Do solar panels require a shingled roof beneath?
prairiescl
| Posted in Energy, Heating & Insulation on
Hi all,
I plan to build a small utility shed, and I am considering making it with a shed roof covered with photovoltaic panels. What kind of roofing is required under the panels? Do I need shingled or membrane roofing under the panels? Are there panels available that also act as a roof?
Roof sheathing would give resistance to shear forces, something I doubt solar panels are designed to withstand. I suppose using panels only would also depend on the panels being sized so they cover the entire area, and that weather sealing be available to cover the gaps between panels. I may also add panels to my existing grage roof, which has shingles.
Thanks for any advice,
Scott
Replies
There are a couple types of solar/roofing solutions.
https://www.gaf.energy/timberline-solar/ is one example
https://solarmagazine.com/solar-roofs/solar-shingles/
discusses a few other sources.
A roof needs to be weather tight.
it may be simpler to put a roof on, and install solar over it. You can look into mounting requirements before you build your shed, make sure your rafters are beefy enough for the extra loads, and pay attention to orientation and roof slope to make the most of your solar project.
The roof type that is most compatible with solar panels is a standing metal roof. The standing seam allows for easier and cheaper installation without drilling into the roof.