Solar Panel Mounts

If you're intrigued by the idea of adding solar power to your home or to your business building, you've probably looked at some houses that have those shiny solar panels gleaming up on the roof and puzzled over the question “how did they get there?” If you knew how to mount solar panels it could go a long way towards helping you to decide if going solar is a viable and economical option for you.

First, are you considering modifying an existing structure or is this a new construction? You'll find that if you install your panels during construction you will be far less likely to suffer one of the possible drawbacks of roof mount solar panels, namely leakage in a rain storm. Remember, the solar panel mounting will be using hardware that is anchored in the roof itself. This doesn't mean that modifying an existing roof should be discouraged, but it does mean that extra attention needs to be given to sealing and waterproofing the places where the actual solar panel mount is placed.

This brings us to the subject of the mounting hardware: you'll discover that there are basically two types of solar panel mounts, stationary and tracking. Both have their advantages. While the movable tracking roof mount for solar panels can collect more solar energy by following the sun, it is more expensive and it actually has to use energy to incline and decline throughout the day. It's been estimated that you can install twice as many stationary panels for the same cost as the movable ones, so if you have plenty of roof room, you may want to consider installing panels with staggered angles.

Speaking of roofs, ask yourself about the actual composition of the roof that you're considering mounting the panels on. If it's a tile roof you're going to find that it is tough going, because there will be plenty of stepping and walking involved on the roof itself during the installation process. Consequently, a shingled or flat-surfaced roof is much easier to work with.

If you take these factors into consideration while drawing up your plans, you can make the kind of informed judgment that can save you money and energy in the future. Let's face it, the use of solar energy is becoming more and more evident these days, and you find it in so many varied situations. Consider this: clever and innovative engineers have even figured out how to mount solar panels on feeders for animals. If it's good enough for the deer, isn't it good enough for us?