How Are Solar Panels Installed?

Amidst rising energy costs and an increasing need to reduce our reliance on fossil fuels, solar energy is becoming a popular solution for homeowners across the UK. With solar panels, you can generate your own green electricity, reducing your carbon footprint and saving you money in the long term. 

But how are solar panels installed and how long does it take? Solar panel installation is a straightforward process when handled by a professional team, but does involve a few different steps. In this guide, we’ve broken down the installation process so you know exactly what to expect.

What is a Typical Solar Installation Process?

A typical solar panel installation process will be made up of four steps, including: 

• Enquiry 
• Quoting and scheduling 
• Installation 
• System connection and monitoring 

The process begins when you reach out to your chosen installer. From there, they can discuss the layout of your property and how the equipment might be installed. Once they have all the information they need, your installer will put together a final quote and agree on a date for your panels to begin being fitted. 
With everything agreed, installation is the next step. Your installer will fit everything from the panels to the inverter, cabling and any battery storage you’ve chosen. Finally, they will connect your panels to your consumer unit and electricity meter, test the system and provide you with instructions on how to use it.

Professional installers, like the team here at Rollings Renewables, ensure strict adherence to safety standards and building regulations throughout. This makes sure your installation goes smoothly but also minimises the likelihood of system faults or issues later on. 

Initial Enquiry

The solar panel installation process begins with a simple enquiry. This stage is entirely commitment-free and just involves you contacting a trusted installer for a discussion. 

They will usually ask you a few basic questions about your property and request pictures of key details such as your roof and loft space. In some cases, they may book a video call. As well as the information you provide, they will also conduct their own research through a remote property survey. 

Quote Agreement and Scheduling

Based on their survey and the pictures and information you supply, the installer can then produce a detailed quote for installation. This will detail the costs for everything from the equipment itself to labour. 

Your installer should also provide information about the system they recommend for your property and what you can expect in terms of power output. Additionally, they can give you projected savings calculations. 

At this stage, a date for installation to begin can be agreed and you’ll be provided with a projected timescale too. 

Installation of Equipment

The installation phase will begin with the construction of a scaffold. This may be a week or so before your installation date but is unlikely to take any more than a day. Next, will be the delivery of your equipment, so make sure you have space to store it temporarily. This will only be for a day or two. 

After that, the installation team will arrive on the agreed date and start fitting your panels, cabling, inverter and battery system, if you opted for one. They will need access to your property, particularly the loft space, consumer unit and electricity meter. They’ll also need to be able to move between these areas easily. 

The panels will be fixed to your roof using brackets attached to the rafters. To fit these, the installers will carefully lift roof tiles, mount the brackets and gently replace the tiles, creating a strong, seamless support for your panels. 

To fit the inverter, your installation team will need to find a suitable spot, where there is enough space and good airflow to prevent overheating. Cabling will need to be run from your panels to the inverter and then to your meter. 

System Connection and Monitoring

Finally, with all the equipment and cabling in place, your panels will be connected to your electricity meter. To do this, your installer will need to disconnect your power for an hour or so, in order to work safely and avoid damaging your electrics. 

Once everything’s connected, there’ll be a monitoring period to check your system’s operating as it should. Your scaffolding may be left in place during this period to avoid the need for reinstallation if any faults appear. 

Your installer will provide you with any operational information you need and explain how to register for a solar export tariff. 

How Long Does a Solar Panel Installation Take?

Solar panel installation is a relatively brief process. Provided accessing your roof isn’t particularly challenging, the installation shouldn’t take any more than two or three days. 

The exact length of your installation process will be determined by the number of panels you’re having fitted, how easy your property is to access and the complexity of your system. 

While the installation stage is quite quick, the whole process from consultation and design to fitting and monitoring can take a month or two. 

How Are Solar Panels Fixed to the Roof?

There are a range of ways to attach solar panels to a roof depending on the type and profile of the roof: 

• Tiled and slate roofs – for roofs with tiles or slates, the tiles are lifted, or cut if necessary, to fit brackets to the rafters, and the solar panels are attached via a rail system
• Flat roofs – fixing solar panels to a flat roof can usually be achieved with a ballasted system, where the rails are simply weighed down 
• Metal roofs – to avoid puncturing the roof itself, special mounting systems are used for metal roofs which grip onto the standing seams of the roof  
• In-roof mounting – in-roof systems are a premium mounting option, where the solar panels replace the roof tiles completely and sit flush with the roofline of the property

Can You Install Solar Panels on Your Own?

DIY solar panel installation is not advisable at all. The systems involve a large number of delicate, heavy components and require a good deal of electrical understanding to install and wire in. 

Additionally, installing solar panels requires working at height. This is something that takes a lot of experience and the right equipment to do safely. 

Professional solar panel installation is always recommended. It’s the best way to ensure your safety and the longevity of your system. If it’s installed incorrectly, your system could malfunction or fail, sending your hard-earned money down the drain. 

Do I Need Planning Permission to Install Solar Panels?

Usually, no. You’re unlikely to need planning permission for solar panels as long as they don’t protrude any more than 20cm from your roof and don’t sit higher than the tallest part of your roof. Solar panels fall under what’s known as ‘permitted development’. 

However, you may need planning permission if: 

• Your property is listed 
• You have a flat roof 
• You live in a conservation area or world heritage site 
• Your system will be ground-mounted or especially large 

If you’re unsure whether you need planning permission, the safest thing is always to check with your local planning authority. 

Contact Rollings Renewables Today

If you’re ready to begin your solar panel installation process, contact Rollings Renewables. We’ve been installing renewable energy systems at properties across the Midlands for over 20 years. We work with leading manufacturers to source high-quality equipment and our installations come with a six-year workmanship guarantee. We’re RECC- and MCS-approved and every installation is bespoke according to each client’s property and needs. 

Get in touch with our team today by calling 01905 621777, emailing sales@rollingsrenewables.co.uk or filling out our contact form.