# Finding reliable information about solar panel installation on roof

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/finding-reliable-information-about-solar-panel-installation-on-roof/950063>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [September 3, 2021, 10:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/finding-reliable-information-about-solar-panel-installation-on-roof/950063 "2021-09-03T22:11:39Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Showing post:** 4

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**Author:** ![DavidNRockies](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidnrockies/32/6279_2.png) [@DavidNRockies](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DavidNRockies)\
**Post date:** [September 3, 2021, 11:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/finding-reliable-information-about-solar-panel-installation-on-roof/950063/4 "2021-09-03T23:56:50Z")

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Thinking back to this post:

> [@Cold weather in Texas (and other states) - electricity availability and home solar panels](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cold-weather-in-texas-and-other-states-electricity-availability-and-home-solar-panels/933483/52):
>
> On our 5/12 roof, I knew the angle of the panels would not be optimal for production but the PV vendor said that they do not pitch an array on a residential roof because then you create lift and then you would need to do structural improvements vs just getting engineer to approve the structure for the slight (\< 3# psf) load of the panels, rack, wiring, and microinverters. So not worth the expense for the extra production.

And using my questionable math skills … @jdc 's roof seems to me to be pitched at just shy of 42 degrees.

The implication in his post is that the panels aren’t the problem so much as the buttressing of the roof structure in order to reinforce it against possible lift-induced damage.

So … yeah … you may need to reach out to a panel manufacturer _and_ an architect, structural engineer, knowledgeable roofer, or other professional.

ETA: I doubt I did the math right (I’m tired), but the point may still stand 😉

Found an online calculator for this: JDC’s roof appears to have a ~42% grade **or** be at a 22.6\* pitch – JFTR.

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