Metal Buildings
Metal buildings and solar panels are a natural pairing. Learn about mounting options, structural considerations, energy savings, and ROI for solar on steel structures.
Why Metal Buildings Are Ideal for Solar Metal buildings and solar panels are a natural combination. The long, unobstructed roof surfaces of metal buildings provide ideal mounting platforms for solar panel arrays. Unlike residential roofs with dormers, valleys, vents, and chimneys that reduce usable solar area, metal building roofs offer clean, continuous surfaces that maximize panel placement. The structural steel framing of a metal building can support the additional weight of solar panels without modification in most cases. Metal roofs also have significantly longer lifespans than asphalt shingle roofs, meaning you will not need to remove and reinstall your solar panels for a roof replacement during the life of the solar system — a major cost advantage over installing solar on a shingled roof that will need replacement in 15 to 20 years. Solar Carports: Dual-Purpose Structures Solar carports represent one of the fastest-growing applications for metal structures. A solar carport combines covered vehicle parking with rooftop solar generation, serving two purposes with a single investment. Commercial solar carports in parking lots generate electricity while shading employee and…