Best Roof Types for Solar Panel Efficiency
The best roofs for solar panels are metal (standing-seam), asphalt shingle, and tile. Metal roofs are the top choice because they’re durable, easy to mount, and cost-effective for solar installation.
Asphalt is the most common and least expensive option, though shorter roof lifespans can be a concern. Tile roofs last the longest but cost more to install solar on. Beyond material, your roof’s pitch (ideally ~30°), orientation (south-facing is best), and shade exposure all directly affect how much energy your panels will produce.
At a Glance:
- Metal, asphalt, and tile are the best roof materials for solar panels
- Wood and slate roofs are generally not recommended for solar
- South-facing roofs with a pitch of ~30° produce the most energy
- You may need to replace an aging roof before installing solar to avoid costly panel removal later
- Roof type affects installation cost more than panel performance
- Brda Electric offers site-specific evaluations to help homeowners decide whether and how to go solar
Brda Electric is a family-owned electrical services company with 35+ years of experience, serving homeowners in the St. Louis area, Southern Illinois, and the Tampa Bay area. Our licensed electricians and Solar Services team help homeowners evaluate roof compatibility, calculate installation costs, and install solar panels efficiently.
What Makes a Roof Good for Solar Panels?
Homeowners sometimes assume that a roof’s material is the only thing that matters when considering solar panels. Material does matter, but there are other important factors to consider, including the roof’s:
- Lifespan
- Structural condition
- Pitch
- Orientation
- Available space
Across these factors, there are hard or recommended minimum requirements, along with cost and efficiency considerations. But it all boils down to this: the roof’s durability, ease of panel installation and potential for energy production.
Best Roofs for Solar Panels
Solar works on many kinds of roofs, but some are a more natural fit than others. According to the energy experts and solar advocates at EnergySage, some of the best roof materials for solar are metal, asphalt and tile. Let’s take a look at why these materials in particular are so apt.
Metal Roofs
Metal roofs are ideal for solar because they’re durable. They’re often rated for 40-75+ years, per EnergySage, so unless it’s been 50+ years since yours was installed, you’re probably good to go in terms of durability.
Other positive factors include protection from fire and potential efficiency bonuses if your metal roof is reflective. Plus, it’s fairly easy to install panels: Metal roofs using standing-seam systems can often have solar panels fastened directly to them.
Any cost considerations here predate the solar question. Metal roofing can be expensive to install initially, but it’s usually significantly cheaper to install solar on metal than other roof types.
If you have a metal roof, you can probably install solar easily and affordably.
Asphalt Shingle Roofs
Asphalt is one of the most commonly used roofing materials, and it’s widely compatible with solar panels. Because of this, no installation professional or team should have trouble installing solar panels on your roof. It should also be an inexpensive install.
The only issue with asphalt roofs is durability. Asphalt roofs are typically rated for between 12–30 years, per EnergySage. Solar panels, on the other hand, are often rated at about 25–30 years. So, unless you just had your asphalt roof installed, it may need to be replaced before the solar panels, which would involve uninstalling them at that point, too.
Put simply, solar panels work well on asphalt roofs and install easily. Just be ready for a potentially expensive replacement if your roof is on the older side.
Tile Roofs
Tile roofs make for one of the most ideal fits for solar panels in terms of durability and logistics. They can easily last for well over 100 years, which is why they’re often installed in places with high temperatures (and therefore lots of sunlight) or harsh conditions.
However, cost can be a concern with solar panels on tile roofs: It’s often more complex and labor-intensive to install them. While tile is stable, there are relatively high risks of breakage and added repair costs during the solar panel installation process.
Long-term, durability wins out here. A tile roof is likely to outlive any solar panels you install.
The bottom line? If you can stomach the (potential) up-front costs, solar panels will likely work well on your tile roof, especially if you live in a hot climate that gets a ton of sunlight.
Roofs That Can Make Solar More Difficult
While many common roof types can accommodate solar panels, some materials simply won’t work due to fire risks, fragility or mounting difficulties.
For example, these common roofs are not fully compatible with solar:
- Wood roofs – Wood shake and shingle roofs aren’t the best fits for solar because of their brittleness and, more importantly, their fire risks. In some cases, and with specialized installation precautions, it may be possible. However, solar panels are generally not recommended for these roofs.
- Slate roofs – Slate roofs are much more prone to cracking and breaking than asphalt, so installation is often a careful and time-consuming process. Slate roofs may also require additional support for the solar panels’ weight, especially if they’re older.
In general, any material that’s flammable or carries fire risks cannot support solar. Materials that are fragile or come with mounting difficulties are also not great matches for solar. If you have one of these roofs, you may need to look into specialty mounting hardware or a roof replacement.
One common roof type that can go either way is a flat or low-slope roof, which is often made of tar and gravel. These materials aren’t the issue, but the pitch can be problematic. Solar panels can still work, but they may need tilt racks or other specialized mounting to get the optimal angle. Proper drainage and waterproofing are also more critical for flatter roofs.
Why Roof Direction, Pitch and Shade Matter
Roof material is far from the only consideration when it comes to solar compatibility. A roof’s direction, pitch and shade all play big roles in whether and how well solar will work.
In fact, these are the most important considerations for solar installation, according to the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB). Let’s take a look at why and how they matter.
Best Roof Orientation for Solar Panels
The best angle for a solar panel to face anywhere in the Northern Hemisphere is south because south-facing surfaces see the most sun. This is the same reason sun-hungry plants do best in south-facing gardens or windows. Roofs facing due south are generally perfect for solar panels.
For some homeowners, having a south-facing panel may not be possible due to the orientation of their roof. However, anything with a southward tilt—southeast or southwest—can work decently. East- and west-facing roofs can still be viable, but north-facing roofs (or parts of a roof that point north) are less ideal.
Flat roofs can be either good or bad orientation-wise because panels can likely be configured to face any direction.
Best Roof Pitch for Solar
Solar panels work best when they’re pitched to maximize sun exposure throughout the course of the day. According to the experts at NAHB, the optimal angle is typically within about ~10 degrees of your home’s latitude, or between ~18° and ~45°.
Coincidentally, this is about the range that most non-flat roofs use.
For most homeowners, the easiest and most intuitive way to install solar panels is to use the existing pitch of their roof. However, if your roof is flat (<18°) or extremely sloped (>40°), you may need to use a specialized mounting system. This can drive up installation costs, but it doesn’t mean you can’t go solar.
Basically, any roof pitch can work, but those around ~30° are considered ideal.
How Shade Affects Solar Efficiency
Trees, chimneys, dormers and nearby buildings can reduce the energy output of solar panels, so roofs that see a lot of shade are not ideal. However, the only real non-starter is any part of a roof that’s fully obscured for most hours of the day. Otherwise, you should be fine to install solar panels as long as you target the areas of your roof with the least amount of shade.
While there are ways to mitigate partial shading, nothing can solve a roof that is fully obscured. The most popular solutions to partial shading conditions (PSCs) are series–parallel (SP) and total-cross-tied (TCT) connections. These help grids produce energy even when panels are shaded.
Should You Replace Your Roof Before Going Solar?
As noted above, roof durability is one of the most important factors to consider when determining solar compatibility. If you have an older asphalt roof that’s seen better days, it might make sense to replace it or at least do some significant repair work before installing solar panels.
This is less of a concern if you have a metal or tile roof, unless you know it’s nearing the end of its life, or if there’s no information available about when it may have been installed (for an older house).
As you calculate whether solar panels are worth it for you, consider what a roof replacement would look like. If you need to replace your roof before your solar panels, there will almost certainly be extra expenses—and risks of damage—in removing and reinstalling them.
How Your Roof Type Affects Solar Installation Cost
Outside of edge cases where a roof is truly incompatible with solar (like a north-facing wood roof), one of the biggest drivers of whether solar is worth it is how much it’ll cost.
An easier installation will cost less than a complex one. For instance, attaching solar panels to an existing standing-seam system on a metal roof is easier and cheaper than drilling into an asphalt roof and filling in the gaps with flashing. Similarly, an extreme pitch will likely require brackets, and the difficulty of actually moving around on such a roof can also drive up costs.
There are also fragility and break risks to think about. As noted above, tile roofs work well with solar, but the actual installation process can lead to expensive repair or maintenance work.
All these factors need to be weighed against how much money you can save with solar panels.
How Brda Electric Evaluates Roof Compatibility
At Brda Electric, we help homeowners like you decide whether and how to install solar by providing clear calculations of installation costs and potential savings. Our experts start by assessing your roof’s condition, its age and any wear on it. We also assess its layout—direction, pitch and space available—along with electrical readiness. Our aim is to help you make an informed decision.
In particular, we want to help you decide whether you should go solar right away or if repairing or replacing your roof first might make more sense long-term. If you decide you’re ready to install, our Solar Services experts will get the job done well, swiftly and affordably.
Upgrade Your Roof with Solar Today
Ultimately, the best roof for solar panels is any roof that’s durable, structurally sound, south-facing and moderately pitched, minimally shaded and able to outlive or at least match a solar system’s lifespan. These are often made of metal, asphalt or tile, but other materials can work as well.
Even if your roof isn’t optimized for it, you may be able to go solar with a specialized installation. Brda Electric will help you understand whether and how to go solar with a site-specific evaluation, rather than relying on abstract information.
Contact Brda Electric today to get started on your journey to efficient, sustainable energy.