LifeLongWNYer
Well-known member
I am working on a garage and wonder about modifying the roof to be able to hold more solar panels. Basically, it is 40' x 40' with attic trusses to allow light item storage in the center portion.
To minimize the snow slide on to the apron in front of my overhead doors I am thinking about offsetting the ridge so it is 8' to 10' from the front eave, giving me a fairly steep pitch on that side, and a more shallow pitch on the rear. The idea it to get less snow on the front to slide off, plus, by making the pitch steep, the snow slides off quickly, and I don't have to keep cleaning it off of the ground in front of the doors. I am thinking that the longer rear roof would give me more space, to allow the mounting of more solar panels, than if the ridge were to be in the center of the building. In other words, the rear roof will have a ~30-32' x 40' space for panels, instead of 20' x 40'. The front will face north, so no panels there.
So a related question is whether the solar panels will "work" well on a shallower pitch, or will they cover with snow and lose efficiency. Here, in western NY we get quite a bit of snow, currently we are at a bit over 120" this year, so I am thinking that it might be a factor.
Also, I've no idea what solar panels weigh, should the trusses be beefed up to handle the added weight?
.
To minimize the snow slide on to the apron in front of my overhead doors I am thinking about offsetting the ridge so it is 8' to 10' from the front eave, giving me a fairly steep pitch on that side, and a more shallow pitch on the rear. The idea it to get less snow on the front to slide off, plus, by making the pitch steep, the snow slides off quickly, and I don't have to keep cleaning it off of the ground in front of the doors. I am thinking that the longer rear roof would give me more space, to allow the mounting of more solar panels, than if the ridge were to be in the center of the building. In other words, the rear roof will have a ~30-32' x 40' space for panels, instead of 20' x 40'. The front will face north, so no panels there.
So a related question is whether the solar panels will "work" well on a shallower pitch, or will they cover with snow and lose efficiency. Here, in western NY we get quite a bit of snow, currently we are at a bit over 120" this year, so I am thinking that it might be a factor.
Also, I've no idea what solar panels weigh, should the trusses be beefed up to handle the added weight?
.