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Traditional solar panel installation uses mounting racks and various fasteners to secure individual panels or blocks of panels to your roof. Solar integrated roofing, on the other hand, combines roofing materials with PV cells to provide an all-in-one solution. Faced with the choice between these two designs, consumers must weigh the pros and cons, consider the installation conditions and take into account their long term needs.
Traditional Mounting Using Solar Panel Fasteners
Clips, mounting brackets, nuts and bolts, U-channels and blocks are used to secure panel frames to the racks, as well as connect racks to your roof sheathing. This method requires a variety of building materials, including common roofing materials like tarpaper, flashing and shingles.
This method provides better conditions for system repairs. Your house will still be protected from rain and snow during panel repairs, and solar panels can be safely removed while roofing repairs are completed.
Expansions are simple and more affordable with traditional panel mounting. Solar integrated roofing should be designed to maximum capacity, since adding more PV cells requires large-scale renovations.
Innovative Solar Integrated Roofing
Fasteners are used to install solar integrated roofing, but alternative designs make this type of solar energy system more resistant to leaks and stability issues. Laminated products couple with roofing panels and are installed at specific angles to harvest the maximum amount of solar energy.
Single-ply products deliver an estimated lifespan of about 15 to 17 years, while thicker systems can be expected to last more than 30 years without replacement. Comparatively speaking, traditional solar panels tend to have a much longer lifespan, although shingles typically require replacement in 8 to 15 years.
Traditional panels tend to be more efficient than thin PV systems, based on the cell design and transmission of the harvested energy. This makes panel systems much more feasible for commercial and larger applications. Depending on the size of the residential system, traditional panels may be a better value.
Talk to your solar panel retailer and installation contractor about the different possibilities available in your area. Always insist on high quality solar panel fasteners and qualified installers, and weigh the benefits and disadvantages of both systems before making your investment.