Everything You Get with StoneRidge Roofing
Solar on a Canterbury roof: two things to check first
Before anything else, check the roof itself. Fitting panels onto a covering with ten years left in it means paying to take them off and put them back when the roof is replaced, and we would rather tell you that at the survey than fit them anyway. The second thing is planning. Solar panels are usually permitted development, but that changes if your property is listed or if it sits in the Canterbury conservation area, where a street facing installation may need consent and may be refused. A rear facing slope is often the practical answer in the city centre. We will tell you honestly whether your roof is a good candidate, what needs doing to it first if it is not, and where on it the panels should go.
Why Solar Panel Roofing Matters in Canterbury & Kent
Solar energy adoption is growing rapidly across Canterbury and Kent, with more homeowners than ever looking to reduce energy bills and their carbon footprint. However, one critical step that many solar installation companies overlook is the condition of the roof itself. Installing solar panels on a roof that is nearing the end of its life, has damaged tiles, failing underlay, or structural weaknesses is a costly mistake. Within a few years, you may need to remove the panels, repair or replace the roof, and reinstall the panels at significant additional expense. We assess, repair, or replace your roof before solar panels are fitted, ensuring your property in Canterbury, Margate, Faversham, Deal, Folkestone, or anywhere in Kent has a solid, long-lasting foundation for decades of clean energy generation.
Pre-Solar Roof Assessments
Before committing to a solar panel installation, it is essential to have your roof professionally assessed by an experienced roofer. StoneRidge Roofing provides comprehensive pre-solar roof assessments for homeowners across Canterbury and Kent. During our inspection, we check the condition of the tiles or slates, the integrity of the underlay and battens, the soundness of the roof timbers, the condition of all flashings and valleys, and the overall structural capacity to support the additional weight of solar panels. We provide a detailed report outlining any work required before solar panels can be safely installed. Many solar installation companies simply bolt panels onto whatever roof they find, which can void your roofing guarantee and lead to leaks. StoneRidge Roofing ensures everything underneath is in perfect condition first.
Integrated Solar Panel Roofing Systems
StoneRidge Roofing works alongside a solar company we partner with, so the roof and the solar are planned together rather than as separate jobs by trades who never speak. We do the roofing; our partner fits the panels. With in-roof systems the panels sit flush with the surrounding tiles, creating a sleek, modern appearance that many homeowners prefer over traditional bolt-on rack-mounted panels. Our roofers fit tiles precisely around the panel frames, ensuring a watertight seal and clean finish. This integrated approach is particularly popular on new builds and re-roofing projects across Canterbury and Kent. For traditional bolt-on systems, we prepare the roof by installing appropriate fixings, ensuring tiles are not cracked or disturbed during panel installation, and providing weatherproof cable entry points. The result is a roof and solar system that works together seamlessly.
Why Choose a Roofer for Your Solar Project
Most solar panel installations in Canterbury and Kent are carried out by electricians or specialist solar companies who have limited roofing knowledge. This disconnect leads to common problems including cracked tiles from foot traffic during installation, inadequate weatherproofing around panel fixings, panels installed on roofs that need replacing within a few years, and voided roofing guarantees. StoneRidge Roofing eliminates these risks by managing the roofing element of every solar project. We are not electricians, and we do not install the solar panels themselves. Instead, we work alongside a solar partner and handle everything related to the roof: assessment, repair, preparation, tile fitting around panels, and ongoing roof maintenance. That way the roof is done by roofers and the panels by the solar company.
Prices for this work are published in full on our roofing costs page, including VAT, or see what we do in Canterbury.
Why Choose StoneRidge Roofing
Up to 15-Year Guarantee
15 years on new roofs, re-roofs and tiled roofs, set out in writing on your quote
Top Rated
Rated 5★ on Google and 10/10 on Checkatrade by homeowners throughout Canterbury and Kent
Fully Insured
Full public liability insurance on every roofing project, certificate available on request
Local Expertise
Deep knowledge of Canterbury and Kent property types, building regulations, and local requirements
Other Roofing Services in Canterbury & Kent
Jobs we've done
Real jobs, our own photos, written up in the order the work happened.
Canterbury · Solar panel roofing
Hipped re-roof in interlocking tiles with in-roof solar
A complicated hipped roof with a dormer and chimney stripped, re-membraned and re-battened, with leadwork at the chimney and tiles laid up to in-roof solar on several slopes.
Read the jobCanterbury · Solar panel roofing
Re-roof with in-roof solar panels
A Canterbury bungalow stripped and re-covered in slate, with in-roof solar fitted alongside our solar partner. About three weeks, with drone photos from scaffold up to scaffold down.
Read the jobFrequently Asked Questions