Everything You Should Know About In Roof Solar Panels – and Their Real Benefits
If you are the owner of a property and are carefully considering a solar panel installation but you’re hesitant because it will be difficult to install those panels on the top of your property’s roof, there is still a solution. And this solution comes with many benefits as well. We’re referring to in-roof solar panels, otherwise known as integrated solar panels, and they have proven to be a fantastic solution for many who are finding it a challenge to install panels onto their roofs. But what exactly are they, and what makes them different – and more advantageous – than on-roof solar panels? Here’s everything you should know about in-roof solar panels – and their real benefits.
What they are
Integrated or in-roof solar panels are basically the same as standard or traditional panels that are often installed or set up on top of the slates or tiles of a roof. However, the in-roof solar panel is integrated into the property’s roof, which means that it will ‘replace’ a portion of the roof, with there no longer being any tiles or slates underneath. These kinds of panels are weatherproofed and are as strong as regular tiles and slates, with the inclusion of photovoltaic cells that will produce electricity.
Although they can sometimes be called ‘solar roof tiles’, they aren’t designed or made to look like actual slates or tiles - instead, they will still look like regular solar panels.
Their real benefits
- Aesthetic appeal
On-roof panels are often seen as bulky, and they can be quite unsightly as well. And while newer models have a more streamlined look, the in-roof solar panel goes a step above. Since in-roof panels are installed as a segment of the structure of the roof, they can be set up to be flush with the other tiles of the roof and they will blend in more easily and seamlessly with the rest of the roof. This makes them a more appealing option compared to on-roof solar panels, which could also be of utmost importance if you decide to sell your property in the future, as confirmed by solar panels Manchester experts from Atlantic Renewables.
- A lightweight design
If you try to install solar panels right on top of a roof’s slates or tiles, this will add more weight to the building, and this can result in various issues as time passes. But with in-roof panels, you don’t need any mounting frame or system, which adds weight. Only a portion of the tiles will be removed and then replaced with the in-roof panels, and no further weight will be added.
- A better cost
When in-roof panels were first introduced, they cost more compared to standard on-roof solar panels. But since the technology has become more advanced and there are now more manufacturers producing such panels, the costs of in-roof panels have gone down tremendously. Additionally, in-roof panels are less expensive compared to a complete replacement of your roof.
- Ideal for roof replacement or new builds
The in-roof panel system is ideal for roof replacement projects or new builds because the panels can be fitted with the roof tiles or slates at the same time. Installers don't have to walk on the panels and cause cracks. When the system is installed at the same time as the roofing, this makes it a more convenient option in more ways than one.
