Case Study:How We Installed Solar Panels In Three Days With No Scaffolding

This residential property in South London required solar panel fitting and other roof maintenance services to improve its energy efficiency.

With limited access due to close neighbouring residential properties and narrow entryways, learn how our talented rope access technicians overcame access issues to fully install this client's solar panel pitch.

Logistics

Like many others in the UK, our client had been struggling with rising living costs and skyrocketing energy costs. They had been looking at their options for several months and were interested in a renewable source of energy for their home. 

The client had previously enquired with another company but was told that their roof would not allow enough panels to be installed to produce sufficient energy due to some pre-existing damage to their tiles. They were informed that panels could only be applied to certain areas of their roof.

Our client got in touch after seeing one of our Spectrum Specialist Support vans in their local area. They were aware of our other services and were assured by our extensive roofing experience. At Spectrum, we have over twenty years of experience in roofing-related works, including solar panel installation across London and the South East. As we regularly offer roof maintenance and repairs, we assured the customer that we could repair their roof, thus restoring structural stability to the load-bearing beams, before fitting solar panels for them.

The client's property was a detached two-storey home, on a private residential road, with a narrow driveway that posed access issues for larger machinery. Before our pre-site assessment, the client had concerns about the roof's pitch being too shallow. 

Pre-Site Assessment

A pre-site assessment is an essential component of our services to gather the details of the project and determine what action needs to be taken. As this customer's roof had some pre-existing tile damage that needed repairing, we assessed the damage caused by this and evaluated which waterproofing solution would provide the best results once the damage had been repaired. We evaluated the load-bearing capacity of the roof. We determined that any water damage caused by the damaged tiles was minor but would need fixing before solar panel installation.

Once we established if the property was suitable for solar panel installation, we got to work on assessing which roof was the best to install the solar panels. Although the client had concerns about the pitch of the roof being too shallow, we confirmed that the planned area had a pitch of 25°. A roof with an angle of less than 15° is considered too shallow, as the panels would no longer be able to be considered self-cleaning. This would mean they would need cleaning regularly, which is an unnecessary burden. Though 25° is regarded as a low-pitch roof, with some minor panel adjustments, this caused no issues.

Once a decision had been made on which roof to use and the square footage available, we presented the customer with different solar power options and explained how much wattage can be generated per sq metre on the roof. Before providing a quote, we always ask the customer to provide a ​​utility bill. This is essential to accurately estimate the potential return on your investment and the energy cost savings available.

Some factors we consider when assessing a property's energy potential are location, adjacent properties, landscape and any other energy blockers like hills and trees. While on site, we also noticed a few environmental factors that must be addressed. Certain trees on the property were casting significant shadows onto the home and would require cutting back regularly to ensure solar efficiency.

We advised the customer of the options that suited their energy needs and budget. The whole system was customised to their needs, down to the panels, inverters, rails and batteries. We always ensure the selected equipment was compatible and, therefore, MCS certified.

When the customer had chosen a solar method, we sent over our quote, installation timeframe and energy score. For this property, the quote included the repair and waterproofing services required before installation. If you are interested in receiving a solar panel installation quote for your property, just get in touch with our helpful team who will take you through the process.

The Project

Roof Repairs

The roof repairs consisted of a full water test on arrival to identify the cause and location/s of the problem, after which we provided a detailed report of our findings with some remedial cost recommendations to restore safety and functionality to the affected area. We reviewed the possible repair options with the client's budget, timeframe and requirements in mind.

As always, the aim was to locate and repair a leak and prevent it from reoccurring, particularly as this repair was required before the solar panel installation could begin.

After completing the roof repairs, the roof was re-assessed for structural stability. Ensuring the roof is safe before installation is essential, as affixing the rails will require drilling into the roofing materials. If any damage isn't spotted, e.g. rotten beams or cracked tile, there is the potential for water ingress through this area which will be much more difficult and costly to repair once the panels have been fitted.

Access Assessment

Our site assessment determined that we would need a small cherry picker on site for two days to raise the panels and rails to the roof while the installation took place. The uneven ground at the reverse of the property meant that our cherry picker needed to be at the front of the property on the driveway. This would also prevent damage to the client's garden and ensure our operatives were as non-disruptive as possible. 

As this was a private residential road, we placed notices around the site to inform residents and neighbours of the works being carried out and what times of day we would be causing any noise. We also clearly signposted any heavy machinery or vehicles for absolute clarity.

We laid flooring protection inside the property to protect surfaces while the panels were wired into the home. Protective mats were also used on the driveway and grass to protect the client's property while the cherry picker was on site.

[images from our most recent training session]

Installation

First, roof anchors are installed into the tiles for the mounting rails to be attached. This forms the base of the solar panel pitch and is what the panels are attached to. The mounting rails are locked to the roof anchors, and the panels are then affixed to the mounting rails using clamps. 

Panels are loaded onto the cherry picker to be lifted to height and installed one by one by our team of IRATA-certified abseilers. Our years of rope experience mean we can install anywhere without expensive access equipment or scaffolding services. Using compatible solar products means that the panels can clip straight into the rails, ensuring swift installation.

Once the panels have been placed, the wiring must be drilled into the home and linked to the batteries and switches where the residents can control the energy. This client wanted the controls for their panels to be available in the kitchen, so we drilled pilot holes in discrete locations to thread the cables through to the area requested. As we require access to the property, we placed protective mats on all carpeted areas while we were inside. The batteries could have been stored outside if the client wanted to reduce drilling. Still, as we were only inside for one day, they opted for the convenience of having the batteries and switches inside.

Once the wiring was run through the home, an electrician connected the inverters and other electrical equipment. The electrician also connected the system to the internal switches controlling the system from inside the building. The circuit supplying the inverter must be certificated by an electrician registered under one of the competent person schemes like NICEIC or NAPIT. 

Having an NICEIC electrician sign off on a solar panel installation is vital and ensures your system is safe. As a company, we are MCS-certified. Upon completion of solar panel installation, a certificate will be issued, which serves as proof that your installation has been designed, installed & completed to the highest standard using only MCS-certified products by an MCS-accredited installer. 

The Result

As a result of this solar installation, this customer has significantly reduced their energy costs and reliance on the national grid.

Though they were initially told they could not have solar panels, our extensive history in roof repair expertise allowed us to repair the client's initial issue, and provide them with their dream solar installation. The tree pruning required to optimise panel efficiency also let more light into the home and garden, which was an unexpected benefit.

The client was extremely happy with the lack of disruption caused and even managed to host a garden party while we fitted the panels. 

"We were very impressed with how efficiently the team worked and how little disruption there was.

We were able to host a party while people were working on the roof!"