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Contractor or DIY? Things to think about

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The following sections outline your mounting options.

 

Roof-mounted systems

Roof mount PV is by far the most common and comprises around 95 percent

of all residential PV systems. Mounting panels onto your roof is the least

expensive way to install solar panels. It also raises the panels above ground

level so that shade issues, like trees and neighbor’s houses, are minimized.

Four types of mounting systems are in common use:

 ✓ Rack mount: The PV panels are captured by a metal framework specially

designed to allow easy attachment and disattachment of the panels. The

panels are almost always parallel to the roof surface. A wide range of

different types of racks are available. In many cases, a particular panel

manufacturer will also provide the rack mount specifically for their

panels.

The most important thing about a roof mounted rack is that it doesn’t

introduce leaks in your roof. Make sure to come to an understanding

with your contractor about this issue. A good contractor knows how to

install racks without introducing leaks.

 ✓ Stand-off mount: The panels are supported by a frame built above the

roof. Unlike the standard rack mount, the angles can be adjusted so that

the panels aren’t parallel to the roof plane. Stand-off mounts are ugly,

but if you don’t care about the visual appearance, you can get better

production. These types of mounts are generally used for homes that

have way too much shade on the southern roof exposure and a sunny

northern exposure.

 ✓ Direct mount: The panels are attached directly to the roof. There is no

air gap between the roof and the panels, so there is no cooling. While

you save money on the cost of the rack equipment, your system produc-

tion suffers.

 ✓ Integrated mount: PV panels replace conventional roofing materials and

attach directly to the roof’s rafters. These are sometimes referred to as

BIPV, or Building Integrated PV. You save on the cost of roofing materi-

als, and the visual appearance is nice. If you’re retrofitting an existing

building, it’s not worth it to use integrated mount (because of the cost

and waste of removing the existing roofing materials and throwing them

away). However, if you’re building a new home, BIPV may be the best

option.

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