Very few homeowners know of the risk of water intrusion that may occur after installing their new solar panel system. A simple waterproof regimen will save you lots of headache and money later. Actually, the installation of these panels will need drilling of quite a few holes through the roofing material. What happens is, many owners end up accumulating rain or water damage without their knowledge and without realizing that it is connected to the installation of their solar panels. Worse, if the leaks are not discovered early on, which might require expensive repairs in the future or contribute to the growth of mold in the house.
Steps To Waterproof Your Homes Solar Panels and Roof During Installation
This is why solar panel installers should also be knowledgeable in waterproofing solar panels. Qualified experts in solar panel installation will first start with a comprehensive roof inspection before the panels are set up. Having these solar panels in older roofs is inadvisable, but it is possible to reroof only the parts of the roof where the installation will take place. Roofs that are between 5 and 10 years old may be candidates for a roof replacement first in order to save money, time and effort.
Good solar panel installers will also go beyond the use of sealant in waterproofing solar panels. In the past, this was the only way to protect them against water damage. However, sealants are not 100% effective, as they tend to break down over time due to exposure to the sun’s rays, expansion and contraction due to changing temperatures, and oxidation. Eventually, they will have cracks and leave your panels and your roof vulnerable to damage.
Nowadays, there are standard practices to make waterproof solar panels using best techniques in roofing. Depending on the pitch of the roof, there exist different ways of ensuring against water damage. The common way is to make sure that installers use the right flashing methods. First of all, the right materials are critical in making sure that it will last at least 10 years. Second, when using flashing methods, roofing experts are necessary to make sure the installation is done with very minimum damage or changes to the roofing itself.
Another popular approach is to elevate the waterproofing seal, which is the very important barrier that keeps rainwater from getting into the flashing and penetrating the wall. By raising this, the risks of water damage are very low.
Any damage to your roof or the rest of your property can really be very expensive, and may even cancel out the savings you might make with your solar panels. At best, refer to a solar panel installer that is knowledgeable in proper roofing techniques.
