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.

One of the most common questions we get as a Bay Area roofing contractor is, “Do I need a new roof if I want to install solar panels?”.

Some residents and business owners understandably worry about the roof’s integrity and size before considering Bay Area solar roofing installations:

•  “Will my current roof be enough to accommodate an array of solar panels?”
• “Will solar roofing cause leaks or compromise the overall structure of my roof?”
• “Is my roof large enough for a solar panel installation?”
• “Is my roof positioned to get the most sunlight?”

These are all valid concerns, but keep in mind that solar panel systems can be set up elsewhere, too, not just your roof.

It’s true that a solar company will first look at your roof as a viable platform for the solar panel installation, but there are other possible locations for it as well. Detached garages, poles, ground mounts and shade awnings are all good examples of solar panel spots. In some instances, your Bay Area roofing contractor may even install your solar panels on the ground because the roof is covered with shading. It’s all about finding the optimal location to best suit your needs.

Assessing Your Roof’s Condition for Solar Panels

If your roofing contractor deems that your roof is in a poor condition, then it would be a wise idea to have them replaced before installing the solar panel system. This will save you money and unnecessary headaches in the long run because you won’t have to re-install the solar panels when time comes and you need to replace the roof. Doing so will require additional solar panel removal and re-installation fees.

A good licensed roofing contractor can determine the condition of your roof and recommend the best course of action before installing solar roofing. Solar panels actually help you get more out of your new roof as it blocks out the harmful UV rays and protects it from hail, snow, and rain. Plus, it keeps the heat out from your home during the hot summer months!

The good news is that solar panels may be installed on almost all kinds of roofs, whether tile or composite. Shingle roofs and single plane roofs are the easiest ones to work with when installing new solar panels.

Contact the Leading Bay Area Solar Roofing Company

Checking to see if your current roof’s condition is good and if it’s sturdy enough is important if you want the best Bay Area solar roofing installation. Our licensed East Bay Area roofing contractors here to help you! Contact Century Roof Tile for any of your roofing or solar concerns at (888) 233-7548 or use our online contact form here.

Being in an age where having environmentally friendly everyday items is becoming more and more commonplace, solar roofing panels are quickly taking over neighborhoods across America. Not only do they look great, but they are environmentally friendly, save you money on electric bills, and last for many many years.

There are two main types of solar roofing called Crystalline and BIPV (Building Integrated Photovoltaic). Both of these electricity making systems have a moderate cost when it comes to the initial installation, but over time they’ll pay for themselves by saving you money on energy bills. By cutting down the reliance on electricity, they have a positive effect on the environment by reducing pollution caused from power plants.

Recently solar roofing has been picking up at quite a fast pace. Many people jump to negative conclusions about the installation of a solar roof, with the belief that you have to make large holes in your roof and bring in heavy duty equipment to hold the panels.

However, that isn’t the case. With all the advancements in the field of solar energy roofing technology, today’s solar roofing products have all the benefits of lightweight tiles, ease of installation, and strong durability. These are just a handful of reasons solar roofing a great choice.

Solar roofs mainly consist of solar roof tiles, but can also consist of solar panels. Solar tiles are less prominent than large solar panels, which are fitted on top of the current roofing system. Solar tiles can be easily adjusted into the roofing shingles, and easily blend into the roof type because of their dark blue gray appearance. A person who doesn’t know about the presence of the solar roof tiles would not be able to identify them at the first glance. Solar tiles weigh 2-3 pounds for every square foot, making it easier to install when compared to heavier solar panels.

Solar roofing is very helpful if you are trying to avoid or cut down on a costly electricity bill. In the long run, and if installed correctly, solar roofing will prove less costly, and in some cases even eliminate the whole electricity bill. You may even be able to supply power to other homes if your energy consumption is small enough. Taking these factors into consideration, solar roofing could be a real great investment for you.

Contact Our Bay Area Solar Company Today

Whether you want solar roofing to save money on your electricity bills or to contribute towards reducing your energy consumption, having them fitted by a professional roofing contractor is a must. Having solar panels is a great step in the right direction to help protect the Earth and our environment. If you are interested in learning more about solar panels or solar tile installation, contact us online today or give us a call at (510) 780-9489.

Owning solar panels can help slash your winter heating bills, help the environment and even improve the value of your home and property. However, you may need to do some slight maintenance on the panels. Winter maintenance work can keep your systems functional, in spite of wear and tear caused by Mother Nature. Here are some guidelines:

First, take a look at the manufacturer’s recommendations for cleaning. Next, pick a good time to do the work. As intuition would suggest, solar panels can get blisteringly hot during the day, even during the winter. Choose early morning, late afternoon, or a cloudy day to do the work.

In most cases, a water hose can help you take off the pollen, bird doo, debris, leaves, and dust that can inhibit the efficiency of solar panels. If simple hosing doesn’t do it, take warm water and soap in a spray bottle and a sponge or soft cloth to swipe the panels. Avoid touching or trying to “clean” the wiring underneath the panels. Take care while going on up on the roof and using ladders, and consider hiring professional roofing contractors to help you.

Some studies suggest that biannual solar panel cleaning can help users improve their efficiency by 15 to 25 percent. Monitor your use and performance before and after cleaning to determine an ideal cleaning schedule going forward.

Call The Solar Roofing Specialists Today!

For help dealing with solar panel installation, maintenance, or any other roofing related concerns, call the team here at Century Roofing & Solar for a free consultation. You can reach us at (510) 780-9489.

Solar power roofing is one of the most exciting energy inventions of the past 100 years, providing a clean and renewable source of power for homes and businesses. Although many homeowners know about the benefits of solar panels, they aren’t always familiar with how they work.

Solar roofing operates on a process known as integrated photovoltaics, in which photovoltaic devices (solar panels) convert sunlight into electricity. The process occurs over several stages:

1. The sun releases photons, which strike the solar panel’s semiconductor material.

2. The material causes photons to ionize, or release their outer electrons.

3. The structure of the semiconductor guides the free electrons in a single direction, causing an electric current.

Because some of the sun’s rays – such as ultraviolet and infrared – are too weak or create the wrong type of energy to generate electricity, photovoltaics do not present owners with 100 percent efficiency. However, they remain one of the most efficient energy sources available in the world today.

Bay Area Solar Company

Since its original harnessing in 1954 by Bell Labs, solar power has been one of the most compelling discoveries of its time. To learn more about how to put it to work in your home or business, contact Century Roof and Solar, expert solar roofing installers committed to making this resource available to you.

Whether you just purchased a Bay Area home, and you’re hoping to reduce your energy bills by “going solar,” or you’re exploring solar roofing and other solar solutions to make your home eco-friendly and/or to prepare for a sale, you want a solution that makes sense.

Should you opt for solar tiles or solar panels, for instance?

Let’s do a quick analysis.

First off, installing tiles and shingles can qualify you for generous tax subsidies; and these elements are generally easier to apply than panels. Tiles, technically speaking, are photovoltaic cells that mimic traditional roof shingles. They first became commercially available in 2005; at that time, they were more expensive than panels, but recent market forces have driven down the cost, so now the prices are equivalent.

Solar tiles also can do double duty — in addition to providing solar energy, they can also waterproof your house and protect it from the elements.

Both California and the federal government offer tax subsidies and other perks for homeowners who “go solar” using panels or tiles. You can check out the Database of State Incentives for Renewable and Efficiency (DSIRE) to get the latest information about what incentives and benefits are available to Bay Area residents. The U.S. government, meanwhile, is offering 30% tax credits when you buy solar equipment.

Other factors that should influence your solar decisions include your timeframe for construction, your timeframe for selling or leasing the home and your aesthetic preferences (if any).

Call Your East Bay Roofing Contractors!

The team here at Century Roof & Solar would love to help you talk through your roof installation options and figure out what makes sense, given your budget and needs, so you can get the most out of your transition to solar power. Call us for an estimate at (888) 233-7548 or email us at info@centuryrooftile.com.

We often discuss the benefits of solar roofing — particularly its longevity, efficiency, and eco-friendliness.

But how long DO panels work? How much use can you expect from an installation? How do today’s panels compare to the equipment over the last 10 or so years?

Solar panels are surprisingly durable pieces of equipment! The average units sold today should last up to 40 years, but you probably won’t find warranties much in excess of 25 years. Even after four decades, you can still expect panels to produce at 80% of their out-of-the-box output.

Both polycrystalline and monocrystalline panels boast very long life expectancy, and the lifespan does not depend on wattage.

All that said, panels are relatively delicate instruments. They can be damaged — and thus, their life expectancy can be significantly shortened — if homeowners do not properly care for them. For instance, if the installation is not done carefully, panels can be broken or damaged. Water, dust and other residue can seep into the panels and destroy contacts and reduce conductivity. Tampering with or slamming solar panels can damage the units.

That said, panels are built to stand up to some pretty severe tests, including hail, very high temperatures, frigid temperatures, winds, and other weather related roughness. Modern solar panels also come with what are known as blocking diodes. These provide room for error. If a cell stops working, for whatever reason, it won’t shut down the entire panel – the problem area will be isolated, and the panel will continue to generate power for you.

The team here at Century Roof & Solar is an experienced solar company that can answer any questions you may have. Give us a call today at 1-888-233-7548 for a thorough and systematic analysis of your solar project.

But how much money can you save going solar? How can you quantify the effects of an upgrade?

1. Use online calculators.

Dozens of online calculators can help you calculate the gist of how much you could save, long-term, based on parameters you input. But if you’re in the earlier stages of the research process, these calculations might confuse more than they clarify.

2. Get a rough estimate using national average.

These numbers change, but let’s just say that the average electricity bill in our region, among homeowners like you, is $120 per month. If you install a 3 kilowatt system and obtain usable 7 hours of sunlight every day, you get around 20 kilowatt hours a day. That means you get about 600 kilowatt hours every month. Of course, you need to “hit at” that number, because not every day will be sunny and beautiful, especially in the Bay Area, where the weather gets crazy.

So let’s say that 20% of the days, rain or fog or other inclement weather prevents your system from extracting usable energy. 20% of 600 is 120, so you might end up with only 480 kilowatt hours a month. If your home or business consumes around 1,000 kilowatt hours per month (a pretty fair estimate), that means that you can supply basically half your energy needs every month. Thus, you save around $60 per month.

3. Put that $60 figure (or whatever you came up with) into context.

Dozens, possibly hundreds, of variables can impact your energy efficiency, costs, etc. These factors include:

• Thermal efficiency of your roof
• Your personal energy needs
• Seasonal changes
• Quality of solar tile installation
• Whether you use “smart” controls or not
• Whether you ever need to repair/upgrade/re-install solar tiles
• Whether you add more solar capacity

4. Simplify your quest for better energy by connecting with experts.

The team here at Century Roof & Solar in the Bay Area has an exquisitely adapted system to help homeowners and business owners like you maximize efficiency and costs. Get in touch with us via our website or call us to schedule a free consultation to solve your solar panel needs.

We always encourage comments and questions.  Thanks guys!

When you think of going solar do you still think of big bulky panels? Going solar can now look good and feel good. #thinkgreengogreen

Carlos Ochoa May 4, 2012

Are they still effective? What’s the cost per kilowatt vs the previous bulky panels?

Century Roof and Solar May 4, 2012

The system is very effective, the solar tiles are Csi technology (1kw per 100 sq feet) and have reduced the clients usage from $450 per month to $6.00 per month. The price per watt is $1.00 more, however the roof under the array locations are new due to the need for BIPV/Roof preparation and this area has pigeon problems that the homeowner did not want to deal with, on a conventional raised panel system. Thanks for asking +Carlos Ochoa!

Construction Dive May 4, 2012

How would they fair in extremely cold or snow-intense regions? On the surface, they definitely look better compared to the bulky panels.

Century Roof and Solar May 7, 2012

+Construction Dive The solar tiles perform very well in snow loading conditions for two reasons. The first is glass laminate with Csi cells (just like standard modules) have a uniform support structure across the entire laminate as opposed to only being picture framed like standard panels. The second advantage is that no snow load will build behind the panels because they are part of the building envelope, although snow guards would be needed to prevent snow run off from snow build up on the array.

Carlos Ochoa May 7, 2012

+Century Roof and Solar Do you know of any solar companies that would donate some solar panels to my university? =)

Century Roof and SolarMay 9, 2012

+Carlos Ochoa I would try contacting Solar Energy International at www.solarenergy.org I know that they get equipment donated to them and they should be able to help.

Carlos OchoaMay 9, 2012

+Century Roof and Solar Thanks!

Visit http://centuryroofandsolar.com

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Researchers at the Pacific Energy Center in Northern California, for instance, found that solar panels engineered and deployed during the 1970s (when solar technology was really at the beginning) continue to deliver power today, four decades later, producing power ratings of around 80% of their initial capacity. That’s tremendous efficiency after 40 years of use and abuse – remember, these panels were some of the first ever built and used.

Analysts believe that most solar panels will bleed efficiency at a rate of about 0.5% annually. That means it will take 50 years for your panels to lose just a quarter of their original power.

Factors that may influence the longevity of solar panels:

1. Thin film panels may burn out faster than crystalline panels;
2. Harsh weather conditions (wind, rain, sleet, dust storms, etc) can pummel panels and shorten life expectancy;
3. Dirty, snow covered, scratched up panels are obviously going to get ground up faster;
4. Even after 25 years – a quarter of a century – most solar panels will continue to produce significant power, thus they will almost assuredly easily pay for themselves many times over.

Of course, the quality of your solar panel installation can also be crucial. Trust the team here at Century Roof & Solar to design, test, and engineer the best solar power solution for your home, business, or organization.

We have been the premier solar solution provider for the Bay Area since 1996, and we are masters at installing integrated photovoltaics. Learn about our possible solar solutions for you at www.centuryroofandsolar.com, or call us toll free at (888) 223-7548 to get your project questions answered by our seasoned solar specialists.

Sun image source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sun