Had a conversation with an engineer last week that made me rethink solar panels on older homes

I was talking to a structural engineer named Mike at a hardware store. He said most people don't realize older roofs can't handle the extra weight of solar panels without reinforcement. He showed me photos of a 1920s house in Portland where the roof sagged after installation. His point was that we push solar as a universal solution but ignore the upfront cost of roof work. It made me wonder - are we overselling solar without being honest about the barriers? Or is the long term gain still worth the extra expense? What's your take on balancing retrofits with climate goals?

2 comments

2 Comments

victor_carr251mo agoMost Upvoted

Actually weight is rarely the issue with old roofs, it's the condition of the framing.

paige_ellis591mo ago

Victor said it's framing not weight, which is exactly what I'd screw up. I barely trust my own roof to hold a Christmas wreath, let alone solar panels. My house is from the 70s and I'm pretty sure the original plywood is held together with hope and old paint. Before I could even think about solar, I'd need to spend thousands just making sure the roof doesn't collapse under a few panels.