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PV with dodgy roof

  • 27-07-2020 9:08am
    #1
    BoardsMember
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,529 ✭✭✭


    Our roof tiles are old slate. No membrane beneath, just some lime render or something like that, crumbling a lot. Planning on putting in a pv system for 2 adults, 2 teenagers. Concerned about disturbing the roof. We've never had leaks, and I don't want them to start now. Has anyone with older roofs had problems after having pv installers up there?


Comments

  • #2
    mike_2009
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 544 ✭✭✭mike_2009


    22 year old tile roof and no new cracks or leaks here thankfully after install. Have you an option for a ground mount? I'd be inclined to get the entire roof redone (or at least that one side) before adding solar pv unfortunately. Be a kicker to have a leak afterwards and have to remove most of the panels and rails to get at the roof and figure out the source. Talk to a few solar installers but their insurance might not cover some scenarios or make assumption by proceeding you are declaring the roof as suitable, lots of possible finger pointing......


  • #3
    BoardsMember
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,529 ✭✭✭BoardsMember


    mike_2009 wrote: »
    22 year old tile roof and no new cracks or leaks here thankfully after install. Have you an option for a ground mount? I'd be inclined to get the entire roof redone (or at least that one side) before adding solar pv unfortunately. Be a kicker to have a leak afterwards and have to remove most of the panels and rails to get at the roof and figure out the source. Talk to a few solar installers but their insurance might not cover some scenarios or make assumption by proceeding you are declaring the roof as suitable, lots of possible finger pointing......

    Thanks for the reply. I'll certainly check the insurance/liability side of things. I'm not sure the payback figures would look too good if I had to do the roof as part of this.


  • #4
    garo
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,875 ✭✭✭garo


    I had existing leaks which couldn’t be sorted despite multiple attempts so got the roof retired before solar. In your situation I would be a bit wary - as you say the render is crumbling in parts. Slate is also more fragile than concrete tile.


  • #5
    antoinolachtnai
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 9,815 ✭✭✭antoinolachtnai


    BoardsMember wrote: »
    Our roof tiles are old slate. No membrane beneath, just some lime render or something like that, crumbling a lot. Planning on putting in a pv system for 2 adults, 2 teenagers. Concerned about disturbing the roof. We've never had leaks, and I don't want them to start now. Has anyone with older roofs had problems after having pv installers up there?

    What I would look at too is that if you have to remove and replace the roof during the lifetime of the panels, the extra cost of the PV works will absorb a lot of the benefits of the project.

    Whether you will have problems in the sort or medium term is going to depend on the quality of craftsmanship and the care taken. (I have not done the PV project yet on my old house but I have plenty experience with roofs).


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