is there a solar installer near Leicester who will climb on my complex roof ?

esperluette

hello dear pvers.
Can anybody recommend an installer who covers Leicester who is actually prepared to get onto the roof to measure it BEFORE they quote?I have had two people come : one said WSW hipped roof too small for anything and the other said it could take four panels; neither measured it and they both gave different values for the roof slope, again, estimated.I would like these in addition to WNW ones ( probably 10, both agreed on number without measuring)
Redmile energy from Seaton is coming next ; local small firm,they sound good, and have confirmed they will come with ladders to measure the roof and will calculate the slope.Any one has used them?
Is there anyone else out there?
Sorry for starting yet another thread, hope it is not against the rules.
thank you
esp

EricMears

esperluette wrote: »

hello dear pvers.
Can anybody recommend an installer who covers Leicester who is actually prepared to get onto the roof to measure it BEFORE they quote?I have had two people come : one said WSW hipped roof too small for anything and the other said it could take four panels; neither measured it and they both gave different values for the roof slope, again, estimated.I would like these in addition to WNW ones ( probably 10, both agreed on number without measuring)
Redmile energy from Seaton is coming next ; local small firm,they sound good, and have confirmed they will come with ladders to measure the roof and will calculate the slope.Any one has used them?
Is there anyone else out there?
Sorry for starting yet another thread, hope it is not against the rules.
thank you
esp

Not 'against the rules' - if it was, we'd never have any new threads

No real need to climb on roof to estimate. You should be able to make a very close estimate of linear measurements from the ground and the roof angles from inside the attic. Only time you'd really need to climb up there with a tape measure would be when the panel sizes were very close to the estimated space.

esperluette

hello again.
ignorama question:
How does one estimate size from ground level please?size of tiles?ultrasound device as for rooms?
many thanks
bw esp

Martyn1981

esperluette wrote: »

hello again.
ignorama question:
How does one estimate size from ground level please?size of tiles?ultrasound device as for rooms?
many thanks
bw esp

There are a few ways, but hipped rooves make life trickier. You can measure the length of the roof from ground level by measuring that wall. You can also measure the flat width of the roof by measuring the other dimension of your property and halving it. If you find the pitch of the roof, then you can use calculus to calculate an unknown dimension from known ones plus pitch, but you'll need the height, in which case .....

..... if you go into your loft anyway you can measure the internal dimensions, this will be quite useful as it will be smaller than the outside, but more closely reflect the useable roof space, as around 200-300mm will have to be left to prevent the system being higher than your ridge, wind loading on the sides, and water overshooting the gutters.

You can also (as you suggested) count tiles/slates and calculate from there. From memory I think the visible dimensions of a slate are 300mm (12inch) wide and 250mm (10inch) high). Can't remember tiles!

Mart.

EricMears

Martyn1981 wrote: »

. . . . . If you find the pitch of the roof, then you can use calculus to calculate an unknown dimension from known ones plus pitch. . . . .
Mart.

You could try and do it with calculus ! Most people would use trigonometry Apart from that I'd agree with Martyn's points.

You can check the effective width of tiles by standing on ground and counting number of tiles between two points then measure the distance between them by measuring two points on ground directly below the points on roof.

Measuring length of roof from ridge to gutter is a bit harder but you could try throwing a cricket ball (attached to a length if light string) over the roof then using the string to pull a length of heavier rope knotted at regular (and measured) intervals. If knots were (say) 10cms apart you ought to be able to estimate to nearest centimetre (feet & inches are a bit harder but do-able) Then viewing from a distance (with binoculars ?) count number knots you can see between gutter & ridge. Or count number of knots and estimate fractions of a 10 tile length and use that to estimate full length.

esperluette

very clever!I would never have thought of these !
anyway quoter number three has come and gone up his ladder with measuring tape, he went inside the loft and used an app to calculate the angle after measure height and width. he says its 47 degrees!
He will quote after doing calculations back at the office.
I am slowly moving to the conclusion that it will have to be the front if at all ,after all.
One more to go tomorrow!
thank you all! esp