Installation
How solar panels are installed: process, timeline and what to expect.
Installation is the part of going solar that homeowners worry about most — drilling into the roof, weeks of disruption, something going wrong up there. In practice a straightforward install is fast and low-drama, but knowing the process and the genuine risks is what lets you tell a careful installer from a careless one.
This hub demystifies what actually happens on and after install day, with no installer to recommend or commission to earn.
The process, start to finish
From site survey and permits to mounting, wiring and inspection, most residential installs follow the same arc — and the timeline is often dominated by paperwork, not labour. Our guide on the solar panel installation process and timeline sets realistic expectations for each stage.
Protecting your roof
The most common fear is roof damage, and it's a fair one: penetrations done badly are where leaks start. The reality is that proper flashing and a sound roof make problems rare — and that a roof near the end of its life should be replaced first. Read whether solar panels damage your roof to learn what good practice looks like and which questions to ask.
Go in informed and the install becomes the easy part; go in blind and it's where corners get cut.