So, you’ve decided to invest in solar energy for your Melbourne custom home? Great! There are so many benefits to solar power including lowering your environmental impact, generating savings on your energy bills and the very little maintenance required. Plus, you’ll be investing in a future-forward technology, which will likely become universal in years to come.

Encouraged by all of these benefits, you may not have considered whether your custom home is actually suitable for solar panels. In this blog, we’re running you through everything you need to know before investing in solar for your custom home, including how to determine whether your roof can handle it. It’s crucial to get this right, as an unsatisfactory installation or faulty surfaces can cause drastic damage to your home.

Types of custom home rooftops

No matter if you have a flat, sloped or gabled house design, solar panels can be attached to your rooftop with ease. Installers will know if your roof requires racks to have your panels at the correct orientation towards the sun.

The only potential issue that could arise is if your roof has an extremely steep slope, which could mean specialised equipment is required for the installation. It is still possible to install solar panels on a sharp incline, however it may cost you more in materials and labour.

The material of your roof

Most roof materials can easily accommodate solar panels, however some are better suited to this than others. Metal roofs are ideal as they don’t require drilling into the actual material – instead installers will use the existing metal roof screws to attach the panels.

If your roof has been constructed from slate tiles, installation may be more difficult (and expensive) as installers will need to be extra cautious and careful not to damage the tiles.

The age of your roof

If your roof is older and needs restoring or replacing, it’s best to do this before you install solar panels. While older roofs are able to withstand solar panels, it will cost up to $5000 to dismantle and reassemble the panels should you decide to install them now and replace the roof soon after. This will be in addition to the cost of installing an entire new roof and solar panel system.

The age of your roof can also factor into the viability of solar panels. While these systems are certainly not heavy (they average around 13-22kg), rooftops installed before the 1970s were often made with flimsy materials, which may not be ideal for solar panels. It’s always best to have this checked before you have put down a deposit on your new solar system!

The roof’s orientation

For optimal performance, you’ll want to ensure your panels are angled correctly so they receive maximum sunlight. While every custom home is different, there are a few tips you can follow to get the most from your solar panel system. For instance, in Australia north-facing rooftops are exposed to far more sunlight than their south-facing counterparts, so having your panels facing north is always best. Furthermore, a 30-45 degree angle is best for peak energy production.

Still unsure whether your Melbourne home design is suitable for solar panels? Our expert building team is here to help – get in touch with Toto Properties and let’s chat!