Should I have a roof inspection before installing solar panels?
It is sensible to check the condition of the roof before solar panels are installed because existing defects or an ageing covering may be more inconvenient and expensive to address after panels are in place. Any necessary roof repairs can then be completed first.
Why check the roof first
Panels are fixed to the roof and are expected to stay there for a long time. Any covering or fixing work needed underneath becomes much more disruptive once an array is installed.
Establishing the condition of the covering and details beforehand avoids removing and refitting panels later.
What to have looked at
The covering and fixings across the relevant slope, the condition of details around it, and — where accessible — the roof space and supporting timbers.
Any structural questions about loading are a matter for the solar installer and, where relevant, a structural engineer.