IS MY ROOF SAFE FOR SOLAR?
Updated August 1st, 2025
By Morgan Pierce
For years our family relied on the same builder, Bob. Bob was quirky, with endless stories and a deep chuckle. He was also a skilled craftsman who took pleasure in his work and always honoured any estimate he gave for a job. Because we live in an old house, rebuilt from a ruin in the 1970s, we got used to Bob coming to us to ask, “Do you want the good news or the bad news first?”
When our eldest child was born, we undertook a major renovation that involved paring the ceiling back to expose the rafters. It was at that point that Bob’s perennial question took on frightening significance. Pointing upward to where several rafters ended inches short of the load bearing outer wall, Bob said, “Well, the good news is that the roof hasn’t fallen in on you – yet.”
“Back in the day” you see, there were Cowboys in the building trade, and we were damned lucky to have stumbled on a Bob to keep our own little rodeo running. I got thinking about Bob the other day when a friend asked me if the roof of her 1950s built bungalow could safely accommodate solar panels.
It’s a good question, and it’s important to do a careful assessment of your home’s structural integrity before making any kind of major change.
As this article by engineer Chris Penman points out, you (and your solar installer) should take a careful look to ensure your roof is safe for solar. Does it sag anywhere? Does the roof “give” in certain spots when your installer walks across it? Are roof tiles cracked or is there evidence of weakness – perhaps internally where previously leaks have occurred? Has the roof been damaged by weather or decades old installation of a TV aerial or a satellite dish? All of those might require repair before you install solar.
Almost Every Roof Is Safe For Solar
Even if you live in a newer build, it’s wise to ask questions. An additional installation on a roof adds weight, which always leaves the possibility for future damage. Good installers know both how to mitigate the possibility of such damage and also how to explain what they will do in words homeowners can understand. If in doubt about your roof being safe for solar, there is never any harm in having an independent assessment – by a structural engineer – to verify what you have been told.
Having the facts should make it possible to proceed safely with installing solar on almost any roof. As Penman points out, reinforcing a roof ensuring it is safe for solar need not be prohibitively expensive. “In reality,” he says, “targeted reinforcements—such as adding extra joists or strengthening existing supports—are often cost-effective.”
If you don’t have a structural engineer or even a Bob in your life, one of our team will be happy to do some roof-gazing with you.
The rollout of low cost solar across Ireland has begun to have a real impact. The price of electricity fell for the fifth consecutive month in June – down to the lowest price in over a year. Experts say that it’s the uptake of wind and solar that is pushing energy prices down – while increasing the security and supply of clean green energy.
If you’d like your home to be a part of Ireland’s energy transformation, and have questions about anything from the health of your roof, it being safe for solar and how to apply for one of the SEAI’s government-backed solar energy grants – get in touch.
Why Choose Solar In Ireland?
Investing in a solar panel systems in Ireland can bring many benefits, including reduced energy bills, increased energy independence, and a reduced carbon footprint. If you are interested in installing a solar panel system in Ireland, it is also worth exploring the different grant options and green business loans available and seeking professional advice from one of our solar energy advisors.
Feel free to contact us for more information, we’re here to help.
