Important Considerations to Make Before Adding Solar to Your Commercial Roof

By Evelyn Witterholt. 

Here’s what every building owner needs to know before adding solar panels to their roof. 

There are a lot of incentives these days to add solar to your commercial roof, including tax credits and a lower electricity bill. But if you’re a building owner who still has questions about adding solar to your commercial roof, we’ve got all the answers you need! In our latest episode of the Understanding Roof Restoration podcast, we got to speak with Greg Hlavaty and Hal Leland from Western Colloid about considerations building owners should make when retrofitting their roof for solar.  

When building owners put solar panels on their roof, one element they often forget to consider is the current state of their roof. Greg, the president of Western Colloid, says that a solar panel system is expected to last 20-25 years, but is often put on a roof that won’t last that long. He also tells us that the type of roof the solar panels are being put on is important to take into account. 

“There's also different types of roofs that don't take solar really well for the long term,” he said. “The type of roof that you've got is a consideration. And you need to ask yourself how much longer that roof is going to last?”  

In terms of which roofs are more compatible with solar panels, Hal, general manager of Western Colloid, says that their acrylic-based roof coating systems are a reliable option. Not only do they go well with solar panels, but they can also go over many types of pre-existing roofs. They are also a more cost-effective roofing option, which is great for building owners who invest a lot of money in solar panels and don’t have a lot left over for their roofs. 

“We can actually go under the solar, we can do all the penetrations. It's a perfect fit,” Hal said. “The Western Colloid fluid-applied systems are all-acrylic, and polyester enforced.” 

Check out the entire episode to learn more about the ins and outs of retrofitting your commercial roof for solar. 

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