Roof Suitability Checker for Solar

Suitability is driven mainly by orientation, shading, and usable roof area because those factors determine how much energy the array can produce. Pitch matters too, but usually less than people think unless the roof is very shallow or very steep.

Available area is converted into a practical PV size using a typical modern module assumption of about 400W and 1.7m² per panel. The estimate is conservative in that it does not assume every square metre is usable after margins, walkways, rooflights, hips, ridges, and setbacks.

Roof age and roof type influence structural and re-roofing risk rather than energy yield directly. An older roof is not automatically unsuitable, but combining a major re-roof with solar can be more cost-effective than fitting panels shortly before large roofing works are required.

Planning notes are intentionally cautious. Listed buildings and some conservation-area properties can still install solar, but permission pathways, visual impact considerations, and local authority expectations become more important than on standard permitted-development projects.