February 23, 2023 at 6:00 p.m.
By Trevor Underwood, DECRA.
We reply high questions contractors might have regarding how suitable photo voltaic panels are with steel roofs.
Based on HeliusHub, steel roofs (significantly standing-seam roofs) are among the best sorts of roofs for attaching photo voltaic panels. With steel being a sustainable materials, along with photo voltaic additionally being nice for the earth, the 2 are a match made in heaven!
Steel roofing can be experiencing a surge in demand. The sturdiness and longevity of steel roofing has made it the second hottest roofing materials within the U.S. However, house owner demand for steel roofing exceeds the variety of certified roofing contractors in lots of areas. Roofing contractors who want to increase their service choices are completely positioned to capitalize on this quickly rising and profitable market.
Moreover, most photo voltaic installers don’t present roofing companies, and since photo voltaic can’t be put in on outdated or broken roofs, re-roofing is frequent with photo voltaic. This creates a golden alternative for roofing contractors to offer roof inspections, photo voltaic mounting and re-roofing companies.
To assist put together roofing contractors for the surge in photo voltaic and the momentum of steel, we’ve put collectively 4 of probably the most steadily requested questions on photo voltaic and steel roofing.
However earlier than we bounce into the FAQs, let’s first cowl some frequent photo voltaic phrases.
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Photo voltaic cell: Photo voltaic cells are constructing blocks of photo voltaic panels and produce electrical energy by means of a pure response, generally known as the photovoltaic impact.
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Photo voltaic panel: A number of photo voltaic cells are configured collectively in standardized preparations referred to as photo voltaic panels.
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Photo voltaic array: When photo voltaic panels are grouped collectively to generate electrical energy as a system, it’s referred to as a photo voltaic array. Photo voltaic arrays usually are not standardized and may range from one residence to the following. The configuration of the photo voltaic array is usually depending on roof measurement and the quantity of energy required.
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Photo voltaic mount: Also referred to as a photo voltaic panel mount or photo voltaic racking system, photo voltaic mounts are used to connect the photo voltaic array to the roof and make sure the panels keep put in harsh climate circumstances. Sometimes, roofing contractors set up the photo voltaic mounts after which photo voltaic installations connect the array to the mounts and full the photo voltaic system set up.
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Photo voltaic system: Photo voltaic cells, photo voltaic panels and photo voltaic arrays make up the entire photo voltaic system. This will even be known as a photovoltaic system, PV system or solar energy system.
1 – Are steel roofs and solar energy techniques suitable?
Sure! Steel roofs are rated the very best roofing materials for photo voltaic panel compatibility and are thought of a best choice amongst roofing contractors and photo voltaic installers resulting from their energy, which might simply help the burden of the photo voltaic array, panels, mounting racks and related {hardware}.
It’s necessary to say that in some areas, particularly these the place asphalt shingles are nonetheless well-liked, some photo voltaic installers might not be aware of putting in photo voltaic on a steel roof.
Clear Vitality Authority advises householders that “not all photo voltaic installers are consultants with steel roofs. However you probably have a steel roof, it’s possible there’s an installer in your group who understands steel roof photo voltaic installations. However the reply is a powerful “sure” – you may completely set up photo voltaic panels on a steel roof.”
2 – Why is steel roofing higher than asphalt shingles for photo voltaic?
Photo voltaic panel efficiency is rated (and sometimes warrantied) for about 25 years. The lifespan of photo voltaic panels creates a significant difficulty with asphalt roofs.
Asphalt roofs should be changed as steadily as each 12 years, so a photo voltaic system will possible outlast an asphalt roof. When a roof must be changed, so does the whole photo voltaic panel system. That is irritating, time-consuming and dear for householders resulting from the truth that photo voltaic panels have to be fastidiously eliminated, after which reinstalled as soon as the roof alternative mission is full.
Moreover, asphalt roofs could be extraordinarily heavy. Since photo voltaic panel techniques are heavy as properly, extra development could also be required to help their mixed weight.
A steel roof, then again, will simply endure for 70 years or extra, giving householders the peace of thoughts that their roof will outlast even the very best photo voltaic panels.
Steel roofs usually are not solely one of many strongest and longest-lasting roofs in the marketplace, however they’re additionally the lightest. At simply 1.4 to 1.6 kilos per sq. foot, steel roof installations can help the burden of a whole photo voltaic panel system with out requiring reinforcement of the roof deck.
3 – How are photo voltaic mounts sometimes put in on a steel roof?
The photo voltaic trade has launched all kinds of progressive photo voltaic mounting merchandise. Straightforward-to-install on both batten or direct-to-deck profiles, photo voltaic mounts don’t require any particular supplies, instruments or {hardware} to organize the roof for photo voltaic.
As talked about by Photo voltaic Energy World, “With regards to residential photo voltaic installations, photo voltaic panels are sometimes discovered on sloped rooftops. There are numerous mounting system choices for these angled roofs, with the commonest being railed, rail-less and shared rail. All of those techniques require some kind of penetration or anchoring into the roof, whether or not that’s attaching to rafters or on to the decking.
The usual residential system makes use of rails hooked up to the roof to help rows of photo voltaic panels. Every panel, normally positioned vertically/portrait-style, attaches to 2 rails with clamps. The rails are secured to the roof by a kind of bolt or screw, with flashing put in round/over the outlet for a watertight seal.”
For instance, QuickBolt presents mounting merchandise for DECRA profiles which are put in on battens, comparable to DECRA Tile and DECRA Shake.
Fast Mount supplies mounting merchandise particularly designed for putting in photo voltaic arrays on direct-to-deck merchandise, comparable to DECRA Villa Tile, DECRA Shingle XD and DECRA Shake XD.
For instance the convenience of set up, right here is the easy process for putting in QuickBOLT mounts.
4 – How does the photo voltaic tax credit score work in 2022?
The driving power behind the recognition of photo voltaic is the ROI it supplies. The rapid ROI begins with the primary lowered electrical invoice and continues the financial savings on power bills yr after yr.
As acknowledged by Photo voltaic Evaluations, “Most owners in the USA can anticipate their photo voltaic panels to pay for themselves in between 9 and 12 years, relying on the state they reside in.”
Along with the financial savings on power prices, photo voltaic installations are sometimes eligible for substantial tax credit.
Whereas the federal funding tax credit score (ITC) of 26% for residential solar energy techniques might be accessible by means of 2023, it isn’t the one incentive for photo voltaic installations. Most states provide photo voltaic tax incentives or rebates that can be utilized along with the federal tax credit score. These tax credit can quantity to an extra financial savings of $1,000 to $6,000.
Based on this Purchaser’s Information, “The federal photo voltaic tax credit score is the most well-liked monetary incentive for householders seeking to go photo voltaic. The 26% tax credit score is a dollar-for-dollar discount of the revenue tax you owe. Many householders suppose they aren’t eligible for the photo voltaic tax credit score as a result of they don’t have an extra tax invoice on the finish of the yr. This isn’t the case; the federal photo voltaic tax credit score can get again a refund of the taxes you’ve got already paid out of your weekly or bi-weekly paycheck. Additionally, for those who don’t have sufficient tax legal responsibility to assert the credit score in that yr, you may roll over the remainder of your credit to future years.”
It’s necessary to coach householders that the very best time to go photo voltaic is now for the reason that 26% federal tax credit score will lower to 22% in 2023 earlier than turning into unavailable for residential photo voltaic techniques put in in 2024 and past.
Faucet into the photo voltaic and steel roofing market with DECRA
Increasing into photo voltaic is a no brainer given the massive development potential as householders make the transition to extra sustainable roofing choices. When you’re seeking to develop your roofing enterprise in 2022, providing solar-friendly DECRA Steel Roofing is a simple option to capitalize on this quickly rising and profitable market.
Be taught extra about DECRA Steel Roofing of their listing or go to decra.com.
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