Roofing
Preserving your roof is the most important part of a solar installation, and the mounting method and equipment used to install solar must be chosen carefully. Not all mounting hardware options are created equal.
Asphalt Shingle - Flashing
Although there are a handful of mounts to choose from for each roof type, there are only a select few that are recognized and approved by actual roofers.
What separates the IronRidge flashing from other mounts is the length of the flashing. The flashing shown is long enough to get under 2 courses of shingle instead of just one. A small but crucial detail that only experience can identify.
Concrete Tile - Tile Hook
Tile hooks are a tried and true method for securing solar on a tile roof. Simplicity and strength are what separate this method from others.
Clay Tile - Stanchion
Clay tile roofs are more fragile than the other roof systems, and therefore require different mounting strategies. For new roofs, the stanchion method is preferred. This method requires the roofing company to install the stanchion mounts after new plywood is installed, they then seal the mounts themselves and finish the roof, working around the stanchions. The solar company comes in after the roof is complete, and finishes the solar install without needing to lift up the newly installed tiles.
Clay Tile - Picture Frame
Picture framing involves laying down comp shingle where the solar will be going. This allows for easier installation and less chance of breaking tile. Aesthetically, the panels will look flush to the roof as the tile get placed around the panels, giving it that "picture frame" look. This method can be a bit tricky and only recommended by experienced roofers.
Standing Seam Metal - Clamp
Metal roofs are great for solar, especially standing seam types. These solar mounts attach directly to the seams, so no need for roof penetrations.
Metal Shingle - Tile Hook
Although rare, metal shingle is still found on some roofs. Similar to tile roofs, a tile hook is used for this roof application, but often times metal shingle roofs have raised battens underneath, requiring a different type of tile hook.
Wood Shake - Replace or Tile Hook
Wood shake roofs are starting to be phased out. If someone has this type of roof and wants to go solar, it is typically recommended to replace the roof with comp shingle or tile before adding solar. It is not impossible to install solar on one of this roof type, and a tile hook similar to the one used for a metal shingle roof, or a regular tile hook can be used.
