Solar Panels

[TeaLeaf]

http://www.planningportal.gov.uk/permission/commonprojects/solarpanels/
(if it helps anyone)

Reinforcing depends on the structure of your existing roof, most modern roofs do not need anything added as they can cope with the weight easily.   Most installers will include any reinforcement in their quote as they have to survey to roof in order to quote properly.  

Panel size depends on the panels you choose to fit.   From the spreadsheet I ran when I did my initial research I was quoted for panels from various manufacturers and they were these sizes:

1610x861mm
1652x994mm
1575x1082mm
1610x861mm
1652x994mm
1602x1061mm
1610x861mm

Hope this helps.

[Switchback]

Working along side this trade for 11-12 years they are very good....

The last few years I was roofing a newer product came out....Solar slates...

Bigger than your average slate but they are a lot less intrusive so to speak to the eye.... They are about an inch thick so you don't have these bloody great things on your roof...They are black so you don't have the stainless steel "glare" from your roof. They are more expensive to install...

Yet they are a lot lighter than the big panels and they actually "weather" the roof better.

It will cost you more for the slates as you will have the whole roof re-felted and battened and slated in. Yet the advantages....you have a new roof that will last you 40-50 years. It will be better insulated as these slates have a fleece on the back.

If you decide after some more research to go for the tiles contact me and I will beat any quote you get...


Also they work on day light NOT sunlight....Sunlight does produce more energy from them but they will work even on cloudy days.

Well worth the investment IMHO.

[T-Bag]

Also they work on day light NOT sunlight....Sunlight does produce more energy from them but they will work even on cloudy days.

Well worth the investment IMHO.

This is the important part people often miss. These will provide a sizeable part of your heating bill/electricity for solar water/photovoltaic, even on cloudy days. With government tariffs it's great value. Even without it's worth considering.

[TeaLeaf]

Ikea started selling solar panel systems yesterday.   A standard 18 panel, 3.36kW system including installation for £5.700.

http://news.yahoo.com/ikea-starts-selling-solar-panels-homes-103408493--finance.html