February 23, 2023 at 6:00 p.m.
By Trevor Underwood, DECRA.
We reply high questions contractors might have regarding how appropriate photo voltaic panels are with metallic roofs.
In line with HeliusHub, metallic roofs (notably standing-seam roofs) are top-of-the-line forms of roofs for attaching photo voltaic panels. With metallic 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 metallic roofing has made it the second hottest roofing materials within the U.S. However, house owner demand for metallic roofing exceeds the variety of certified roofing contractors in lots of areas. Roofing contractors who need to broaden their service choices are completely positioned to capitalize on this quickly rising and profitable market.
Moreover, most photo voltaic installers don’t present roofing providers, and since photo voltaic can’t be put in on previous or broken roofs, re-roofing is frequent with photo voltaic. This creates a golden alternative for roofing contractors to supply roof inspections, photo voltaic mounting and re-roofing providers.
To assist put together roofing contractors for the surge in photo voltaic and the momentum of metallic, we’ve put collectively 4 of probably the most often requested questions on photo voltaic and metallic 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 way of a pure response, referred to as the photovoltaic impact.
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Photo voltaic panel: A number of photo voltaic cells are configured collectively in standardized preparations known 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 known as a photo voltaic array. Photo voltaic arrays should not standardized and might differ from one house to the following. The configuration of the photo voltaic array is often 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 whole photo voltaic system. This will even be known as a photovoltaic system, PV system or solar energy system.
1 – Are metallic roofs and solar energy techniques appropriate?
Sure! Steel roofs are rated one of the best roofing materials for photo voltaic panel compatibility and are thought of a best choice amongst roofing contractors and photo voltaic installers because of their energy, which may simply assist the load of the photo voltaic array, panels, mounting racks and related {hardware}.
It’s vital to say that in some areas, particularly these the place asphalt shingles are nonetheless standard, some photo voltaic installers might not be aware of putting in photo voltaic on a metallic roof.
Clear Vitality Authority advises owners that “not all photo voltaic installers are consultants with metallic roofs. However when you’ve got a metallic roof, it’s probably there may be an installer in your group who understands metallic roof photo voltaic installations. However the reply is a convincing “sure” – you may completely set up photo voltaic panels on a metallic roof.”
2 – Why is metallic roofing higher than asphalt shingles for photo voltaic?
Photo voltaic panel efficiency is rated (and infrequently warrantied) for about 25 years. The lifespan of photo voltaic panels creates a significant subject with asphalt roofs.
Asphalt roofs must be changed as often as each 12 years, so a photo voltaic system will probably outlast an asphalt roof. When a roof must be changed, so does your entire photo voltaic panel system. That is irritating, time-consuming and dear for owners because of the truth that photo voltaic panels should be fastidiously eliminated, after which reinstalled as soon as the roof substitute undertaking is full.
Moreover, asphalt roofs could be extraordinarily heavy. Since photo voltaic panel techniques are heavy as properly, further building could also be required to assist their mixed weight.
A metallic roof, however, will simply endure for 70 years or extra, giving owners the peace of thoughts that their roof will outlast even one of the best photo voltaic panels.
Steel roofs should not solely one of many strongest and longest-lasting roofs available on the market, however they’re additionally the lightest. At simply 1.4 to 1.6 kilos per sq. foot, metallic roof installations can assist the load of a complete photo voltaic panel system with out requiring reinforcement of the roof deck.
3 – How are photo voltaic mounts sometimes put in on a metallic roof?
The photo voltaic business has launched all kinds of revolutionary 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, “On the subject of residential photo voltaic installations, photo voltaic panels are sometimes discovered on sloped rooftops. There are a lot of mounting system choices for these angled roofs, with the most typical 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 assist rows of photo voltaic panels. Every panel, often 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 opening for a watertight seal.”
For instance, QuickBolt provides mounting merchandise for DECRA profiles which are put in on battens, similar to DECRA Tile and DECRA Shake.
Fast Mount gives mounting merchandise particularly designed for putting in photo voltaic arrays on direct-to-deck merchandise, similar to DECRA Villa Tile, DECRA Shingle XD and DECRA Shake XD.
For instance the benefit 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 pressure behind the recognition of photo voltaic is the ROI it gives. The quick ROI begins with the primary lowered electrical invoice and continues the financial savings on vitality bills yr after yr.
As said by Photo voltaic Opinions, “Most owners in the US can anticipate their photo voltaic panels to pay for themselves in between 9 and 12 years, relying on the state they dwell in.”
Along with the financial savings on vitality 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 obtainable by way 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 a further financial savings of $1,000 to $6,000.
In line with this Purchaser’s Information, “The federal photo voltaic tax credit score is the most well-liked monetary incentive for owners trying to go photo voltaic. The 26% tax credit score is a dollar-for-dollar discount of the earnings 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 a further 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, should you don’t have sufficient tax legal responsibility to say the credit score in that yr, you may roll over the remainder of your credit to future years.”
It’s vital to coach owners that one of the best time to go photo voltaic is now because the 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 metallic roofing market with DECRA
Increasing into photo voltaic is a no brainer given the massive progress potential as owners make the transition to extra sustainable roofing choices. In the event you’re trying to develop your roofing enterprise in 2022, providing solar-friendly DECRA Steel Roofing is a straightforward solution to capitalize on this quickly rising and profitable market.
Be taught extra about DECRA Steel Roofing of their listing or go to decra.com.
Authentic article supply: DECRA Steel Roofing
