Thatched cottages are gorgeously quaint. They’re the nostalgic ideal of what the British country cottage should look like.
But as lovely as they look, there are quite a few disadvantages to owning a home with a thatched roof – not least the expense of re-thatching every twenty years or so.
Another problem is when a thatched roof homeowner is looking at renewable energy options – particularly solar panels.
But can you have solar panels on a thatched roof? The good news is that you may be able to install solar panels on your thatched roof. But it’s not easy. You’ll run into more than a few problems – so many that it might be more trouble than it’s worth.
But let’s look in more detail about the potential issues you’ll have when trying to instal solar panels on a thatched roof. And, how you could add solar panels to your thatched roof in some cases.
What Roofs Cannot Have Solar Panels?
Most solar panel installers will tell you that installing solar panels on a thatched roof simply isn’t possible. And depending on their system, they may not be wrong.
Standard roof-mounted solar panels are not going to work if you have a thatched roof. This is because there is no mounting system that is designed (yet) for thatched rooves that would allow the solar panels to be ventilated well enough underneath.
Ventilation is essential for thatched rooves otherwise the thatch would rot.
And let’s not forget that solar panels require an electrical system to function. This means the added fire risk of running an electrical system through a material that’s already a heightened fire risk would be dangerous.
Not to mention the prohibitive insurance.
Another issue to consider is the age and location of your thatched cottage. If your thatched home is a listed building, you’ll need planning permission to change the structure of your home.
And it may not be granted – especially if your cottage is in a conservation area such as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB).
How Can I Instal Solar Panels On My Thatched Roof?
But before you abandon all hope, there is a way to retrofit solar panels within a thatched roof and make your dream of sustainable energy a possibility.
At the moment, the only way to instal solar panels on a home with a thatched roof is to hire a specialist contractor to instal integrated solar panels into the thatch.
By using the French-manufactured GSE in-roof integration system, you can have solar panels inlaid into your thatched roof.
This involves the contractor removing a section of the thatch and installing the GSE in-roof system to run flush with the surrounding thatch. This method avoids the issue of ventilation and rotting of the thatch entirely.
The good news is that as the GSE in-roof system is resistant to fire, so you might find insurers are more inclined to consider it as a viable option. Planning offices, too, are more likely to accept an integrated system on a listed property.
There are other benefits to the in-rood system that make it worthwhile. It’s guaranteed for ten years – similar longevity to other roofing materials such as slate, tiles or zinc.
It’s completely waterproof and has mechanical impact resistance making it compatible with areas of higher snowfall or wind.
So it’s great news for thatch cottage owners that installing solar panels can be done. Of course, you’ll have to find an installation specialist willing to take on the job for a thatched roof and, sadly, they are few and far between and likely to be pricey.
What Roofs Are Not Suitable for Solar Panels?
There are also a couple of other issues about thatched roof suitability even if an in-roof system is possible for your home.
Orientation – The orientation of your house matters. There would be little point in spending money on adding solar panels to a roof that didn’t have enough of a south-facing aspect when the sun is at its highest point.
Roof Pitch – The solar panels must be angled between 10 – 40 degrees. Anything steeper and they won’t pick up enough energy.
Shade – If your home is overhung with a canopy of trees or neighbouring buildings, you’ll need to consider if it’s worth it.
Despite the potential problems, sustainable energy is a must going forward. So it would always be worth consulting a solar panel specialist to find a way to make solar panels work for your thatched home.
