Let’s be honest. Most homeowners choose to invest in solar panels for the impressive savings on monthly energy bills rather than aesthetics. We get it: most solar arrays pay for themselves in less than 10 years, thanks to energy buyback programs and other financial incentives. However, we’re not afraid to offer a hot take that solar panels can also make a roof look better.

Sure, many poorly planned installations are marred by cluttered and disruptive rooflines and mismatched color schemes. But with the tips that follow, you can give your home a sleek, eye-catching look while making it far more eco-friendly and efficient.

Consider Building-Integrated Panels

To seamlessly incorporate solar panels into your existing roofing design, you’ll want to choose building-integrated materials. such as custom soloar shingles and skins. Solar shingles are building-integrated photovoltaics (BIPV) that replace traditional roofing materials. They have inconspicuous profiles that make them perfect for communities with strict HOA requirements.

Rather than mounting bulky racks to your roof, your roofer will install these shingles in place of architectural, three-tab, or other shingle types. However, solar shingles cost a bit more than standard solar installations. Because they sit flush with roofs, they also have lower efficiency. Depending on which style you choose, solar shingles could generate 15% to 60% less energy per square foot.

HOA Rules Often Exist for a Reason

Home-owner association regulations are rarely popular. But truth be told, many of these requirements help to prevent poor quality and undesirable results. Thankfully, custom solar skins are also HOA-friendly. These eye-catching appliques provide the perfect camouflage for traditional solar panels. In fact, you can even order solar skins that perfectly match your roof’s existing shingles, making your panels virtually undetectable from the curb. Although solar panels are slightly less efficient with solar skins, they only produce about 5% to 15% less energy per square foot.

Get a Sleek Look With All-Black Panels

If you want a safe option that looks reliably sleek without sacrificing the efficiency you want from solar, install all-black panels. Microcrystalline panels have all-black back sheets, cells, and frames. This is less visually disrupting than silver frames and silver gridlines, and with the right layout, all-black panels can make roofs look decidedly chic.

Consider the Look of Frameless Modules

Frameless solar panels offer a clean, modern aesthetic by giving panels a unique “floating” look. Without frames, panels lack the overhanging lips of traditional installations that tend to trap dirt and decrease efficiency by casting shadows on outside cells. Not only are they more efficient, many frameless modules are also self-cleaning and more resistant to environmental degradation.

Choose Inconspicuous Hardware

Ask for low-profile panel mounts that decrease the visual distance between your roof and your solar array. Your installer can help you find the right lift distance for both optimum aesthetics and optimum efficiency.

Go for a Tight, Uniform Layout

In an attempt to bring a bold look, some property owners choose to give their panels a unique “stair-step” layout or a creative geometric configuration. While it might look cool on paper, such elaborate approaches usually lead to a cluttered, undesirable result. Keep in mind that panels are very geometric, which is to say they don’t lend well to organic, free-flowing designs.

For a clean, uncomplicated look, we suggest laying out your panels in a simple rectangle or square. Keeping solar arrays in basic shapes provides the best results when all panel edges are equidistant from the roofline. Always check with your installation contractor to learn more about what they suggest for your property. If you live in Allentown, PA or a surrounding area and need roof installation services, make your first call to Bachman’s Roofing.