Is Your Building Ready for Solar Panels?

You look at your electricity bill each month and feel frustrated. Prices keep going up. Your business is using the same power, but the cost is eating into your profits.

You’ve heard solar could help, and you want to take control of your energy costs. But before you invest in solar, there’s something important you need to know.

Not every building is ready for solar panels. Even new buildings can have hidden problems. You could spend time and money planning your system, only to find out later that your roof or your power board can’t handle it.

That’s when budgets blow out. That’s when return-on-investment numbers stop adding up. And that’s when people regret moving too fast.

At PSC Energy, we help businesses avoid these problems every day. We’ve seen what happens when building checks are skipped. We’ve also seen how much smoother and cheaper it is when the proper checks are done first.

In this article, you’ll learn about the following:

• Start with the Roof: Can It Hold Solar Panels?
• Check Your Electrical System: Is There Room for a Solar Energy System?
• Plan Your Solar Panel Energy System: Budget the Smart Way
• Work With the Right Solar Panel Installation Company from the Start

By the end of this article, you will learn how to determine if your building is suitable for solar panels. You will understand what to check and what to expect. That way, you can make the right choice with clear information from the start.

Let’s start with what matters most: your roof.

Start with the Roof: Can It Hold Solar Panels?

The first thing you need to check is the roof. A solar system adds weight. If your roof can’t hold that weight, you cannot install panels safely. It does not matter if your building is old or new. Both can have weak spots.

You should ask a structural engineer or a trusted solar company to inspect your roof. At PSC Energy, we work with experienced structural engineers.

These engineers examine the main structural components of the building that support the roof.

• They measure the size and strength of those parts.
• They take photos and run calculations.
• Then, they tell you if your building can hold the solar system you want.

Even brand-new buildings can have this problem. Some new buildings are designed to be inexpensive and lightweight. The architects and engineers who designed them did a good job. However, they often focused on building at the lowest price, rather than making room for solar energy in the future.

These buildings may appear perfect on the outside, but their interior roof structure may not be strong enough. That means you may need to add strength before you can install solar.

This is called structural augmentation. It means adding new parts or stronger materials to the roof to make it stronger. It is not always expensive. It could cost anywhere from $10,000 to $50,000, depending on the building.

It’s better to know this early so you can include it in your full budget. If you are not aware of this until later, your solar project could become significantly more expensive than you planned.

The cost of a roof assessment depends on your building.

• If you have the as-built plans (the documents that show exactly how your building was made), the structural check could cost between $1,200 and $1,500.
• If your building is older and you do not have those plans, the cost could be higher. It might be around $2,000 to $3,000.

You only need to do this check once. No matter which solar company you choose, you will need a structural report. If you get it early, you can show it to any provider. That saves time and provides you with the facts about your roof from the outset.

Now that your roof has been checked, the next thing to look at is your electrical setup. Let’s look at your main switchboard.

If you’re interested in learning a bit more about whether your business is a good fit for solar, you might want to check out the following article titled, Is Your Business a Good Fit for a Commercial Solar Energy System?

Power up your savings. Click here.

Check Your Electrical System: Is There Room for a Solar Energy System?

The next part to check is your electrical system, especially your main switchboard. This is the big board that controls where all your electricity flows. All the power your building uses runs through this board. The solar system will also need to connect here.

If your switchboard has room, adding solar is simple. If it doesn’t, you may need to upgrade the board, and that costs more. That’s why it’s important to inspect it early, just like the roof.

If your building is new, there’s a good chance the switchboard has extra space. That means we can install the solar breaker (the part that connects the solar system to your board) without problems.

If your site is more than 15 or 20 years old, it may be different. Even if your switchboard had space when it was built, you may have used it up over time. Maybe you’ve added equipment. Maybe you’ve expanded your business. All of these things use electricity, and they occupy space on your switchboard.

When that happens, we need to expand the switchboard. That might mean adding an extra box next to the current one. We can then install the solar breaker there. But again, this adds cost. If you don’t know about this early, it could stretch your budget later on.

At PSC Energy, we send our experienced team to inspect your site.

1. They check the main switchboard and any other boards across the building.
2. They look at how much space is left.
3. They also determine the best spot to connect your solar system.

This helps you avoid any surprises later.

Now that you’ve checked your roof and your power setup, you can start thinking about your total investment. Let’s look at how to plan your solar budget the smart way.

If you’re interested in learning a bit more about commercial solar, you might want to check out the following article titled, Commercial Solar Energy in Sydney: Why Should I Consider It?

Let’s talk solar savings. Click here.

Plan Your Solar Panel Energy System: Budget the Smart Way

Solar can save your business a significant amount of money over time, but only if you plan your budget effectively. That means knowing all the costs upfront, not just the price of the panels and installation.

Let’s say you get a quote for a $100,000 solar system. The provider says it will break even in four years. That sounds good. But you haven’t done your checks yet.

Later, you find out your roof can’t support the system. You’ll need to spend $30,000 to make it strong enough. Then you find out your switchboard is full. You’ll need to add another $10,000 to expand it.

Now, your $100,000 system costs $140,000. That four-year break-even becomes six or seven years. This changes everything.

You may not have made the same decision if you had known the real cost earlier. Or you might have chosen a smaller system. Or even planned your investment in two stages.

This is why early checks matter. When you know what needs fixing before signing a contract, you can make informed choices.

• You can compare the full cost with the long-term savings.
• You can adjust your system size if necessary.
• You can decide if it’s worth doing now or later.

Some people don’t want to pay for roof or switchboard checks upfront. But this small step helps you avoid big mistakes. It saves you time. It gives you control. And it helps you build a solid budget that works.

Now you know what needs checking and why it matters. Who can help you with this? Let’s look at what a good provider should offer.

If you’re interested in learning a bit more about commercial solar payment options, you might want to check out the following article titled, How Should a Business Pay for a Commercial Solar Panel Energy System? Your Guide to CapEx, Leasing, and PPAs.

Ready to go solar? Click here.

Work With the Right Solar Panel Installation Company from the Start

You do not have to figure this out on your own. A good solar provider can guide you through these checks.

At PSC Energy, we help businesses understand their buildings before they invest in solar panels. We want to ensure that you don’t waste money or face any surprises later.

We do not have structural engineers in-house, but we work closely with trusted ones. If you choose us, we can organise the structural report for you.

1. We give the engineers everything they need from the solar side.
2. Then, they create the report, and we explain it to you in clear terms.
3. You will understand what your roof can handle and what it can’t.

We also perform the site inspection ourselves.

1. Our team checks your electrical system.
2. We inspect the main switchboard and any other boards throughout your building.
3. We can determine where to connect your solar system and calculate the remaining space available.
4. We check if there’s enough spare capacity or if upgrades are needed.

We provide you with all this information before any installation takes place. This way, you know exactly what your building needs. You can plan more effectively and avoid unnecessary costs down the line. Whether your site is new or old, these checks are always worth doing.

Solar is not just about putting panels on a roof. It’s about knowing if your building is ready, how much you’ll need to spend, and how much you’ll save. The right provider will help you answer all of those questions before you spend thousands.

If you’re interested in learning a bit more about the importance of a good installer for your solar (the most important component of any system, seriously), you might want to check out the following article titled, In-house Installers vs. Subcontractors: Which is Better?

Get started with solar. Click here.

Your Next Step

If you’re considering solar, start by inspecting your building. PSC Energy can help you get a complete picture from the start. Our team can organise the reports, inspect your site, and guide you through the next steps. That way, you can move forward with confidence.

Solar is a smart choice. But smart choices need solid information. Start there. We’ll help you with the rest.

If you’re interested in learning a bit more about commercial solar installation, you might want to check out the following article titled, Commercial Solar Panel Feasibility Study: How Businesses Can Assess Energy Benefits.

Get a free solar quote!