Solar Panel Roof Mounts
Tick Tock Energy offers affordable and electric bill cost-saving solar panel roof mounts. Our expert solar consultants carefully customize solar solutions that work best for your rooftop while while addressing energy performance, financial optimization, structural and building code issues. We have many solar panel mounting options to suit what is best for your commercial property in Illinois or nearby states in the Midwest.
Common Roof Types for Solar
Solar roof mounting can be unique , and various roof types require a specific type of installation. Tick Tock Energy has installed solar systems on all types of roofs, ensuring that your facility can benefit from solar regardless of your roof.
Shingle Roofs
Shingle roofs are the most common type of residential roofing, typically made of asphalt or composite materials. They provide a sturdy surface for solar panel installation, with mounting systems designed to integrate seamlessly with the shingles to ensure both durability and weather resistance.
Standing Seam Metal Roofs
Standing seam metal roofs feature raised seams that run vertically along the roof, creating a sleek, modern appearance. Solar panels can be easily attached to these seams without the need for drilling, making it an ideal surface for solar installation with minimal impact on the roof’s integrity.
Corrugated Metal Roofs
Corrugated metal roofs are characterized by their wavy, ridged panels, often used in industrial or agricultural buildings. Installing solar panels on this type of roof requires specialized mounting systems that attach securely to the ridges, providing a stable and durable solution for energy production.
Mounting Your Residential Solar System
Solar panels facing south achieve optimal energy production, while roofs facing east or west typically produce 10 to 25% less energy than south-facing systems. On sloped roofs, the rack supporting the solar array is usually flush mounted for aesthetic, cost, and structural reasons. Other things to consider when installing a solar panel system on your roof includes:
Age Considerations & Mounting Best Practices
If your shingle roof is newer and has many years of life left, it’s a perfect time to install roof solar panels. If your shingles are older and near replacement, it’s recommended to replace the shingles first or complete the solar and roof upgrade at the same time.
A common approach to mounting solar panels on a shingle roof is fastening an L-foot, or elevated block, to your roof that is anchored into the center of the truss below the roof deck. The L-foot or elevated block forms the structural base and is surrounded by a thin metal flashing system that tucks under a preceding shingle to prevent water from reaching the L-foot. The lag bolt anchoring the L-foot is equipped with a rubberized grommet that compresses around the bolt and the hole penetrating the roof deck to provide a waterproof installation.
Roof Setback Considerations
When planning your solar roof mount installation, a setback around all edges or peaks of the roof is best practice. This reduces the overall area available for capturing solar energy but also meets structural and fire protection requirements. When planning our installations, Tick Tock Energy considers all local code requirements to optimize utilization of your available roof area.
Access Around Your Solar Array
In some parts of the country, fire codes require a setback from each roof edge for fire safety personnel to access your rooftop. While this reduces the available area for solar and can result in a smaller array, it is an essential part of keeping all people and property safe. Even if your local jurisdiction has not yet adopted the current fire code, they likely will, making it essential to consider all fire code regulations when planning your solar installation.
Structural Engineering Considerations
When Tick Tock Energy helps you plan your project, our structural engineers advise on truss loads, reinforcing requirements, and more. Your rooftop solar array installation may be in place up to 30 years or longer, and will likely take a beating from high winds, hail, rain, snow, sleet, and other hazardous weather. To withstand these conditions, we recommend a 3-foot setback to keep your solar array away from areas of high wind turbulence and extreme forces.
Truss and Roof Reinforcing
High winds on a solar array can exert positive or negative pressure, requiring a strong roof structure to counteract these forces. The additional weight of a solar array, along with positive and downward wind forces, may require adding additional lumber to reinforce truss joints, members, and attachments.
Metal ties underneath the roof are more often required to reinforce the purlin attachment to the truss. Purlins are usually nailed into the roof trusses, but nails alone don’t typically resist the forces that increase after solar is added to a rooftop under high winds. A metal tie provides an extra connection to secure the purlin to the roof truss, protecting your roof and solar investment.
How Tick Tock Energy Installs Roof Mounted Solar Systems
Tick Tock Energy can help you install a cost-effective, reliable power generating system for your home. In four simple steps, we securely mount your solar panel system:
1. Develop Your Solution
Our experts consider your available roof space, structural and building codes, and local regulations to develop the perfect solar power system for your home.
2. Planning and Engineering
Once we know your requirements and restrictions, our engineers create a tailored plan for your solar array, providing a detailed quote based on your unique solution.
3. Turnkey Installation
With a detailed, data-driven design, we start building, providing materials, installation labor, and electrical work to get your system up and running.
4. Custom Financing Options
Tick Tock offers flexible financing options to help you get the most out of your investment, customizing our payment plans to make your solution affordable.
Ready to Start?
Request a free quote today
Tick Tock Energy is ready to help you invest in a clean solar energy system on your property, capture lucrative solar incentives, reduce long-term electricity costs, and and enhance the value of your property. To discuss your power needs with one of our solar consultants, request an initial consultation and quote today.
See Our Residential Solar Work
Tick Tock has helped countless homeowners across the Midwest enhance the value of their property and reduce their utility costs with solar power systems. Explore our recent installations below.
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