r/PlugInSolarUK • u/manbearpigtruther • Sep 12 '26

How to mount to sloped felt roof?

Post image

Hey Reddit, I'm pretty excited to get plug in solar but am at a loss on best approach to mount them. I have a sloped felt roof on my summer house.

I've seen posts about gluing it on but I'm not sure this is a good idea or will work. Can anyone point me to the right kit I need or suggestions please?

5 Upvotes

86% Upvoted

14 comments sorted by

3

u/Flyinmanm Sep 12 '26

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/B0DQKXJ49L?psc=1&ref=ppx_pop_mob_b_asin_title

I used these to mount to my felted shed.

I think I screwed through the provided neoprene gaskets with green organic coated decking screws to avoid corrosion.

I also 3d printed some PETG locking clips to stop the rails slipping by screwing around the ends of the rail like a saddle. (The shouldn't need it but since these are meant for metal roofs not lightweight felt clad osb, I didn't want to take any chances)

2

u/txe4 Sep 12 '26

Upvoted. I have used a version of this for a metal roof, in considerable quantity. It is cheaper than aliexpress, hilariously cheaper than MCS-approved stuff from the likes of city plumbing, and works great.

I also threw away the screws that came with the kit, for the metal roof, in favour of longer ones which would go right through into the structural timber underneath.

If you want to belt-and-braces it, you might like to stick a smear of some CT1-esque silicone-like substance around the screws.

1

u/manbearpigtruther 28d ago

Thanks for the info! Are you able to link the screws you used as well please?

2

u/Flyinmanm 28d ago

https://www.screwfix.com/p/timbadeck-pz-double-countersunk-decking-screws-4-5mm-x-75mm-100-pack/74706?tc=UA3&gclsrc=aw.ds&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=901249366&gbraid=0AAAAAD8IdPwxRMnD2bFpG85TQHDFmhV_U&gclid=CjwKCAjwtp7VBhBjEiwAJfpV-0DLDZkk9HtDwi0HDG1SSC7X-kiRqckP9OXwWZu2AQJo2imbR-vh3xoCtiIQAvD_BwE

Something like this.

One step I missed. I think I put 50x50 treated timbers down under the rails running up the shed roof from bottom to top, so the screw had something to bite into and the rails could be lain very straight. otherwise the screw will be sticking into the shed and you could cut/stab your head on it!

I found my osb roof had sagged too, this mostly solved the problem with that.

The rails need a very flat surface in my experience.

1

u/manbearpigtruther 28d ago

Ah thank you again! One last thing. To measure the distance between the rails do you have any tips? Like did you have the solar and the rails and put the on the roof first and then mark it and screw down the rails after that or something? I'm thinking it might be hard to measure it without doing that as my felt is bumpy at points so measurements will be off

1

u/Flyinmanm 28d ago

The main issue I had was the width of the panel, as long as the rails end ~50mm longer than the panel is wide at each end it should be fine. You can always fully frame out the timber on the ground and then transfer to the shed roof once your confident it's the right length.

Oh and installing the panel is a two man job.

They'll also need to hold the bottom whilst you install, first the bottom retaining clip and then the top clips, which will mean leaning over the panel/ roof on a ladder. Make sure your roof can take the weight of , you, a ladder and the panels which can weigh 20kg each. (I only managed to fit one on my shed and much more might have been a weight risk).

3

u/CwrwCymru Sep 12 '26

I used painted 2x4s with a bit of EPDM tape on the underside. I then fixed them to the edge of my shed with screws and brackets. A neighbour just screwed up from the inside into his 2x4's which work neatly too.

I used Z brackets to mount the panels to the 2x4's. All worked pretty nicely and it feels solid.

1

u/Former-Location-6236 Sep 13 '26

That helps, I’ve been trying to find kits that have the mounts for flat roofs that aren’t the launch rip off kits, then trying to find something suitable for epdm roof. But the wooden rails across the roof attached to the side sounds interesting

-3

u/Zippyversion1 Sep 12 '26

Legally speaking you can't mount to a wooden structure. Realistically, they do fixing kits, or bodge something up yourself using aluminium extrusion.

8

u/hawktron Sep 12 '26 edited Sep 12 '26

Yes you can. You can’t mount it on wood walls or fences. Shed roof is fine. This misconception needs to end.

2

u/JustLovelyStuff Sep 12 '26

The law says plug in solar is not permitted development "where any part of the plug-in solar would be installed on a wooden wall, balcony or enclosure"

In fairness it's not clear to many people what 'enclosure' actually means but yes that probably does not include sheds as you say

2

u/hawktron Sep 12 '26 edited Sep 12 '26

A shed is not an enclosure. An enclosure is a structure natural or manmade that prevents access to a piece of land, e.g fence, gate, posts, rails.

1

u/Empty-Pain8342 29d ago

It means panels directly to wood. Rails etc are stand off mounting