Ask Yourself These Questions Before Installing Solar Roofing

1. How Much Energy Do You Need?

Take a quick assessment of how much electricity your household needs before buying solar panels. How many kilowatts are you consuming each month? Multiply that number by 25 and run it by your Bay Area solar company to get an idea of how large your new solar system will be.

2. Are You Ready For Solar Roofing Installations?

Or, can you handle the upfront costs? Every year solar panels are getting more cost-effective, dropping more than 60 percent since 2011. Aside from knowing which panels are suited for you and which ones are overpriced, you’ll also need to prepare upfront money (around $15,000 upwards) for solar solutions, including subsidiaries, local tax credits and federal credits.

3. Are You Staying Long?

Solar roofing installations typically pay for themselves over a period of 5 to 6 years. While you take advantage of lower electricity bills immediately, the cost of installation is quite high and won’t be recouped until that time. Solar panels is a good solution if you intend to stay in your current residence for the long term, and not so much if you’re planning on moving or relocating in the near future.

4. Can Your Roof Hold The Solar Panels?

The beauty of solar panels is that they can be installed on almost any roof type; the only difference is the speed of installation and how soon you can use it once it’s there. For example, homes that have regular wood shingles or Spanish tiles may need to hire a East Bay roofing contractor who knows how to work it in.

5. Do You Have The Right Permits?

It’s wise to prepare in advance for your solar panels, and that includes securing the necessary permits for it. Get a building permit at the local level and make sure you follow the rules that pertain to your specific municipality.

6. Where Will The Panels Be Located?

The best location for solar panels is where they can get the most sunlight in a day. Obstructions such as tall trees and nearby buildings will significantly affect where your solar panels will be placed. Moreover, there are different types of solar panels, each with their own unique reactions to light and dark conditions.

7. Do You Have The Time?

Installing an adequate solar panel system will take some time. Wiring and panel placement can take a few days, but the solar project may take a few months starting from signing the contract up to the actual installation process.

8. Do You Have The Right Bay Area Solar Contractor?

Choose a solar roofing company who’s bonded, licensed, insured and has a strong warranty. The reviews and feedback from previous clients should be positive overall. These things can be found online or by asking the contractor for recent references.

Hire a Qualified Bay Area Solar Roofing Installer

Learn more about Century Roof Tile by checking out our website and testimonials. For a roof inspection, maintenance, solar consultation or installation, get in touch with us via our online contact form or by phone at 1-888-233-7548.

Thinking of putting in solar roofing for your next home improvement project?

Most Bay Area roofing contractors recommend solar shingles instead of traditional solar tiles to achieve a more energy-efficient home. Solar tiles are standalone, which means you can use it as the primary roofing material.

Solar Power Distribution of Solar Tiles

Solar tiles are wired to provide electricity for both off and on-grid systems. Having a solar panel system on an on-grid system allows you to power up homes and commercial establishments. Excess electricity generated from these tiles may be sold to the utility company for a rebate. Off-grid solar systems are more for back-ups in cases of power outages. They can also store energy for future use. Keep in mind that an off-grid system can be more expensive than an on-grid system.

All solar-powered systems make use of a power inverter that converts sun energy to usable electricity. A power inverter typically converts DC electricity into AC electricity for home use. Though solar roofing installation can be costly, the investment is recouped over time. They usually pay for themselves after several years of electricity production.

Solar Tile Pros

Solar roofing shingles are more aesthetically pleasing than their traditional counterparts. Home designers will appreciate the fact that this material enhances your home’s exterior design. You can choose from different sizes or models- from systems that make use of thin films to solid shingle-size tiles that look like any other traditional shingle.

You may opt for a more durable, waterproof solar tile during the time of installation. Bay Area solar roofing contractors will have an easier time during installation- they can just staple the tile directly to the roof. Furthermore, you may be qualified to get tax incentives if you go solar.

Solar tiles are more effective than traditional panels overall. Each shingle can generate up to 17 watts of electricity! Perhaps the most notable benefit of having solar tile roofing is that you won’t have to make room for large flat surfaces to install traditional solar panel systems.

Additionally, solar energy roofing can be constructed in a way that makes them highly resistant against strong winds.

Solar Tile Cons

• Initial installation costs can be steep.
• The roof has to have the right angle to efficiently catch solar energy. Also, the surface area must be sufficient to reliably power your property.
• On-grid systems will have no energy storage, which means you can’t use solar electricity during storms or in the night time.

Solar Energy Roofing in the Bay Area

Century Roof Tile is the go-to Bay Area roofing contractor for solar roofing installations, gutters, re-roofing and roof repair contact Century Roof Tile. At your earliest convenience, call (888) 233-7548 or contact us online for further assistance.

Going Green has come into its own. Solar power, hybrid and electric vehicles, recycling plants, and water conservation have become cultural norms rather than oddities. For those who want to dip their toes in these clean waters, these are among the top reasons that our customers have been choosing to go green with solar energy roofing and more. Going green can:

1. Increase the value of your home. Eco-friendly, energy efficient homes have a strong resale market. Install solar panels, water-saving showers and toilets, and water reclamation systems (rain barrels) to save money and resources now and attract buyers later.
2. Reduce your utility bills. Water and electric bills drop significantly with go green changes.
3. Improve your lung health. Low and no-emission vehicles reduce reliance on fossil fuel, improve air quality and help you breathe better.
4. Lower your body’s toxicity. Your skin is your largest organ, and you absorb over 60% of the products you put on it. Make smart, green choices, and your body will thank you.
5. Support the economy. Buy local produce, food, and other products. Locally grown fruits and vegetables and humanely raised animals will provide more nutrients than those you will find in the grocery store and help small businesses, too.
6. Shift the focus to sustainable energy. The more people who go green or demand alternative fuel options, the sooner these changes will occur.

There are many small steps you can take on your journey to green. Take reusable bags to the store, use energy-efficient light bulbs and shift to organic foods.

Go Green with Bay Area Solar Energy Roofing

Century Roof & Tile supports the Go Green movement. We created noutililtybill.com to answer solar power questions, and our expert team of installers includes a C10 electrical contractor and a C 39 roofing contractor. Call us today at 888-233-7548 or visit our website to learn more.

While most people install skylights to improve lighting in  the home and add beauty to often used areas there are benefits beyond style and the function of providing needed light that make skylights an even better decision. Let’s explore some of the myriad benefits of skylights in the home.

1. More Vitamin D.

If you suffer from a Vitamin D deficiency, skylight installation may be just the cure you need. Per this article from the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition: “Most humans depend on sun exposure to satisfy their requirements for vitamin D. Solar ultraviolet B photons are absorbed by 7-dehydrocholesterol in the skin, leading to its transformation to previtamin D3, which is rapidly converted to vitamin D3. Season, latitude, time of day, skin pigmentation, aging, sunscreen use, and glass all influence the cutaneous production of vitamin D3.”

2. Enhanced mood.

Research has shown that access to natural sunlight boosts your mood, stimulates your immune system and helps to ward off depression. Per WebMD: “a sunny day may do more than just boost your mood — it may increase levels of a natural antidepressant in the brain. A new study shows that the brain produces more of the mood-lifting chemical serotonin on sunny days than on darker days. Researchers say the findings provide more evidence that lack of sunlight and reduced serotonin levels are important in the development of seasonal affective disorder (SAD).”

3. Lower energy bills.

Similar to solar energy roofing, the addition of skylights and more natural light to your home reduces your need for electricity, which lowers your energy bills.

4. Visual appeal.

Bay Area skylight installation improves your home’s ambiance, making colors brighter and highlighting key architectural details. You can customize skylights to complement the design of any space, from tastefully-decorated bedrooms to modern, edgy kitchens.

5. Less mold and mildew.

Bathrooms, basements and other damp areas in the home are prone to a buildup of mold and mildew. Bringing more natural light into the area with the help of a skylight reduces the ability of these disease-causing organisms to grow.

[Related: 3 Reasons to Consider Skylight Installation When Re-Roofing]

Ready to Pursue a Skylight Installation for Your Bay Area Home?

Call the Century Roof & Tile team today at (888) 233-7548 with your questions about skylights, roof and solar installations! We offer a range of top of the line products and outstanding installation and pricing to make your home more energy efficient, more comfortable, and more valuable.

Whether you’re a property manager overseeing multiple developments on Oceanfront land, or you’re a homeowner concerned about spiking energy costs, you’re seriously considering investing in solar roofing. Not only can such a shift reduce your energy bills in the short term, but it can also help the environment, make your property more valuable, and control long-term energy costs. Unfortunately, not all roofs are ideal for solar energy roofing. Here’s what you need to know:

Roof Types

It is easier to install solar roofing on some types of roofs. Tile roofs and shake roofs make a solar roofing installations more difficult, because minor damage — such as broken tiles — is inevitable. (Such problems can start even during installation, when workers climb on the roof and carry materials across it to secure the tiles.) While the costs associated with this type of damage aren’t prohibitive, they do raise the overall price of the installation.

An overly steep roof, meanwhile, presents a different set of challenges. Workers may need to use special equipment to complete the installation and/or conduct any maintenance and repairs.
Lastly, an overly flat roof also may be less than ideal; you could need to install special racks in order to place solar paneling at the right angle (like in the photo above).

Condition and Age

While properly installed and maintained solar energy roofing panels can reduce wear and tear on your roof, they cannot replace the roof itself, unless they consist of photovoltaic shingles. If your roof is near the end of its warranty and/or of its useful life, consider replacing or remodeling it before installing solar panels, and talk to a professional before you make any modifications.

Bay Area Solar Roofing Installations Experts Can Advise

The Century Roof & Solar team would love to assess your roofing needs and help you explore simple, cost effective methods to save energy, liberate yourself from the grid and do your part to limit your impact on the environment. Century can complete a solar roofing analysis to determine whether solar is a good option for you and what the best locations for solar panels would be for your home. Call us today at (510) 780-9489 or send us a message for more information or to schedule a consultation.

Since the U.S. Department of Energy began investing in solar in the 1980s, this environmentally-friendly energy source has continued to grow in popularity. In fact, given the incredible surge in interest in solar that’s developed over the past 5 years or so (hat tip: Elon Musk), California may be poised to witness a veritable solar energy revolution.

Check out these fun facts about solar solutions.

1. Solar tiles collect energy from the most abundant energy source available on our planet. – The sun supplies the Earth with 173,000 terawatts of continuous energy.

2. A single CSP (Concentrating Solar Power) plant can supply power to thousands. – One average sized CSP plant generates enough power for 70,000 homes.

3. Italy and Germany love solar. – Although any homeowner can invest in solar energy roofing, solar energy gets the most attention in Italy and Germany.

4. Spacecrafts utilize solar energy. – Since the 1960’s, orbiting satellites have put solar energy to good use.

5. California’s Mojave Desert houses the world’s largest solar energy project. – The Mojave Desert project includes 350,000 mirrors and will generate power for 140,000 homes.

[See Also: History of Solar Energy]

Bringing Solar Energy Roofing to Your Bay Area Home

Curious about exploring a solar solution for your home’s energy needs? The experienced solar roofing installers at Century Roof & Solar can help. Call (888) 233-7548 or contact us today for a solar consultation.

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