In September, we asked for your questions on exposed-fastened (EF) roofing. Thank you for your responses! We collected them and thought we’d answer one of your questions today. A reader asked us why it made sense to install snow stops on an EF metal roof. If your building is in a snowy climate, installing a continuous snow fence, or discontinuous snow stops or snow guards is essential. For your system to be effective, however, the installation must be well-designed and by calculation – not by “guess and by golly.” There are common misconceptions around snow and metal roofing. So, today we’ll cover why a qualified snow retention system properly engineered for your specific installation is important to EF roofing in heavy-snow regions.
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Tags:
snow guards,
plastic snow guards,
metal roof brackets,
exposed fastened,
cost,
installation,
weather-proofing
Are you new to installing solar PV modules on a metal roof? We’ve heard from many of you who’d like a better grasp on the fundamentals of solar PV installation – especially when setting the stage for proper wire management. So today we’re offering you a primer on:
- The components of a PV array and how they work together.
- An overview of Module-Level Power Electronics (MLPE).
- The steps to get ready for solar PV wire-management design.
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Tags:
metal roof,
solar mounting,
PV,
rail mounted solar panels,
rooftop equipment,
cost
Ready to put a solar PV array on your roof? With solar installations becoming increasingly popular, many building owners, DIYers and new-to-solar contractors are learning about this field. If you’re jumping into the world of solar installations, we’ve pulled together some ideas and important considerations to get you started on the right foot.
We know solar installations often occur when you’re undertaking new roof construction or roof replacements. But before you begin your project, if you don’t have a metal roof, now’s the time to consider getting one. It’s the only roof type able to last and even exceed the entire life of your solar array without the need for replacement. To mount a solar PV system on any other roof type is a bit like putting a Ferrari engine on a Ford Escort chassis.
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Tags:
metal roof,
PV,
rooftop equipment,
exposed fastened,
cost,
installation
When it comes to attaching solar modules to metal rooftops, traditional rails have been a conventional choice. But familiar concepts don’t necessarily deliver the best outcomes, and the advantages of rail-less solutions are moving the industry in a new direction.
Decades ago – when interest in mounting solar PV on rooftops began – the introduction of using continuous aluminum rails as a solar racking system to mount PV modules in place was a practical application for all roof types. Eventually, innovation opened new doors and rail-less solutions were developed specifically for metal roofing. Using discrete hardware to directly secure each module to a metal roof, the new strategy completely bypassed the need for rails and brought some clear improvements.
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Tags:
metal roof,
metal roof clamps,
solar mounting,
metal roof brackets,
standing seam metal roof,
PV,
rail mounted solar panels,
cost,
installation
If you’re thinking of putting solar PV on your metal roof to generate renewable energy and save money over time, you’ve made a great choice. Metal roofs are an ideal platform for mounting solar modules thanks to their long service life and durability. Solar arrays have a service life of 35+ years, and metal roofing has a demonstrated service life of 60 years. Aside from metal, there are no other roof types that measure up to that without requiring replacement. Both standing seam and exposed-fastened metal roofs support solar arrays very effectively.
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Tags:
metal roof,
metal roof clamps,
solar mounting,
metal roof brackets,
standing seam metal roof,
rail mounted solar panels,
rooftop equipment,
exposed fastened,
cost,
installation
Being the experts on all things metal roof and metal roof attachments, we are often asked by solar developers and installers what is the most cost-effective way to install solar panels on metal roofs. There are multiple options when putting solar on a metal roof, and each come with pros and cons that can impact installation costs and lifetime performance.
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Tags:
solar mounting,
PV,
cost,
installation
When it comes to sharing solar array costs, companies often shy away and dance around the question. They usually focus on the customization angle – telling you that prices vary, and that this is what makes estimation difficult.
Now, of course costs vary, because no two projects are the same but whether you are an installer, contractor, or a homeowner, you share two common questions:
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Tags:
metal roof,
solar mounting,
standing seam metal roof,
rail mounted solar panels,
cost
Pop quiz. Should you install a metal roof or asphalt shingles? Which is a better choice? Asphalt shingle roofs are everywhere. But metal roofs have been in use for almost three thousand years. They have come a long way from the simple, yet functional corrugated or standing seam metal roof design usually associated with barns or sheds. So, which is the best choice for you? To answer this, let’s take a deeper look under the hood, or the roof, as it may be.
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Tags:
metal roof,
standing seam metal roof,
rooftop equipment,
cost,
installation
Standing seam metal roofing (SSMR) is the most convenient of any roof type for mounting PV modules, either crystalline or thin-film. The seams of SSMR are beam-like elements that not only add stiffness and flexural strength to the roof panels, but also provide expedient attachment points for a PV system. Joining PV modules to this roof type can be done with or without continuous mounting rails using aluminum seam clamps.
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Tags:
PV,
rail mounted solar panels,
cost
