Replacing the roof of your home is a huge undertaking, usually costing £9,000-£12,000 or more, and causing nearly as much disruption as a house extension. Fortunately, it is not something that most people have to do too often. With proper care and semi-regular maintenance, a good British tile roof has a lifespan of at least 30 years, with the UK average being between 50 and 60 years. So, the likelihood is that you won’t need to replace your roof before you have your new solar panels installed.
However, it’s definitely worth investigating the current state of your roof before installing solar panels. Solar panels are a long-term investment expected to last 25 to 30 years, so ideally you’ll want your roof to last at least that long.
If you can, find out when your roof was installed. If it was fitted more than 25 years ago (and many roofs are significantly older than this, dating back to the original construction of the house), we recommend conducting a roof structure analysis for solar panels, to determine if any repairs or even replacement is needed.
One of the benefits of replacing your roof before installing solar panels is that you may need to replace the roof toward the end of the solar system’s lifetime anyway, even if your roof is in decent nick at the moment. If you’ve got the capital and don’t mind the work, great, but it’s usually not essential. However, if a roof replacement is on the cards over the next few years anyway, the cost of replacing your roof before your solar panel installation is usually less than having to maintain or replace the roof after installation.
In most scenarios, a full replacement is not necessary. At worst, your roof may need some repair work before your solar installation, replacing any worn tiles or guttering, and ensuring the flashing around the chimney is secure to prevent leaks into your loft space. We also recommend cleaning your tiles to remove accumulated moss, dirt, bird droppings and so on. If not removed, moss and algae could spread from your tiles to the solar panels themselves, impeding their efficiency.
While this article focuses on traditional solar panel installations, there's an alternative worth mentioning: integrated solar panels. These panels replace sections of your roof, creating a sleek look and functioning as both your roof and a power source. They are ideal for new builds or roof replacements, but come with a slightly higher price tag than traditional mounted panels. Additionally, any future roof repairs could be more complex due to the integrated nature of the panels. However, if you're planning a roof replacement anyway, integrated solar panels are a great way to combine projects and maximise your investment.
Before you go rushing off to the roofers, we recommend engaging an experienced solar installation professional, such as GreenFox Energy. We can assess your roof and guide you through any external factors necessary to suit your solar panel installation needs, making your investment as straightforward and affordable as possible.
To find out more, please get in touch with a member of our solar energy team today, either by giving us a call on 0330 175 9643 or via our booking calendar!
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