It is a fair thing to worry about. You are about to fix hardware, and put holes, in the one part of your house whose whole job is keeping the rain out. So the question deserves a straight answer: installed properly, solar does not damage your roof, and it can even protect it. Installed badly, it can. The whole difference is who does the work.
The honest answer
When solar is fitted by someone who knows what they are doing, roof leaks caused by the install are rare, well under one in a hundred. The holes that fixings make are sealed with flashing and gaskets so water cannot get in, and the array is either anchored into the framing or properly weighted so it sits stable. Done right, your roof carries on exactly as it did before, just with panels on top. You can read about the sealing method under flashing.
Where damage actually comes from
When solar does cause roof trouble, it is almost never the solar. It is one of two things. The first is poor workmanship: penetrations left unsealed, fixings that never reached the framing, an array not anchored for our wind. The second is putting solar on a roof that was already on its way out, which we get into in solar on a zinc roof: what to know. Both are avoidable, and both come down to the installer doing the job right and checking the roof first, not to solar being hard on roofs.
Solar can actually protect your roof
Here is the part people do not expect. The panels take the brunt of the sun, rain and UV that would otherwise beat down on the roof all day, shading the section underneath. On our island, where the sun bakes a roof year-round, that shade is a genuine bonus. The covered part of the roof often ages more slowly once the panels are up, not faster.
What about hurricanes?
This is the real test, and it comes back to anchoring. A properly fixed array stays put in a storm and does no harm to the roof. A badly fixed one can work loose, lift, and tear at the roof as it goes, which is exactly why the mounting has to be done for our wind, the point we make for both zinc and concrete roofs. Get the anchoring right and the array protects the roof rather than threatening it.
The bottom line
Solar does not damage a sound roof when it is installed correctly. The two things that keep it that way are choosing an installer who seals and anchors properly, and having the roof checked before anything goes up. Get those right and the roof is safe, and a little better shaded than before.
Related reading
- Solar on a zinc roof: what to know for fixing and sealing on corrugated metal.
- Solar on a concrete roof: mounting and waterproofing for flat-roof mounting done right.
- Protecting your electrics through hurricane season for keeping a roof array storm-ready.
- Solar installation for solar fitted without harming your roof.
Do solar panels damage your roof?
Not when they are installed correctly. Leaks caused by a solar install are rare, well under one in a hundred, because the fixing holes are sealed with flashing and gaskets and the array is anchored or weighted properly. Done right, the roof carries on as before with panels on top. Damage, when it happens, comes from poor workmanship, not from solar itself.
What causes solar-related roof leaks?
Almost always poor workmanship: penetrations left unsealed, fixings that did not reach the framing, or an array not anchored for the wind. The other cause is fitting solar to a roof that was already failing. Both are avoidable, and both are about the installer doing the job properly and checking the roof first, not about solar being hard on roofs.
Can solar panels actually protect my roof?
Yes. The panels take the sun, rain and UV that would otherwise beat on the roof all day, shading the section beneath them. On our island, with relentless sun, that shade is a real bonus, and the covered part of the roof often ages more slowly once the panels are up rather than faster.
Will solar tear my roof off in a hurricane?
Not if it is anchored correctly. A properly fixed array stays put in a storm and does no harm. A badly fixed one can work loose and tear at the roof as it lifts, which is why the mounting must be done for our wind, into the framing and rated for uplift. Correct anchoring makes the array safe rather than a hazard.
Should I check my roof before installing solar?
Yes, always. Solar is meant to stay up for decades, so the roof underneath should be sound enough to last too. A good installer assesses the roof’s condition first and recommends any repairs before fitting the array, so you are not putting a long-lived system on a roof that needs work.
How do I make sure my roof is not damaged?
Choose the installer carefully. The roof stays safe when penetrations are flashed and sealed, fixings reach the framing, the array is anchored for the wind, and the roof’s condition is checked beforehand. Cheap, rushed work is where roof damage comes from, so the quality of the install is what protects your roof.
The next step
Solar is safe for a sound roof when it is sealed, anchored and checked properly; the installer makes all the difference. Get a free quote or message us, and we will assess your roof and fit a system that leaves it better protected, not worse.