3 Spots To Reinforce In Your Roof For Solar Installation

Installing solar panels on your roof can be a great way to save money on your energy bills, but you need to make sure that your roof is in good condition before you install them. If there are any spots where the roof is weak or damaged, it’s important to reinforce them before installing the solar panels.

This blog post by The Queen Team General Contracting will discuss the three spots that you need to reinforce in your roof for a successful solar installation.

Reinforcement between roof rafters:

Installing wood boards between roof rafters, often known as “wood blocking,” isn’t as frequent in solar installation as it once was. The new solar mounting technique attached to roof decking in the space between rafters has reduced wood blocking requirements.

We use wood blocking on houses with structural damage to the rafters, extra-­long spans between rafters, rafter boards that aren’t thick enough for lag bolt installation, metal truss roofs, or intended connection points that don’t rest on rafters.

Wood blocking is a simple way to provide more connection points for solar installations. Installers require nails or wood screws, a circular saw, and wood, preferably a four board.

Installers cut the plank to fit the gap between the rafters and slide it between them, fastening it on both ends with screws or nails.

Attic access is required to establish whether wood blocking is needed and to check the condition of the rafters and support elements.

Nail or cement on shingles:

Solar panels are put directly on top of the shingles of a residential roof. If your shingles are old or have weak points, they may not be stable enough to accommodate solar panels. One of the keys to retaining your shingles is to ensure that each one is correctly fastened down and that no weak shingles are left in place before installation.

If a shingle is still in excellent condition and doesn’t require a new nail, but you’re concerned about it coming loose, a line of roofing cement around the edge should keep it in place much more firmly. To retain a solid hold on every shingle, you mark and apply roofing cement to a large portion of your roof before installing a solar panel.

Reinforcement on flashing:

Since flashing keeps the rain out during a storm, you’ll want to ensure it’s in good shape. Flashing is visible as metal sheathing where a roof structure such as a chimney, window, or vent connects with the roof’s weatherproofing. If your roof flashing has holes or appears to be rotting, have a professional fix, strengthen, reseal, or replace it to keep you and your solar panel safe and dry during the next hurricane.

You can always contact certified roofers at The Queen Team General Contracting, serving Cherry Hill, New Jersey-. Our staff has extensive experience with many types of roofs, including asphalt shingles and metal roofs.

Schedule a consultation with our roofing specialists.