Solar Panels on a Metal Roof

A standing-seam metal roof is one of the best roofs to put solar on. The panels clamp onto the raised seams, so nothing is drilled through the roof, and a metal roof usually outlasts the panels themselves.

How solar mounts on a metal roof

Standing-seam metal

Standing-seam roofs have raised ribs where the panels join. Seam clamps tighten onto those ribs with set screws, and the panel rails attach to the clamps. No holes go through the roofing, so there is nothing to seal and nothing that can leak later. This is the simplest solar install there is.

Exposed-fastener (corrugated or ribbed) metal

Ribbed and corrugated panels, common on farmhouses, barns and outbuildings, are screwed down through the face of the metal. Solar mounts on these with brackets that fasten into the purlins or decking underneath, each sealed with a gasket made for metal roofing. Done correctly, it is a long-lasting, watertight attachment.

Metal shingles

Metal made to look like shingles or slate uses its own mounting hardware. The installer matches the bracket to the profile so the roof’s locking edges are not damaged.

Why metal and solar work well together

• Lifespan: a metal roof commonly lasts 40 years or more, so you will not need to remove the panels to replace the roof partway through their life.
• No penetrations on standing seam: clamps grip the seams, so there is no risk of a leak from the mounting.
• Snow sheds: metal is slick, and panels on metal shed snow quickly. Installers add snow guards below the array where sliding snow could land on a walkway or a lower roof.
• Light and strong: metal roofs are light, so the structure usually has plenty of capacity for the added weight of panels.

Metal roofs are common where we install

Across rural Pennsylvania, New York’s Southern Tier and Ohio, a large share of the homes we design for have metal roofs, along with metal-roofed garages and barns. If the house roof is shaded or faces the wrong way, a south-facing barn or garage roof can sometimes carry the panels instead, wired back to the home’s service.

What to check before going solar on metal

• Roof warranty: some metal roofing warranties name approved clamp brands. Keep your roofing paperwork handy for the first call.
• Seam profile: the clamp has to match your seam shape and metal thickness.
• Condition of fasteners: on exposed-fastener roofs, old screws and washers near the array are usually replaced while the crew is there.
• Grounding: the array is bonded and grounded to code, the same as on any roof.