Non-site visit quotes for PV solar Panels

PennyForThem_2

From the responses on my thread about a quote for JV 405W solar panels I have contacted another couple of MCS certified companies.  Both seem to be able to quote from a series of questions plus/or minus photos of 'roof' area.  My roof of house is a nightmare with a load of velux installations and in a conservation area.  So not a normal installation tbh and maybe not one that can be 'done' from Google ariel.

Is this normal?  Is it followed up by a tech surveyor?  And a tech report?  My quote was exclusively a site visit, backed up by a tech report taking shading into account.  A garage is a low installation site so shading is important.

Just wondering..........

Magnitio

You really should have a proper site survey completed, which will involve accessing the loft to check its construction and access, working out how complex scaffolding will be, taking detailed measurements of the roof, assessing the shading and working out where the inverter, meter etc. will be installed. With installers being so busy at the moment, I'm sure that many will cherry-pick the easy installations or quote excessive prices for anything more challenging.

ispookie666

I had remote survey for the roof,. At the time of install they had to move one of the panels to another part of the roof and ended up with panels over four different roofs! 

Might want to check if you need planning permission, due to being in conservation area 

PennyForThem_2

umm thank you
Yes would need planning permission if on front - which if on roof, would be.  However on garage at back of house then no, no need.  

PennyForThem_2

Magnitio said:

You really should have a proper site survey completed, which will involve accessing the loft to check its construction and access, working out how complex scaffolding will be, taking detailed measurements of the roof, assessing the shading and working out where the inverter, meter etc. will be installed. With installers being so busy at the moment, I'm sure that many will cherry-pick the easy installations or quote excessive prices for anything more challenging.

Yes, agree.

Officer_Dibble

That's one approach, or you can try the Light Renewables approach - look at the house on Google Maps, make a rough guess as to how many panels will fit, send an electrician rather than a roofer to do the "survey", turn up on the day and wonder where all those panels are actually going to fit and don't bother with scaffolding. On the positive side you don't get turned away because you've got a grotty old roof and it's a whole lot cheaper.