Poringland Roofers installs solar PV panels on pitched and flat roofs across Norwich, handling every roofing element so your system goes on cleanly, stays weathertight, and keeps generating for years to come.
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Installing solar panels is not simply a case of bolting frames to tiles and connecting wires. There are two distinct trades involved: the structural roofing work and the electrical work. Poringland Roofers handles the roofing side, which includes surveying the roof structure, fitting the mounting system, ensuring every roof penetration is properly flashed and sealed, and making good any existing defects before the panels go on. The wiring, inverter installation and grid connection are carried out by certified electricians, so it helps to ask whether one point of contact will coordinate both trades or whether you will be dealing with two separate contractors.
A solar installation that is done properly from the roofing perspective will not cause leaks, will not lift in high winds, and will not void your existing roof covering. Done poorly, a penetration through felt or around a tile can let water track down the rafter for months before you notice any damage inside. That distinction matters, and it is worth asking any installer exactly who is responsible for the roofing work and what experience they bring to it.
Before a single panel goes on, the roof needs to be in sound condition. A solar array typically adds 15-25 kg per square metre in distributed load, and the mounting rails transfer point loads directly onto the rafters. Any weakness in the structure or covering that exists before installation will be made worse, not better, by adding panels above it. Knowing the signs to look for - and understanding why they appear - helps you go into a survey prepared.
A roofline that dips, bows or looks wavy when viewed from the pavement is almost always a structural issue. In older Norwich properties, this is often caused by undersized rafters that have deflected slowly over decades, or by ridge boards that have dropped because a supporting internal wall was removed without proper load transfer. It can also follow years of heavy moss growth, which retains moisture and accelerates timber decay. Installing a mounting system on rafters that are already deflecting puts additional stress on timber that may already be at or beyond its safe load. A structural roof survey - separate from the electrical survey - should be carried out first.
Individual tiles slip when their nibs break or when the battens they hang from have rotted. Cracked tiles are usually caused by foot traffic - often from a previous trade - or from freeze-thaw cycles over winter. Both problems allow rainwater to reach the felt or board beneath, and a roof with active water ingress is not ready for solar mounting. The fix is straightforward: replace damaged tiles and repoint any loose ridge and hip mortar before the array goes on. Trying to work around existing damage during an installation usually results in disturbing the covering further.
Lead flashings around chimneys, dormers and abutments are one of the most common points of water entry on pitched roofs. They fail because the mortar that holds the lead into a chase joint dries out and cracks, or because the lead itself has fatigued and split after years of thermal expansion and contraction. On a flat felt roof, flashings at the upstand are vulnerable to the same movement. If your flashings are already letting water in, adding new penetrations for solar mounting rails close to those details risks compounding the problem. Good practice is to inspect and repair all flashings before installation, not as an afterthought.
Flat roof areas are found on extensions and rear additions. EPDM rubber and mineral felt are both sound systems when they are in good condition, but a flat roof that has ponded water repeatedly will have softened the deck beneath. Press firmly in several places and note whether it gives. A soft deck means the plywood or OSB beneath has absorbed moisture and begun to delaminate. Mounting a ballasted solar frame on a weakened deck is not safe and will accelerate the deterioration. The deck needs to be stripped and replaced before any array goes on top.
Watermarks on ceilings and dark patches on rafters or insulation in the loft space are evidence of water getting in at some point - and often evidence that it is still getting in, just not reaching the ceiling yet. Before committing to a solar installation, check the loft on a wet day. Track where the moisture is coming from: it is often a failed flashing, a cracked ridge tile or a gap where a soil pipe exits the roof. These are all fixable, but they need fixing before any structural work begins above them.
A heavy covering of moss holds moisture against the tile surface and gradually lifts the leading edges, allowing wind-driven rain to get beneath. More significantly, moss growth on older plain clay or concrete interlocking tiles can indicate that the tile surface is deteriorating and becoming more porous. Panels will shade the covered area and reduce further moss growth, but they will not fix damage that is already there. A biocide treatment and careful mechanical clearance before installation is standard practice; scraping aggressively can crack brittle old tiles, so this should be done by someone who understands the covering they are working on.
Pitched roofs are the most common installation surface. Concrete interlocking tiles and plain clay tiles are common coverings on pitched roofs. Both accept standard hook-and-rail mounting systems well, provided the battens and rafters beneath are sound. Natural slate requires a different approach because drilling or breaking slates to fit hooks is irreversible - a slotted hook designed for slate is the correct fixing, and the lead flashing around each penetration must be dressed carefully.
Flat roof extensions are common on many properties, and east-facing flat roofs can still generate useful output when panels are mounted on a tilt frame at the right angle. EPDM rubber roofs accept penetrations well when they are made correctly - the membrane is cut, a purpose-made flashing collar is bonded in, and the penetration is sealed around the fixings. Felt roofs can also be penetrated but are more susceptible to damage from poor workmanship, so the condition of the felt and deck needs to be assessed carefully first.
Ground-mounted systems are another option for properties in and around Norwich with enough garden or land. A ground-mount removes all roof loading concerns and allows the array to be oriented and angled optimally. It requires concrete foundation piers or a screw-pile system, planning permission in some cases, and a cable run back to the building - typically buried in conduit. It is worth knowing that planning rules for ground-mounted arrays differ from those for roof-mounted systems, so check with the local planning authority before proceeding.
A thorough pre-installation roof survey is the step that separates a reliable installation from one that causes problems later. It should cover: the condition of the roof covering tile by tile or area by area; the state of the battens, felt and sarking; the size, spacing and condition of the rafters; the condition of all flashings and any existing penetrations; the pitch and orientation of each roof plane; and any evidence of previous or active water ingress. For flat roofs, the survey should include checking the deck for softness and the drainage outlets for blockage.
The survey outcome should tell you whether the roof is ready to receive panels as-is, what remedial work is needed first, and which roof plane or planes are suitable for the array given shading from chimneys, dormers or neighbouring buildings. Shading is worth taking seriously - even partial shading of one panel in a string can significantly reduce the output of the whole array unless the system uses microinverters or DC optimisers to manage each panel independently.
Solar panel installation costs in the UK typically range from around £5,000 to £9,000 for a standard domestic system of 3 kWp to 4 kWp, including panels, inverter, mounting hardware, and electrical connection. Larger systems of 5 kWp to 6 kWp typically fall in the range of £8,000 to £13,000. These figures assume a straightforward pitched roof in good condition - they do not include battery storage or remedial roof work.
Battery storage adds cost but allows you to use solar-generated electricity in the evening rather than exporting it to the grid. A typical domestic battery of 5 kWh to 10 kWh capacity currently adds roughly £3,000 to £6,000 to the installation cost, depending on the battery technology and whether the inverter is a hybrid unit or a separate retrofit unit.
Factors that increase the cost include: a roof that needs repair or partial re-covering before installation; a steep pitch that requires more complex scaffolding; slate or stone roofs where fixings are more involved; and flat roofs where the deck needs replacing. Factors that reduce the useful output - and therefore the payback period - include heavy shading, a north-facing or steeply north-pitched roof plane, and an oversized system relative to actual household consumption.
It is always worth getting a breakdown that separates the roofing work from the electrical work, so you can see exactly what you are paying for each element and satisfy yourself that both are being handled by the right people.
The process runs in a logical sequence. First, the roof survey establishes the condition of the structure and identifies any remedial work needed. Second, the electrical survey confirms the suitability of the consumer unit, cable routes and metering arrangements. Third, any roofing repairs are completed. Fourth, scaffolding is erected to give safe access. Fifth, the mounting rails are fixed to the rafters - each fixing point is sealed and flashed. Sixth, the panels are clipped to the rails and wired into strings. Seventh, the inverter, isolation switches and generation meter are fitted by the electrician. Finally, the system is commissioned, tested and registered with the DNO (distribution network operator).
On a straightforward pitched roof in good condition, the physical roofing and panel mounting work typically takes one to two days for a domestic system. The electrical work is usually completed the same day or the following day. Scaffolding needs to stay in place until all work is signed off.
We cover Norwich and the surrounding area, including Wymondham, Hethersett, Mulbarton, Cringleford, Hellesdon, Drayton, Taverham, Long Stratton, Loddon and Poringland itself. Whether the property is in the city or in one of the villages nearby, the same standards apply: the roof needs to be right before anything goes on top of it.
If you are considering solar and want an honest view of what your roof will need before installation can begin, a roof assessment is a sensible first step. We will tell you what we find and what, if anything, needs doing first - with no pressure to proceed.
These are not trick questions - any competent installer should answer them without hesitation. If you get vague answers about the roofing elements in particular, treat that as a warning sign in its own right.
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