Why Integrated Solar Belongs on a New Roof

Integrated solar sits flush within the roof instead of on brackets above it, so it looks far tidier and sheds water more cleanly. Fitting it during a new roof or re-roof means the roofing and solar are planned together from the outset. The Roofers install the in-roof roofing system and panels; a specialist solar subcontractor completes the electrical work, commissioning and MCS certification.

If you are thinking about solar and your roof is due for replacement, the timing could not be better. Integrated solar, also called in-roof solar, is designed to sit within the roof rather than on top of it, and the ideal moment to fit it is while the roof is already being built. In this guide we explain what integrated solar is, why it looks and performs better than bolt-on panels, and why doing it as part of a new roof or re-roof gives you the tidiest, longest-lasting result. It is work we carry out across Blackpool, Lytham St Annes and the wider Fylde Coast.

What Integrated Solar Actually Is

The solar panels most people picture are bolt-on. They sit on aluminium rails and brackets that are fixed on top of a finished roof, holding the panels several inches proud of the tiles or slates. Integrated, or in-roof, solar works differently. The panels sit flush within the roof covering itself, replacing the tiles or slates in that area rather than being mounted above them.

• Bolt-on solar: panels are fixed to rails and brackets above the existing roof. It is the quicker route on a roof that is already in good condition, but the hardware sits proud and the fixings pass down through the covering.
• Integrated (in-roof) solar: the panels form part of the roof surface, flashed into the surrounding tiles or slates so they sit level with them. The finish is flatter, cleaner and built in rather than added on.

Both approaches generate electricity in the same way. The difference is entirely in how they are mounted, and that difference shapes how the roof looks, how it handles water, and when it is best to fit it.

Why It Looks Neater and Sheds Water Cleanly

The first thing most people notice about integrated solar is the appearance. Because the panels sit flush with the roof, there are no bulky rails or brackets lifting them into the air and no gap between the panels and the covering. The array reads as a deliberate part of the roof rather than something added afterwards, which is why it is often the preferred choice on new builds and on homes where the look of the front elevation matters.

• A flat, built-in look: no raised rails or visible fixings breaking the line of the roof. The panels sit level with the tiles or slates around them.
• Cleaner water shedding: the panels are flashed into the surrounding roof, so rain runs off the array and back onto the covering the way it does over any tile or slate, then away to the gutter.
• Fewer penetrations: integrating the panels as part of the roof build avoids drilling a set of bracket fixings down through a covering that is otherwise sound and finished.
• Less to catch debris: without the gap and rails of a bolt-on system, there are fewer ledges for leaves and moss to gather on.

Why a Re-Roof Is the Best Time to Fit It

Integrated solar can be added to an existing roof, but the results are best when it goes in as the roof is being built. When we strip a roof back to the rafters and rebuild it, the solar becomes part of that build rather than a separate job bolted on afterwards. That brings several real advantages.

• Built in, not retrofitted: the panels are set into the roof as we lay it, with the membrane, battens and flashings all worked in together, rather than opening up a finished roof to fit them later.
• Roofing and solar coordinated: we install the in-roof roofing system and panels so the detailing around the array matches the rest of the roof, and a specialist solar subcontractor completes the electrical work, commissioning and MCS certification. Working with the same solar contractor means both sides are planned together from the outset.
• No brackets through a new roof: fitting bolt-on solar after a re-roof means drilling fixings back down through a roof you have just paid to make watertight. Building the solar in avoids that entirely.
• Less disruption and cost overall: the scaffold is already up and the roof is already open, so integrating solar at the same time is far more efficient than treating it as a second project months later.
• A properly planned layout: deciding on the array while the roof is being designed means the panels can be positioned for the best orientation and a balanced, tidy finish.

In short, a new roof or re-roof is the one moment when everything you need for a clean solar installation is already in place. Doing it then is the difference between solar that is part of the roof and solar that is stuck on top of it.

Durability, Appearance and How It Is Covered

Fitting the solar as part of the roof does more than improve how it looks. It affects how the whole roof performs and how it is covered.

• Durability: with the panels flashed into the covering and no bracket penetrations added later, the roof keeps its integrity. There are fewer points where water could find a way in over the years.
• Appearance that lasts: a flush, built-in array does not develop the tired, tacked-on look that raised panels can over time, and it keeps the clean lines of a new roof.
• Clear roofing workmanship guarantee: our 15-year workmanship guarantee covers the roofing works, including our installation of the in-roof solar roofing system and the way it is weathered into the surrounding covering. The electrical installation, the solar equipment and its MCS certification are the responsibility of the specialist solar contractor and are covered separately by their own and the manufacturers' terms.
• Material guarantees too: the tiles, slates and membranes we fit carry their own manufacturer guarantees, typically 20 to 30 years, alongside our workmanship cover.

Is My Roof Suitable

Most pitched roofs are well suited to integrated solar, but the right answer always comes from looking at the roof. As part of your free quotation and initial assessment we check a few key things and give you honest advice.

• Orientation: roofs facing broadly south, or south-east to south-west, make the most of the available sunlight. East and west facing roofs can still work well depending on the property.
• Pitch: most standard pitched roofs across the Fylde Coast are a good fit. We confirm the pitch is suitable for the panels to sit and shed water properly.
• Condition and timing: if the roof is tired or due for replacement, integrating solar into a re-roof is the ideal route. If the roof is newer and sound, we will tell you that too.
• Shading and layout: we look at chimneys, dormers and nearby obstructions so the array is positioned where it will perform and look its best.

If integrated solar is not the right choice for your property, we will say so plainly. We would always rather give you honest advice than sell you work that does not suit your roof. We fit integrated solar as part of a new roof or re-roof across Blackpool and the Fylde Coast, with our roofing work backed by our 15-year workmanship guarantee and the electrical installation handled and guaranteed by our specialist solar contractor.

Frequently Asked Questions