{"id":5609,"date":"2026-06-14T18:57:59","date_gmt":"2026-06-14T18:57:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wascovilla.pl\/?p=5609"},"modified":"2026-06-14T18:59:46","modified_gmt":"2026-06-14T18:59:46","slug":"roof-trusses-and-solar-panels-what-you-need-to-know-before-ordering-a-pv-installation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wascovilla.pl\/en\/roof-trusses-and-solar-panels-what-you-need-to-know-before-ordering-a-pv-installation\/","title":{"rendered":"Roof trusses and solar panels \u2013 what you need to know before ordering a solar panel installation"},"content":{"rendered":"

Roof trusses are increasingly being designed with a view to future photovoltaic installations. For many investors PV panels<\/strong> have become a standard feature of the modern home. However, such an installation generates additional load that the roof structure must safely support <\/strong>over many years of use. That is why it is so important to take photovoltaics into account right from the design stage of the building and the entire roof.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

PV panels and roof structure \u2013 how much does a photovoltaic system weigh?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Roof trusses<\/a> must take into account the additional load generated by the photovoltaic system. Many investors focus mainly on the panels\u2019 power output and installation costs, and pay far less attention to their weight. A standard photovoltaic panel usually weighs between 20 and 30 kilograms. Added to this are the mounting structure, cabling and fixing components.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In practice A complete photovoltaic system can generate a load of around a dozen or so kilograms per square metre of roof surface<\/strong>. For a well-designed structure, this is not a problem. Problems arise when the roof has not been designed to withstand additional loads or was constructed without sufficient load-bearing capacity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A new house versus an existing building \u2013 the differences matter<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The most convenient scenario is when an investor plans to install a photovoltaic system before construction begins. The structural engineer can then immediately take the additional loads into account and select the appropriate specifications for the entire roof \u2013 trusses taking PV into account<\/strong> They will initially be oversized, but will ultimately meet the requirements of the photovoltaic system. This approach avoids the need for subsequent modifications, structural reinforcement or restrictions on panel placement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The situation is different in older buildings. In an existing house, you must first check the condition of the structure and its actual load-bearing capacity. This applies particularly to older roofs built using traditional methods. Not every structure was designed to withstand additional loads. Therefore, before installing the system, it is worth assessing not only the roof covering but also the entire load-bearing structure of the roof.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How do trusses cope with a solar panel installation?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Modern roof trusses work very well with PV systems.<\/strong> However, the way they are designed and the quality of the entire structure are of great importance. At Wascovilla, we use technology MiTek<\/strong>, which allows the structural parameters to be calculated with great precision even before production begins. The design takes into account, amongst other things:<\/p>\n\n\n\n