If you’re a homebuilder, you may have noticed an uptick in demand for solar power.
With solar’s growing popularity, it helps to understand building requirements.
This can range from solar panel weight to roof pitch.
For instance, did you know that a 250-watt residential panel weighs about 40 pounds?
Now, let’s look at building requirements to keep in mind.
Why Does Solar Panel Weight Matter?
As a builder, you have the unique opportunity to design a roof with panel weight and placement in mind.
This ensures a safe and incident-free installation.
If the weight exceeded the roof’s capabilities, the roof could potentially cave in and cause harm to the people inside.
In turn, you would have serious liability problems.
Why Does Solar Panel Size Matter?
Once you confirm the roof can handle the solar panel weight, the next step involves determining how much room a client has.
The easiest way to calculate this is by square footage.
For example, if you use solar panels 15 square feet in size and have 600 square feet of usable space, that would fit roughly 20 panels.
Size also matters when working with a uniquely shaped roof, such as the roof of a dome home.
You also need to consider size as you get closer to air conditioning units, satellite dishes, chimneys, and other structures that will share square footage on the roof.
What If the Roof Does Not Meet Your Client’s Solar Needs?
Does your buyer want more solar than you originally planned?
While the roof provides the ideal location for placing solar panels, there are other options to consider.
If you run out of space on the roof or cannot handle the weight, your options depend on the size and layout of the property.
Most installation experts recommend ground-mounted options in this scenario.
In this case, solar panel weight does not matter, but size will.
The larger the property and the more open space, the greater the mounting options.
If the property is too small, but there is a usable lot nearby, your team could lobby neighbors to invest in a community solar farm that they can continue to grow over time.
If you developed the community, consider installing one as part of the development.
Be sure to leave some room for growth.
How Can Unbound Solar® Help You Plan for Solar Panel Weight?
At Unbound Solar®, we provide homebuilders like you with all the resources you need to help your clients achieve true solar independence.
Even better, join our industry-leading homebuilder program and you can increase the value of your new home builds by over 4% and sell them 20% faster.
We eliminate the time and effort needed to add solar to your construction by giving you support from design through permitting and installation.
And we provide hands-on, onsite training for your crew with an experienced professional.
Contact us to get started!
