Trends in Solar Roofing You Must Know About

By Evelyn Witterholt. 

With the solar roofing industry growing by the minute, here are some advancements to be aware of. 

When solar roofing first became commercially available in the 2000s, it seemed too expensive or inaccessible to the common consumer. Nowadays, it is not only more appealing to homeowners for environmental reasons, but it’s more financially feasible as well. According to Scientific American, financial incentives such as tax credits from the government and lowered installation costs in certain states have made solar roofing more popular over the years. 

For homeowners who are interested in getting a solar roof, here are a few trends to keep an eye out for: 

Metal solar roofs 

The growth of metal roofing is undeniable and naturally there’s some overlap with solar roofing. If you’re looking to get the most out of your roof, you will do well to combine the durability of metal and the energy-efficiency of solar. There are even easy-to-install mounts for metal roofs, such as the PVKIT® solar mount system from S-5!. This mounting system is great for metal roofing because it can attach directly to the rails built into metal roofs. Because of this feature, it reduces the weight of the mounting system and the cost of materials. 

Affordable solar roofing systems 

As stated earlier, the financial incentives of solar roofing have attracted many potential buyers. But some still may find it to be an unattainable investment option. Not everyone is able to afford turning their entire roof into a solar roof but this doesn’t mean that you don’t have options. 

This Solstice® solar system from CertainTeed gives homeowners the option of a cost-effective solar roof panel system that is still durable. It’s also worth looking into the incentives available to you for installing solar panels on your roof, such as the 26% federal investment tax credit (ITC). 

Solar roofing shingles 

Roofs made entirely out of solar shingles are also on the rise. Last year, we wrote about a solar roof made completely out of solar shingles from Tesla. These shingles make solar roofs look like any other roof, rather than having an obvious solar panel on top of an existing roof, which could bother some homeowners. While these are a bit more costly, some homeowners prefer the curb appeal these solar shingles provide. 

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About Evelyn 

Evelyn works as a writer for RoofersCoffeeShop and AskARoofer. When she isn’t writing about roofing, she’s either at the gym lifting weights or curled up on the couch watching a movie. 

Photo credit: CertainTeed