Poringland Roofers installs solar PV panels on pitched and flat roofs across Sprowston.
Call any time. Calls are answered day and night and passed straight to our roofers.
Solar PV installation is not simply bolting panels to tiles. The roof itself must be sound enough to carry the added load, the mounting system must be fixed correctly into the structure, and every penetration through the weatherproof envelope must be sealed to last. Roofing work covers all of that, alongside certified electricians who handle the wiring and grid connection.
This page walks through the job step by step, from the moment we first look at your roof to the point we leave your driveway tidy. Understanding the process helps you ask the right questions and know what a proper installation should look like.
Before any panels are ordered or priced, the roof needs a thorough inspection. We check the condition of the tiles or flat roof covering, the state of the battens and felt underneath, the pitch and orientation of each plane, and the load-bearing capacity of the rafters. A common problem is that minor defects which would be awkward to fix once panels are in place get missed at this stage by installers focused only on the electrical side.
On flat roofs we check the existing covering, falls, and drainage before deciding on the right mounting approach.
We also look at the roof space below. Rafter centres, size, and condition all affect how the mounting brackets can be fixed. Where rafters have been notched or drilled for services in the past, we note those locations so fixings go into sound timber.
There are two broad types of mounting for pitched roofs: on-roof (over-roof) systems where the panels sit on a rail above the existing tiles, and in-roof systems where tiles are removed and the panels become part of the roof covering.
On-roof systems use hook brackets that fix through the tile and into the rafter below. The tile is cut or a purpose-made tile replacement is used to allow the bracket to pass through without lifting the tile. Done properly, each fixing is flashed and sealed against water ingress. Done poorly, every bracket is a potential leak waiting to appear after the first hard rain.
For flat roofs, ballasted frames or mechanically fixed low-profile mounts keep the panels at the correct tilt without penetrating the roof covering at all. Where penetrations are unavoidable, they are core-drilled, sleeved, and sealed using compatible materials matched to the flat roof system in place - typically EPDM rubber or torch-on felt.
In-roof systems suit new-build sections, extensions, or full re-roof projects where the roof covering is being replaced anyway. The panels integrate flush into the roof plane, which some homeowners prefer aesthetically. The cost is higher and future servicing requires more care, but the result can be cleaner in appearance.
If the inspection reveals problems, they need fixing before installation begins. Trying to mount solar panels on a roof with failing flashings, cracked tiles, or rotten battens just locks future repair costs under an array that has to be partially removed to get at them. A typical semi-detached roof with 10-12 panels added will see around 150-200 kg of extra distributed load. Most roofs cope easily with this, but it is worth confirming.
Preparatory work we might carry out at this stage includes re-bedding or mechanically fixing ridge tiles, replacing a run of broken slates or concrete tiles, renewing valley flashings, or re-pointing chimney stacks that would otherwise leak once disturbed. This work is priced separately and clearly so you know exactly what the roof itself needs, independent of the panel cost.
We also check felt and batten condition in the loft where accessible. Old, degraded roofing felt is brittle and splits around fixings. In those cases we advise on the best approach rather than simply drilling through and hoping for the best.
Brackets are positioned to align with rafter centres, marked out from inside the loft where possible for accuracy. Each bracket is torqued to the manufacturer's specification - under-tightened fixings work loose over time; over-tightened fixings crack tiles. The hook bracket itself sits on a foam or rubber pad that compresses against the underside of the tile above to prevent rattling and reduce the risk of hairline cracking.
Rails run horizontally across the brackets and are levelled carefully. The alignment matters because poorly aligned rails mean panels sit at different angles to each other, which looks poor and can affect drainage of water and debris off the array. Mid-rail connectors allow for thermal expansion so the system does not stress its own fixings as temperatures change through the year.
Cable management routes are agreed at this stage. DC cables run from the panels down through the roof space to the inverter location, usually inside the property. The entry point through the roof covering is sealed with a purpose-made roof cable entry gland, not improvised with expanding foam or mastic.
Panels clip onto the rails using end clamps and mid clamps. The number and layout will have been agreed during the survey, taking account of any shading from chimneys, neighbouring roofs, or trees, the available roof area, and the output target. Standard residential panels are typically around 400-450 watts each. A 10-panel system gives roughly 4 kWp of installed capacity, which is a common size for a three or four-bedroom house.
During fitting we work from crawl boards laid across the tiles to avoid cracking them underfoot. Any tile cracked during the process should be replaced at the time, not left and noted for later. At the end of fitting we walk the whole array perimeter and check every clamp, every bracket, and every section of flashing.
Typical installed costs in the UK for a residential solar PV system currently sit in the range of £5,000-£9,000 for a 3.5-6 kWp array, depending on panel quality, roof complexity, scaffolding requirements, and whether battery storage is included. Larger systems or those requiring significant preparatory roofing work will sit higher. These figures are for supply and full installation; do not compare them against quotes that exclude scaffolding or roof prep work.
This is where a roofing contractor adds real value over a purely electrical installer. Each bracket penetration needs a flashing suited to the bracket type and the roof covering. The flashing is dressed into the tile lap above and sealed at the sides.
Where cables exit the roof, entry glands are bedded into a butyl or EPDM seal and dressed to shed water away from the penetration. On flat roofs, any upstand or kerb detail around roof lights, parapet walls, or plant is checked and renewed if needed before panels go on, because shading from a parapet that was not noticed at survey can reduce output significantly as well as trapping debris.
Before we leave the roof, we run a visual check from the ridge down to the gutters, clear any tile debris from valleys and gutters, and confirm all flashings are bedded and sealed.
The certified electrician works alongside or immediately after the roofing element is complete. The inverter, which converts the panels' DC output to the AC your home uses, is mounted inside, typically in a utility room, garage, or loft. Cabling from the panels connects to the inverter, and the inverter connects to the consumer unit.
Where battery storage is added, the battery unit sits alongside the inverter. Battery storage lets you hold surplus generation for use in the evening or overnight rather than exporting it to the grid at the relatively low export tariff rate. Current lithium battery systems for domestic use typically range from 5 to 15 kWh of usable capacity, and installed cost for a battery added alongside a solar installation generally falls between £2,500 and £5,000 depending on capacity.
The electrician raises the relevant certification at completion. Your energy supplier is notified and the system is registered for the Smart Export Guarantee, which pays you for surplus electricity exported to the grid.
Once wired and certified, the system is powered up and the output checked against the expected figure for the array size and current conditions. Monitoring is set up, usually through a manufacturer app that lets you see real-time and historical generation data on a phone or tablet. We walk you through what the readings mean and what to look out for.
You should receive, at handover, the MCS certificate for the installation (required for Smart Export Guarantee registration), the inverter and panel documentation, and a clear explanation of the isolation procedure in case you ever need to shut the system down safely.
Scaffold is struck only after a final check from the ground and from the scaffold platform. Gutters are cleared of any tile dust or debris from the installation. Any protection laid on drives or paths comes up and the site is left clean. If tiles were cracked and replaced during the job, off-cuts and broken material are removed, not left in the loft or piled against the wall.
A job that finishes tidily is a sign the rest of it was done with the same care. Ask any installer you are considering whether they carry out a post-installation roof check and what it covers.
Most pitched roofs with a southerly or south-easterly to south-westerly facing plane and a pitch between 20 and 50 degrees will generate useful output. East and west facing roofs still generate well, particularly with larger arrays or battery storage to shift morning or afternoon generation into the evening peak. North-facing planes are generally not used.
Flat roofs can carry solar panels on tilted frames oriented in any direction, which gives more flexibility. The key questions are structural load and whether the roof covering and drainage are in good enough condition to be covered for 20 or more years without maintenance access being complicated by the panels above.
If your property is in a conservation area or is a listed building, permitted development rights for solar may not apply and you may need planning permission. It is worth checking with the local planning authority before ordering equipment.
We carry out solar roofing installations in Sprowston and the surrounding area.
If you are comparing quotes, make sure each one specifies exactly what preparatory roofing work is included, how bracket penetrations will be sealed, and who is responsible if a leak develops at a fixing point after installation. Those details separate a thorough quote from one that looks attractive until something goes wrong.
Call us to arrange a roof assessment for solar panel installation in Sprowston. We will check your roof's condition, confirm suitability, and give you a clear picture of what the job involves before any commitment is made.
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Call any time. Calls are answered day and night and passed straight to our roofers.
