We fit solar panels on domestic and commercial roofs across Poringland and the surrounding Norfolk villages. From initial survey through to final connection, the roofing work should be done properly so the installation sits securely and stays weathertight for decades.
Photo from one of our recent jobs
Call any time. Calls are answered day and night and passed straight to our roofers.
Solar panel installation is one of the most practical investments a Norfolk homeowner or business can make. Panels generate electricity from daylight, cutting what you draw from the grid and reducing energy bills every month the sun is up. Whether your property is a detached house in Poringland, a farm building, or a commercial premises in Long Stratton, the roofing side of the job needs to be done properly from the start. Poorly fitted panels lift in wind, allow water behind the fixings, and can void the roof warranty on the panels themselves.
The process starts with a roof survey. Before any panel goes up, the roof structure, covering and fixings need to be checked. Tiles or slates that are cracked, loose or nearing the end of their life should be dealt with before installation, not after. Penetrating a roof to fit bracket rails through damaged material is a false economy that leads to leaks.
On a typical pitched roof in Norfolk you will be looking at interlocking bracket rails fixed through the roof covering into the rafters below. The panels clip onto those rails. Flashing and weatherproofing around every penetration point is just as important as the electrical connections, because a hairline gap around a bolt is enough for rainwater to track inwards over time. A good installer treats the waterproofing detail with the same care as any other roofing repair.
For flat roofs, ballasted or mechanically fixed mounting frames are used so that penetrations are kept to a minimum. Felt or EPDM rubber flat roofs can carry solar panels well when the frame design is matched to the membrane type. The angle of the frames also matters for output: panels laid too flat on a flat roof collect less energy and pool dirt faster.
Most residential enquiries in villages like Poringland involve a standard roof-mounted array of between 6 and 16 panels on a south-facing or south-west-facing pitch. That size range suits most three- and four-bedroom houses and generates enough electricity to make a meaningful dent in annual bills.
If your roof is not suitable, a ground-mounted array is worth serious consideration. Across the flatter parts of Norfolk, there are plenty of gardens and paddocks where a ground-mounted frame would sit cleanly. You choose the orientation and tilt angle, which often means better output than a roof constrained by its existing pitch direction.
Ground-mounted frames need a concrete or driven-post foundation. The structural element of the work is straightforward but must be done correctly: a frame that moves or settles unevenly puts mechanical stress on the panel connectors and on the conduit carrying the DC cables to your inverter. Planning permission is sometimes needed for ground-mounted arrays, particularly on larger sites or in sensitive areas, so it is worth checking with the local planning authority before committing.
We cover ground-mounted installations across the Norfolk area including enquiries from Hethersett, Mulbarton, Long Stratton, Loddon and neighbouring villages. The cable run from array to inverter and consumer unit is longer than on a roof installation, which adds to material costs, so this is worth factoring into any budget comparison.
A solar array without battery storage can still export surplus electricity to the grid, and in the UK you can receive payment for that through the Smart Export Guarantee scheme. But using what you generate yourself rather than exporting it at a low rate and buying it back at a higher rate is almost always the better economic outcome.
A typical home battery unit holds between 5 kWh and 15 kWh of usable capacity. On a sunny day a battery fills quickly and the rest still goes to export. In winter the generation drops considerably, and the battery may only partially charge. Understanding those seasonal patterns helps you decide whether battery storage adds enough value for your situation.
Battery units are usually installed inside the property or in a garage or outbuilding near the inverter. They need a dry, frost-free environment. Lithium iron phosphate chemistry is now the most common choice in residential units because of its cycle life and thermal stability.
A 10-panel (approximately 4 kWp) roof-mounted system on a standard Norfolk house typically costs in the range of £6,000 to £9,000 supply and fit, depending on roof access, panel specification and inverter type. A 16-panel system (around 6 kWp) may run from £9,000 to £14,000. Adding a battery storage unit typically adds £2,500 to £6,000 on top of the panel installation cost, again depending on capacity and brand. Ground-mounted systems usually carry a premium over roof-mounted work because of the foundation and additional cabling involved.
These are honest typical UK ranges. Individual quotes will vary based on your specific roof, the system size you need, and whether any remedial roofing work is required before panels go on. Always get a written breakdown so you can compare like for like between installers.
Solar panels are designed to last 25 years or more. The manufacturer finish on many panels is rated to hold a large percentage of their rated output for that period. But the roof they are sitting on needs to last just as long. Fitting panels to a roof that is 20 years old and has never been inspected is a risk, because you will eventually need to remove and reinstall the array to carry out roofing repairs underneath - at significant extra cost.
Common problems found on roofs before installation include: cracked or slipped tiles in the fixing zone, corroded or missing lead flashing around existing penetrations, and rafter timbers that have softened due to long-term moisture ingress. None of these is unusual on Norfolk houses, particularly on the older stock found in villages like Poringland and the settlements around Norwich. Dealing with them first means the installation is on a sound footing from day one.
The bracket fixings also need to be positioned correctly to hit the rafters at adequate centres, which requires understanding of how the roof is built.
For a standard residential roof-mounted system, the physical roof work typically takes one to two days. Scaffolding is required for safe access and should be treated as a fixed cost of the job rather than an optional extra. The electrical connection work from inverter to consumer unit is done alongside or immediately after the roof work.
Before the installation date, you should be told what roof preparation work is needed and why, how the cables will be routed from the array to the inverter, where the inverter and any battery unit will be positioned, and what grid connection notification or approval is required. In the UK, solar installations over 3.68 kW on a single phase supply need to be notified to your Distribution Network Operator (DNO), and in some cases formal approval is required before connection. Your installer should handle this as part of the job.
After installation, the system should be commissioned and tested before the scaffolding comes down. You should receive documentation showing the installed system specification, the DNO notification reference, and any relevant product documentation for the panels, inverter and battery. Keep these safe - you will need them if you sell the property.
We work across Poringland and the wider Norfolk area. Each area brings slightly different roof types and construction ages.
If you are considering solar panels for your home, farm building or commercial premises in Poringland or the surrounding Norfolk villages, the first step is a proper roof survey. Call us to arrange a visit and we will assess the roof and discuss the system size that suits your situation. Ask for a clear, itemised quote before agreeing any work.
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Call any time. Calls are answered day and night and passed straight to our roofers.
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