Solar PV Installer Guide

A customer's roof will need to be in good condition before you can install PV panels on it. An old roof or one that shows signs of weakness may not have the structural strength to hold the PV panels safely. If this is the case, you’ll have to check the roof beforehand and advise the customer of any repairs or replacements that need to be performed before continuing with the installation.

Likewise, there will need to be a clear roof space to house several PV panels, ideally around 20 square metres. Also, the roof itself can’t be too shallow or too steep as both situations will greatly impact the overall effect of any PV panels installed. For best practice, a roof pitch between 30 and 45 degrees is ideal. Otherwise, you may need to discuss the option of installing angled frames to increase the pitch here.

Your customer may want to fill their entire roof space or just add a few PV panels. The number required here will largely depend on their budget but also whether they want to rely solely on the electricity derived from these panels or whether they’ll want to be able to revert to the grid when necessary. A good way to help customers determine this number is by looking at their average wattage usage on their annual electricity bill.

Installers will need to consider whether there are any potential limitations facing properties when considering PV panels. As a guide, PV panels will work harder on a south-facing roof and at a 30-degree angle. Checking out the customer's property on Google Earth first will help determine their roof positioning.

Another issue to consider is the potential shading around the property. Does the building receive an adequate amount of regular daylight to power the panels? Those properties that are shaded by trees, other tall buildings, and even chimneys may encounter issues here. Though PV panels don't have to have direct sunlight to work, they’re able to produce more energy at a greater capacity if positioned correctly.

Though PV panels are classed as permitted developments, there may well be a few buildings and properties whereby you’ll need to check with the local authority before going ahead with a PV installation. This is especially so if the property has a listed building status, is part of a conservation area, or has a flat roof design.

As an installer, you'll also need to ensure that the customer is made aware of the potential disruption around their property for several weeks as you complete the installation. With plentiful access needed for scaffolding, there'll need to be safe and secure access outside and around the immediate property for the work to be completed.

PV panels will require regular visual checks just to ensure that they continue to perform their best. Though this should be nothing more than a quick glance every so often, should any potential issues arise, this way they’re spotted and dealt with swiftly.

Alongside a regular visual check, customers will also need to be made aware of the need to clean the panels around twice a year or when required. This is to remove any debris that’s naturally left behind by the appearance of leaves and rain on the panel's surfaces.

When quoting a customer for PV panels, an installer should ideally ensure that this estimate accounts for a property to generate around 50% of its annual usage using these panels. Though figures will vary here regarding labour costs, a combination of both supplying and installing PV panels can vary with potential figures of anything from £6000 to £10,000.

Ultimately, the type of PV panel chosen will play a factor here, with thin-film the cheaper, and monocrystalline the more expensive, as will the number of panels required make a significant difference. As a general guide, a single PV panel is priced around £200 to £400 at current rates.