Sorry I can't help you with how to do it. I'm curious why you would take an expensive, beautiful tile roof and cover it up with ugly solar panels?

Kevin

Luckily, the side we will install it on is at such an angle that it is not noticable from the street thanks to trees. Neighbor next to me, her house unusable side faces me, plus I have a two story, so she will never see it. The rest of the folks on our street cannot see it unless they are literally standing in my sideyard looking up, because of angle of my house. The folks driving by see my front door and the other sides of my house.

So with regard to covering the roof, no one knows that side of house is nice. As for the expensive part, that is why we want to install it carefully, so as not to ruin it. And the final thing is that I did not spend money on a pool to not be able to use it on warm spring days or cooler fall days.

Hi, Shannon.

That makes sense. I wasn't criticizing, just trying to understand. We're building in SW Florida, and putting on a tile roof. I see others in our area with beautiful tile roofs and solar panels covering one whole side. I guess if you can put them in a place that wouldn't be seen, then no problem. It's tough to do in my area since all the homes are waterfront and you can see all four sides of the house. So we're using a heat pump instead.

Good luck with your project.

Kevin

Shannon,

Just at a curiosity, what panels are you using? If you don't mind me asking, where did you purchase them as well? I had our pool equipment pre-plumbed for solar and was planning on doing it myself a little ways down the road after we complete the pool.

Thanks,

-Dan

We had solar panels installed on our new tile roof about 2 years ago. They actually temporarily took off a few tiles to attach the "brackets" that hold the panels. Then they replaced the roof tiles. The panels (helicoil) are attached to the brackets only. Prior to helicoil, we had the flat black panels (can't remember the brand name), but the high winds literally ripped them off their brackets and they "sailed" off of our roof. It was a nightmare! We had our house re-roofed, and then we replaced them with helicoil , which are actually thin "tubes" that the wind can go right through. We are happy with them, and you are right - the solar makes all the diffrence in how often we use the pool, especially at night.

Kaatluvr,

How high (strong) was the winds that ripped your old solar panels? Also, what was the highest wind that hit your Helicoil and what was the result?

Bringing back up as I know there are those out there that can help but are not online right now.

We are using one of the local pool supply companies, best buy or something. DH has just researched like crazy to get what he needs.

Kevin, all is cool. There are several houses around here that have to have panels in direct view as you drive up. It is a bummer but the price one pays to get more use of pool. I am really lucky mine will not distract from value of house. That can be a real bummer when selling a house. There are folks that will pass on a house just because of the panels being noticable.

So bring on the advise as work begins in a few days or so.
Thanks again!

I live in southern Califorrnia, and we have "Santa Ana"winds every year. They can gust up to 70 mph at times. It was during one of the very windy Santa Ana winds that the panels blew off. I have to add that they had been on the roof for probably 8 years or so and the nylon "straps" that held them to the roof were not as strong as when new. I believe they were Fafco (?) panels. The helicoil has been perfectly fine - the wind just goes through the strands. Also, they are anchored differently - nothing that can degrade. Hope this helps!

Hi, Shannon, that was my point. Seeing from the road (or from across the canal) detracts from the value. You're very lucky you can get the benefit of the panels without ruining the look of your roof.

I had read some about the solar panels and how some felt it didn't extend the season as much as they'd hoped. We've decided to use a very efficient heat pump.

Good luck, and post pictures!

Kevin

We also have the Heliocol and no probs w/ tile roof using the brackets, they use the same nail holes when they replace the removed tile so no leaks...also fairly windy here and no issues at all.

There are a couple of pictures w/ the panels already installed on the roof, just click on my username and then the photo link.

Good luck...Ralph

We too have the same as Ralph, Heliocoil. In fact I think it was at Ralph's recommendation-thanks Ralph! The way it was explained to me, after a while the straps on the fafco system deteriorate and you get "flying panel syndrome". We've had funnel cloud warnings and still no problems. Plus in 10 years when the panels start to deteriorate the company will send you a 1/2 off coupon for more panels I'm told.

As far as unsightly, our CCR's in California do not apply to Solar and we can put them anywhere we want even in our gated neighborhood. However as a good neighbor we put them across the back of our tile house. You do have a good view from the park across the street but if we ever sell and people think they are ugly, they can always take them down. As for me, I'll enjoy the 83 degrees my panels made my pool today and know I am not contributing to global warming by heating my pool. (of course I'm sure the four pool pumps aren't helping the environment, but no one is perfect right?)

Heliocol makes panels in terra cotta as well as black. I don't know if the tc panels are as efficient as black, but if they closely match the tile color then they would probably look OK.

Steve