Best Roof Types for Solar Panel Installation

In the U.S., residential Solar Market  added 1,106 MWdc in Q1 2025, marking a 13% year-over-year increase.If you’re a homeowner in New York, installing solar panels just might be the best investment you can make for your home by reducing energy costs and decreasing environmental pollution across the state. Not all types of roofing and roof materials are equally compatible with solar installations.

The right kind of roof is essential for long-term sustainability, energy and cost savings. As one of the premier roofing and solar company in New York, Solar Roof NY realizes everything that you have to handle as a home owner. From the strength and material of your roof, to the pitch, orientation and how long it lasts are all things that have a direct link with how well your solar system will result.
In this guide, we will dissect the best types of roofs for solar panels, point out various challenges and offer suggestions to help you decide if your home is fit for going solar.

Asphalt Shingle Roofs – The Most Popular Option

Asphalt shingles are a popular roofing material for homes. For solar arrays, they are commonly deemed the simplest and cheapest solution.

 Solar in Asphalt Shingles is a Good Idea:

• Simple to punching or sealing at the solar pv panel bracket installation
• Compatible with most racking systems
• Light compared with tile or slate
• Affordable replacement and repair options

Most shingle roofs don’t need to be upgraded in any significant way before a solar array can be installed on top of it. But age is a significant factor. If you have a shingle roof older than about 15–20 years, solar roof contractors will often recommend replacing it before proceeding. This eliminates the necessity to remove and reinstall panels should the roofing fail before the end of its life.If your shingles are older, it can be more difficult to get mounts mounted without additional support. Metal Roofs: Durable and Highly Compatible

Metal roofs are one of the suggested types for our solar panel installation. As homeowners become more and more eco-friendly, metal roofing is growing in popularity, especially with the addition of solar panels. Standing seam metal roofs are particularly well-suited, as the solar racks can directly clamp on to the seams without drilling holes.

Benefits of Metal Roofing for Solar Panels:

• 40–70 year lifespan more than other solar panels
• Seam powers attachment minimizing leaks
• Reflective surfaces enhance overall energy efficiency.
• Very sturdy in New York snow, rain, and wind

Metal roofs are one of the least required modifications and provide a great low maintenance solar solution. The only downside is that metal roofs are more expensive from the outset. But combined with solar, it is a durable and energy-saving system that will need fewer repairs over time. It’s less ideal for ribbed or screw-down metal roofs because drilling is required.

Flat Roofs: Versatile Options for Urban Homes

Flat roofs are common on many New York homes, especially in Brooklyn and Queens. Though they don’t offer the perfect tilt for a solar panel, thanks to special racking systems, solar installations are enabled and very effective.

Why Flat Roofs Can Be Ideal:

• Panels can be adjusted to the appropriate angle for optimum sun exposure
• Flexible positioning for better system design
• Accessibility for maintenance and cleaning
• Difficulties of Solar Panel Installations on Flat Roofs:
• Tilt mounts have added cost and weight in the structural sense.

You need to resolve your drainage problems prior to installation

Tile Roofs: Beautiful but Challenging

Tile roofs, whether made of clay, concrete or slate, are popular on some higher end properties across Long Island and other New York neighborhoods. Though they’re beautiful and built to last, installing solar panels on tile takes experience.

Pros of Installing Solar Panels on Tile Roofs:

• Long lifespan (50–100 years)
• Excellent durability against weather
• High thermal insulating capacity for the purpose of energy saving

Wooden Roofs: Not Recommended for Solar

Wood roofs (particularly cedar shakes) are less-prevalent today and generally found only in older or historic New York homes. Unfortunately, wood is not the best option for solar panels.

Why Wooden Roofs Aren’t Ideal:

• Flammable material, raising safety concerns
• It’s hard to get your panels even when you have uneven ground.
• Short lives relative to solar systems
• Rot, mould, and pest prone

Technically, it is possible to install solar on a wooden roof, but few people would recommend it. Most solar-roof installers would tell you not to put a wooden roof under the panels; better instead to use asphalt shingles or metal (both of which will outlast 25 years) and only then think about solar. This provides safety, speed and, last but not least, a permanent solution.

Comparing the Options: What Type of Roof Is Best for Solar?

When considering different roofs for solar, homeowners need to consider factors such as the strength of materials; the lifespan of their roofing; and how easy, not just how expensive, it will be to install.

Best Overall: Asphalt comes in a variety of price-points, is compatible with most homes and businesses, easy to install

Best durability option: Metal roofing long lasting and low maintenance, means ideal for long-term solar performance

Most versatile design: Flat roofs even let you customize the angle, just need extra equipment

Hardest To Install: Tile lasting, but necessity for specialized labor skyrockets cost

Least Recommended: Wooden Roofs -Dangers, Fire hazards and weaknesses in material make them poor options grilles.

In the end, the best decision will probably come down to your home’s existing state, location and budget.

Conclusion:

Your roof is the cornerstone of a successful solar system. Asphalt shingle and metal roofs are the most compatible, however flat (low sloped) and tile can also be done by professionals. If you have a wooden roof, it is best replaced before moving forward with solar.Solar Roof NY focuses in roof type assessment, customized recommendations and safe as well as efficient solar application for Nassau, Suffolk, Queens and Brooklyn.

Working as your most dependent on roofing and solar company, we take the best of roofing experience and apply it to solar energy.Are you ready to determine if your roofing is a bunch of sun-ready? Contact Solar Roof NY right now for a free consultation and see how much energy, and therefore money, you could be saving with solar.