Should You Have Professional Roofers Install Your Solar Panels?
High-quality solar panels need certified installation teams to install them. Fortunately, many roofing companies have solar panel installation training from various companies. But, should you trust roofers to install your solar panels than solar panel installation teams? Let's take a closer look in this post.
Professional roofers have decades of experience installing roofing materials. They can earn many certifications to ensure their homeowners reap the long-term warranties from manufacturers. Many solar panel installation and roof material installation practices work similar to solar panel installations, but it does require a specialized in-house roofing team to perform it effectively.
Solar panel installation involves knowledge in mechanical and electrical installation processes. Solar panels are mechanical components with some heft and weight. They require knowledge of proper nailing according to the manufacturer's requirements. The electrical aspect comes into play installing the power components and converters to the property's systems.
Fortunately, you won't have to worry about having a roofer and solar panel installer separately. Roper Roofing & Solar can provide top-notch solar panel installations and roofing. We're certified to provide high-quality services for properties in your area, so you won't have to worry about finding other means to install your solar panel after having a freshly-installed roof.
Loveland Innovations has an excellent post about why roofers can easily qualify as solar panel installation teams.
Why Roofers are Qualified to Sell and Install Solar
PV systems sound like they should be installed by an electrician. But the roof is your domain. While an electrician’s license is required in some states, most of the installation has more to do with the roof and less to do with actual electricity. When it comes down to it, much of the PV installation is just installing racks and panels on a roof – and any qualified roofer can handle that.
Skill Set
As a roofer, you already have the skills necessary for PV installations. For example, here are some broad requirements for PV installers:
Work at Heights
You and your employees are already trained to work on rooftops. In fact, it’s a major part of the job description. And because this is a regular part of your job, your workers comp already covers working at heights, so adding solar to your business doesn’t add anything to your insurance.
Roofing System Expertise
In order to install solar panels, you need to have a good understanding of roofing systems, so you can ensure a watertight and structurally sound system. As a roofer, you already know about roofing systems.
Experience with Construction Tools
Not only do you have to be comfortable working on a roof, you have to be comfortable working with power tools on a roof. At heights. Roofers have this one easily covered.
Equipment
The equipment needed to install solar panels is the same equipment needed to repair or install a roof. So, if you wanted to start providing PV installation as part of your business offering, you wouldn’t need to invest much in any new tools or equipment. For example, here are the types of equipment you would need for a solar install:
Trucks and trailers
Ladders, man lifts, and lulls
Hand and power tools
Roofing tools and supplies
Drones for site surveys
While drones are used for inspections and selling in roofing, they are vital for optimal CAD files for plan sets for solar designers and permitting.
You and your crew use this equipment every day. And once all the equipment is at the jobsite, you can do a roof replacement and solar install at once to reduce truck rolls and improve the revenue per transaction.
Knowledge
You know more about roofs than PV installers do. It’s that simple. Yes, PV installers need to know about roofing and PV systems in order to complete an installation. But they don’t have the depth of knowledge you do.
This knowledge becomes extremely important when performing the roof penetrations required for PV installation. In fact, roof leaks are one of the most significant risks of a solar installation. When it comes to performing roof penetrations, roofers are the most qualified skilled trade.
You’re already a roof expert, so your focus should be on hiring the electrical talent needed to become a full-service roofing and solar company. (Continue reading here to learn more)
Roper Roofing & Solar is an experienced roofer certified to install the groundbreaking GAF Timberline Solar Shingles. Have yours installed today – contact us now to learn more about what we can do for you.
