Quick poll for anyone who's looked into solar tiles: did you actually check your roof's load capacity before getting quotes, or just assume it was fine? I kinda just guessed mine was okay (old ranch house, not much snow here), but now I'm wondering if I should've been more careful. Did you get an engineer involved, or just trust the installer? Curious how cautious folks are about this.
I kinda just guessed mine was okay (old ranch house, not much snow here), but now I'm wondering if I should've been more careful.
I totally get where you’re coming from. When my folks put solar tiles on their 60s-era bungalow, they just trusted the installer’s word that the roof could handle it. No engineer, just a quick look in the attic. It worked out, but looking back, I think they lucked out since the rafters were beefier than average. If your house is older, sometimes the lumber’s actually better, but you never really know until someone checks. I’d say you’re probably fine with little snow, but a second opinion never hurts—especially if you’re already wondering about it.
Funny thing, I’ve seen some old ranches with rafters that look skinny but are actually solid as a rock. Others, not so much. Did you ever notice any sagging or weird creaks when you walk up there? Sometimes that’s a clue something’s off.
That’s a sharp observation about the rafters. I’ve seen plenty of older homes where the lumber looks undersized by today’s standards, but it’s dense old-growth stuff that holds up surprisingly well. Still, I wouldn’t trust appearances alone. Sagging or creaking can be early warning signs, but sometimes you don’t get much of a heads-up before something gives—especially if there’s been water intrusion or past storm damage.
I’m a bit skeptical when folks say “it’s held up this long, so it must be fine.” Age doesn’t always mean strength, especially with all the variables—wood species, span, spacing, and what kind of loads it’s seen over the years. I’ve crawled through attics that looked fine until you put a little extra weight up there and suddenly you’re hearing pops you don’t want to hear.
If you’re thinking about solar tiles, it’s smart to get someone to check the structure first. Sometimes a quick look at the joists and a few measurements can save a lot of headaches down the line. Not saying you’ll have issues, but it’s better to know for sure than to guess.
That’s a fair point about not trusting looks alone—my place is a ‘60s ranch, and the rafters seem solid, but who knows what’s going on under the surface. I’ll admit, I didn’t get an engineer out before I started talking to solar companies. Just figured, “It’s been fine for decades, what’s a few more pounds?” In hindsight, probably not the smartest move.
Installer came by and did a quick walk-around, but it was more of a “looks good to me” than any real inspection. No one crawled up in the attic or checked for old leaks or rot. Now that I think about it, there’s a spot near the chimney that’s always looked a little sketchy after heavy rain—maybe I should’ve pushed harder for a proper check before signing anything.
Honestly, if you’re even a little unsure, paying for an engineer or at least someone who actually knows roofs seems worth it. Solar tiles aren’t light, and if something goes wrong down the road, insurance might not be thrilled if you skipped the structural check. Hindsight’s 20/20, right?