With large carbon footprints and increasing climate temperatures, the primary concerns over the environment have been higher than ever. Everybody is actually doing now their part to preferably utilize more efficient and consistent energy sources to emit lesser pollution. With most certainty, the roofing industry is no exception. To obtain energy efficiency, whether for residential or commercial properties, is actually the topmost goal of all roofing businesses these days.
Both commercial and residential roofing companies are now catering towards these eco-friending roofing trends. They have found themselves involved in several new markets, taking part in it and knowing its benefits. This is also why they are incorporating advanced project management tools in their business like construction schedule software, which allows them to manage projects in real-time comprehensively. The market for solar power is now skyrocketing and if whether you’re a roofing expert or someone who owns a roofing company, you might want to learn all necessary details about this particular type of roofing.
Here in this article, a practical guide for roofing experts about solar roofing will be outlined.
Introduction to Solar Roofing
Solar roofing is a relatively latest technology today that is purposely designed to have the same look or visuals with ordinary asphalt shingles that are commonly installed at the roofs. This trend is continuously rising in the industry, together with the best construction management software like Pro Crew Schedule. The latter offers advantageous functionalities and built-in features that make the work efficiently easier.
This type of roofing has proven to protect the roof while being consistent in flexibility and consistency like regular shingles. The most amazing thing about is that the roofs are capable of harnessing the sun’s powerful solar energy to generate power for every home, building, and property. Every solar shingle will usually produce between 14 and 64 watts of energy. The number of watts actually varies from the brand of the roof shingles. Solar shingles are very lightweight and easier to install. Roofers tend to execute a very smooth and successful installation using a construction project management software. The tool has tracking and monitoring features that allow project managers and contractors to look systematically in every detail of the project and supervise the crew most efficiently.
Many good reasons are cited why the solar roofing system is increasingly growing in popularity in the roofing industry. Below are several benefits of solar roofing installation:
· Environmental and carbon footprints are reduced
· Minimal maintenance
· Instant energy savings
· Many benefits from local government to lessen up-front costs
· Eligibility for state incentives and tax credits
· Property value will be increased
The increasing discussion and interests surrounding the many benefits of solar roofing have tremendously caused many roofing businesses, roofing professionals and even clients to stop and ask first instantly. Additionally, the interests and assumptions about the deployment of a project management software have also increased likewise in the industry.
To begin with, solar roofing is usually broken down into 3 basic steps:
· Sunlight will be a subject to harvest
· Conversion of sunlight into electrical energy
· Utilization or storing of solar energy
Right after the installation of solar panels, it will immediately capture sunlight and directly converts it that will now be used as electricity. The installation usually requires the solar panels to at its extreme optimal tilt as much as possible. To cover also the span of rooftops is necessary as well, making sure that it wouldn’t block the shade. When the sunlight is finally harvested, solar energy will now be converted using a micro-inverter system. The amount that is going to be inverted is usually depending on the number of panels and the actual roof size.
That is why roofers have to use a top-quality micro-inverter system to let the solar roofing system have a much better performance to reap most of the benefits. Additionally, a project management for construction and roofing projects is also a prioritized aspect to focus intently. The implementation of project management has played an integral role and directly affects the success of the project.
5 Key Areas Every Roofer Must Consider for Solar Roofing
1. Proposed Array Surface
Regardless of having the ideal location, a solar panel array should be oriented first towards the proper direction to capture adequate solar energy. For instance, homes at the northern part, a south-facing roof is the most ideal to have. However, west and east roofs usually do not embody the potential to capture higher solar radiation. Nevertheless, the roofs are often able to harness enough energy to turn the investments worthwhile.
The best roofing contractors are the ones who provide detailed information and have a precise of way of allowing clients to understand every single factor involved. Thus, it includes information about the orientation of the roofs and how it should be well-matched for solar panel arrays. And most importantly, roofers have to be consistently updated and are using most of the latest construction trends today, like the construction scheduling software. The tool aims to provide many efficient ways to manage construction projects and ultimately fill the many needs and shortcomings of a contractor and sub.
2. Location
One factor that needs to be considered is definitely the location of the property since the amount of energy that the system can generate will widely vary from the site. There are many areas in US where solar power generation is best achieved. Areas having an annual daily average of 4.50 full-sun hours are positively the best locations for solar roofing. Usually, clients who decidedly want to consider solar roofing can exert enough effort to look for desirable places where there’s a great sunlight source. Yet, either way, roofers lend help in terms of location hunting since they have more knowledge and the actual experience.
3. Roof Inclination
Identifying the optimal inclination of an area is very necessary. The majority of roofs these days, however, do not have any steep pitch. In actuality, the steep pitch isn’t much of a problem. For instance, a 45-30 degree tilt will eventually produce almost identical results, while a south-facing roof having an 18-degree tilt will only have a 9% reduction in its efficiency. To increase the tilt of the arrays furthermore, an elevated roof rack can be optionally used. Roofing professionals are the best one to call when it comes to this matter. Apart from being an expert in this industry, they are also completely equipped with all the best tools to provide high-quality roofing services. Above all, they prioritized project scheduling management in order to guarantee an overall success to any given project.
A few climate considerations are being lifted when it comes to this matter. The climate in which the property currently has might also rule out roof inclinations or pitches. In many locations where snow accumulation is more substantial, lower-slope roofs could be an issue due to excessive buildup of snow. The roofs might fail if these will always be the situation. Roofs that are steep-slope could also be an issue and it needs to be identified during the inspections.
4. Percent Shading at the Projected Array Location
It is already a newly-discovered knowledge for any roofers that a solar panel will not competently operate at its peak efficiency if few parts of it aren’t shaded carefully. That is why roofers need to cut down or trim back any found tall trees that are shading the roofs. There are many possible sources of shading and it does include – skylights, vents, chimneys and other not mentioned roof obstructions. Only the experienced roofing contractors are capable in positioning the solar panels properly around any obstacles. Furthermore, if they are to develop a newer build, they have the very advantage of designing and laying out any unobstructed areas for the solar panels.
5. Electrical and Structural Components
Roofers are the most reliable source of information about roofing services and trends. That is why, these professionals are the primary source of suggestions of whether to avail the solar roofing or not. If clients are already decided, the overall project requires rewiring the electrics and at the same time requiring structural fitness to properly hold the weight of a solar system including to the roof system.
Certified electricians are only providing all electrical-related necessities. Hence, roofers are expected to work with these professionals. It is to adequately address the structural components that often negate or oppose the overall cost savings. Converting the home, buildings, or properties to green solar power needs the professionals’ consultations to discuss the viability further.
Key Takeaways
Today, the continuous rise of solar power by being the top sustainable energy resource has allowed both roofing professionals and clients to benefit in countless ways. Moreover, there are new and emerging technologies nowadays that continue to support solar power to be more accessible and easy to install. It makes a sense to fully understand how solar roofing itself can undoubtedly make a cost-wise difference for the longer-term.
