- Good tips on shading checks, definitely worth doing before dropping $$$.
- Steep roofs are great for winter sun angle, but keep in mind they're a pain to work on later (ask me how I know...).
- Solar pathfinder app worked pretty well for me—caught some shading issues I hadn't even thought of.
- Also, don't underestimate tree growth. Neighbor's "small" maple turned into a solar-blocking monster within 3 years.
Totally agree on the tree growth issue—seen that happen more times than I can count. Curious, did you factor in potential shading from future construction nearby? I've had clients surprised by new buildings popping up and suddenly blocking their panels. Also, anyone here tried drone mapping for shading analysis? Heard good things but haven't tested it myself yet...
Drone mapping seems promising, but honestly, I'm still a bit skeptical about its accuracy for shading analysis. Had a client last year who relied heavily on drone images, and while the visuals were impressive, they missed some subtle shading issues from nearby utility poles. Still, it's probably better than eyeballing it. And yeah, future construction is a real wildcard—seen plenty of good solar setups get messed up by surprise neighbors popping up next door...
"Had a client last year who relied heavily on drone images, and while the visuals were impressive, they missed some subtle shading issues from nearby utility poles."
Yeah, drones are great for initial surveys, but subtle shading nuances can definitely slip through the cracks. I've seen similar issues with green roofs—small shading from vents or parapets can really impact plant health. Nothing beats a thorough onsite check...and maybe a crystal ball for predicting neighbors' construction plans, lol.
Yeah, drones definitely have their limits. I recently installed some solar panels myself, and the drone shots looked perfect at first glance. But when I actually climbed up there, I noticed a chimney casting just enough shadow to mess things up. Glad you caught those shading issues early—beats finding out after everything's already set up...been there, done that, haha.
