“I love our family home,” Devon said, “but it definitely could be more energy efficient. I’d love to get solar installed, but people have told me that installing solar panels on a slate roof is impossible. Is that really true?”
The question of whether or not it’s possible to put solar panels on a slate roof has long been settled. It’s absolutely, 100 % possible. The tricky bit is finding a solar installation professional willing to do the job.
The reason solar installation companies say no to slate roofs is that they’re worried about what will happen if their crew breaks or otherwise damages a slate roofing tile during the installation process. Your slate roof is very durable in terms of being fireproof and weather resistant – but drill a hole too close to the edge or in a vulnerable area of the slate roofing tile and it can crack like an egg.
Don’t despair! There is a solution to this problem. A dedicated Massachusetts builder and solar installation professional developed a tool called the Solar Slate Plate. The Solar Slate Plate was designed to consistently, quickly, and accurately identify where mounting holes can be safely drilled in slate roofing tiles without causing any damage.
Using the Solar Slate Plate, the typical install time for solar on slate is cut nearly in half. This means the installation becomes affordable for the homeowner while remaining profitable for the solar installation company. It’s a simple solution that allows both parties to achieve their goals effectively.
So to return to the original question: is it impossible to install solar panels on a slate roof? The answer is you can absolutely install solar panels on a slate roof using the Solar Slate Plate. You can have the energy independence and reduced carbon footprint you want. If your contractor hasn’t heard about the Solar Slate Plate but is interested in learning more, you can send them here for more details.
