When it comes time to crunch the numbers for your solar panels, every detail matters. From permits to roof repairs or even a new roof, the costs can add up. You’d like to know just what to expect, so you’re probably asking, “What factors can affect the cost of going solar?” We’ve compiled this article to give you a concise list of factors that can affect your solar costs. The best part is that other than roof repairs if you happen to need them, we can handle everything else for you — including installing a NEW roof!
Home Factors
Imagine two houses, yours and your neighbor’s. Your house is ten years old and has three bedrooms. It cools and heats efficiently and uses energy compliant technology. Your neighbor’s home is the same size but it was built a couple of decades earlier. Their home has out-of-date technology, inefficient windows, and poor insulation.
What does this have to do with your solar power estimate? How many solar panels you need is based on how much energy your home requires. If your home is efficient, whether that is due to design or size, it will take fewer solar panels to power it.
One of the most important factors, however, in solar panel installation is your roof. A roof that is in poor repair is a liability to roof-mounted solar panels. Your roof serves as the foundation for your solar panels. Thus, it is important to only install panels after ensuring that the foundation is secure. We’ll be able to tell pretty quickly when we come out to do a site survey on your home if your roof needs to be repaired and we’ll let you know what needs to happen so you can get the work done beforehand.
Environmental Factors
Where you live can affect your solar budget, too. Do you live in a wooded area? You may need to have the trees trimmed to allow for optimum sunlight. Trees can also pose the risk of damaging your solar panels if high winds cause overhanging limbs to break off. To avoid this danger, you may need to have your trees trimmed by professionals periodically. This service will add to your solar power estimate both now and possibly in the future.
Want to learn more about how tough your solar panels are? We’ve got a blog for that.
Solar Panel Factors
There are a few different types of solar panels and they differ in price. The most common solar panels are made from crystalline silicon cells and come in two varieties: monocrystalline and polycrystalline. Monocrystalline panels are made of a pure crystalline silicon cell while polycrystalline panels are made from fragments of multiple cells. Monocrystalline cells are more efficient, more difficult to make, and thus, more expensive than their polycrystalline counterparts.
Which panel type you choose is, ultimately, up to you and your budget. If you want to learn more about your options when it comes to solar panels, read this.
People ask us about the difference between microinverter panels and string inverters all the time. The best thing about our Motherlode based Northern California company is that we act as a solar broker, so we can quote you on almost any type of panel you are looking for and customize your system for you.
Construction Costs
Installing a solar power system is a major home renovation. First, your local authority will require you to get permits for the work done on your home. Then, once the work starts, it can take between one and three days for your solar panels to be installed, depending on the complexity of your project.
For example, imagine you have a single-story home with a metal roof. Metal roofs are easily compatible with solar panels due to their design, but it’s important to be aware that there is typically an additional fee for installing solar on a metal roof. However, your roof is not overly steep and you live in a culdesac with easy access for installers and their equipment, so that cuts down on installation time and balances the cost.
Let’s look at another scenario. Let’s say that you have a three-story home with a tiled roof. You live outside of town, have a wooded yard, and there’s not much room for your contractors to work. In this scenario, your installation may take three days or more.
Like these two examples, your home is unique and your solar needs will be, too. Your solar contractor will be able to give you a better idea of how much labor will be required once they become familiar with your project and your home.
Converting to solar power is a worthwhile endeavor and like all rewarding projects, it requires some work. Here at Aurora, we do our best to handle the bulk of the work for our customers so there are fewer details you need to tackle on your own. There are a plethora of factors that can affect the cost of going solar. But you don’t have to go it alone! Reach out to our Northern California based team here at Aurora Energy today and let us help you get started on your solar journey with a no-obligation quote.
