about it, the same goes for solar panel installation. There is going to be a few things that a homeowner will want to know before they install a solar power system.

What Kind of Rooftop Does the Home Have?

Roofing material does matter. A concrete shingle is going to be better than the clay tile for the solar panel installation. When it comes to the roof types that are suitable for solar panels listed below:

- Composite - Roofing shingles that look like wood or slate but are made of composite material.

- Tile - Made of clay.

- Metal - The metal tiles or sheets.

- Tar - Commonly known are tar and gravel roofs.

- Gravel - Same as Tar roofs.

- Torch-Down - Often low angle or flat roofs.

- Wood Shake - They are made of, which are often not allowed in high-risk fire areas.

- Foam - This is most likely going to be applied to existing rooftops.

If the homes roof type isn’t listed, there’s no need to worry, solar panels can be installed on most rooftops. A solar installer will be able to assess your roof and be able to advise you on the different kinds of roof types and different mounting options.

Does the Roof Need Any Repairs

Before a homeowner considers getting a solar panel installation they should ask the question, how old is my roof? If the homeowner knows that they are going to need a new roof soon, or if they know that part of their roof is damaged, they probably shouldn’t get a solar panel installation until it is replaced or fixed. If the homeowner waits to get a solar panel installation until their roof is replaced or repaired, they avoid having to pay extra to remove and then re-install the solar power system.

Another consideration is going to be the warranty of your rooftop compared to the warranty on the solar panels. If your solar panel installation is set to last for 20 years and a roof that will last between 10 to 15 years, that will increase the cost of maintenance. A homeowner should try to match up both projects in terms of how long they will last if you want to reduce the amount of effort, time, and money that you are going to need to invest.

Solar Incentives are Going to Help With The Cost of Solar Panels

The cost of solar panels is going to be something that makes a lot of homeowners hesitant to get a solar panel installation. The upfront cost of a solar power system can seem high, but there’s plenty of solar incentives that homeowners lower the upfront cost of solar panels. Depending on the location of the home, some areas are going to offer more solar incentives than others. But all solar panel installations are going to be eligible for the 26% Federal Solar Investment Tax Credit (ITC). This solar incentive is going to allow homeowners to deduct 26% of the overall cost of solar panels, in addition to any other solar incentives that the solar power system qualifies for.

Shop Around

Before homeowner signs any agreements with a solar installer, they need to be sure that they did their research. When a homeowner chooses a solar installer, the first solar installer that they come across may seem like the quickest and easiest solution. But that isn’t necessarily going to be true. If a homeowner is serious about installing solar panels, they should shop around, and get multiple quotes from multiple solar installers. They should also do independent research on the solar installers to ensure that they are reputable and that their past customers are satisfied.

Then after they speak with a few different solar installers, compare the different quotes, look at customer roofs and look at all of the information that is needed to make an informed decision, homeowners should select a solar installer.

What About Solar Batteries?

When it comes to installing solar batteries, this can be a complicated answer. Solar batteries aren’t necessary unless the homeowner is looking to go completely off the grid. Solar batteries will store the excess solar power that the solar panels generate, to be used at a later time when the solar panels aren’t producing any solar power. But if you are still going to stay connected to the grid, you aren’t going to necessarily need to install solar batteries. However, if you live in an area that has a lot of rolling blackouts, solar batteries can be beneficial. A reputable solar installer should be able to give you more information if you should install solar batteries or not.