How do you attach solar panels to the roof without increasing the chances for a roof leak?

Question

How are the panels attached? And what kind of roof is it easier to attach them to? If you have an asphalt roof, do they just drive the fastener into the roof? If you have a metal roof, are there clips that can attach the panels so that no hole has to be made?

Answer 1

You have a good question. Not an easy one to answer so here is a quickie answer.

Take a hammer.. lightly pound on the roof till you find the 2x4 and put a chock mark on it. To keep from missing the stud use a good stud finder (high dollar one) to find the center after you find the stud by pounding on the roof. Drill the hole to match your lag bolts. For wood shingles or any breakable shingle you have to remove the shingle before hitting with a hammer. You must use mounts made for the type of roof you are working on. Some tuck under the shingle above and some mount right on top and some even drill through.

Use mounting / rack feet that are made for mounting on the type of roof you are working on. Use tar and/or sealant. between the foot and in side the drilled hole.

You need to know what the wind speed is for your area along with how high off the ground so to know how low to mount the panels to the roof and how far to be from the eve and the crown. To keep an up draft from pulling them off the roof. You will as well use the wind speed data to find what the weight per SQ foot per mounting foot will be so not to crush your roof or push the mounting foot through.

Answer 2

Anything attached to the roof increases chances of roof leafs.

for trouble free roofs, install panels near electric meter in full sun, depending on your situation, try to get near garage area, build a simple frame on the ground to hold them in place.

Answer 3

..............pull old shingles where the mounting brackets would  go  counter flash it ,re-shingle it .and seal it.  its always done this way for anything installed on the roof ...unless its tile or something.