Solar installation hanger bolts - am I being had?

Freepost

Hi,

The installation of my solar array commenced this morning with an immediate problem. Once the guys got up onto the roof they decided that they can't use hanger brackets and will have to use hanger bolts. The use of bolts will necessitate the drilling of the roof tiles ... not what I wanted. The reason that they say they cant use the brackets is because the the brackets aren't long enough to stretch from the top of the roof tile to the bottom of the tile above. My roof tiles are imitation stone tiles 600 x 900mm (w x L) with 2/3 of the tile being covered by the tile above. The only other way to use the brackets would be to cut out slots in the tiles but if they've got to do that then where's the difference in drilling the tiles?

Clearly I've had to make a decision, either I tell them to leave the job (and then what would I do?) or agree to them doing it their way and drilling the tiles.

I'm really not happy, everything I've read about other installations is that you use hanging brackets! Every company I've spoken to use hanging brackets.

Maybe its not such a big issue but your thoughts would be welcomed albeit a little late in the day for me they may help somebody else.

F.

Hungerdunger

I'm no expert but I'd be very wary of bolts. For a start they need to make the holes waterproof for the lifetime of the panels - can they guarantee this? Secondly I imagine there is normally some expansion and contraction of tiles depending on the weather; will this be affected? Finally, can they guarantee that the actual drilling of the holes won't cause any cracking or weakening of the tiles?

We have a slate roof and were told by two installers that they really didn't like installing on slate because it would involve drilling, which is why we went for a free-standing array.

wuthton

We have a stone roof and were told the same thing by two installers. One said it was fine the other said it was a one way ticket to dry rot when (not if) water starts to ingress. The bolts are designed for corrugated roofs where they can drill through above the channel so the fixing never has water running around it.

We were lucky enough to have room to fit our panels as a ground array.