Can your Swindon roof support solar panels? Weight, condition, orientation and what to fix first.
Solar panel installation is booming across Swindon, but the panels are only as good as the roof they sit on. A 20-panel array weighs 350-450kg and will remain on your roof for 25+ years. If the roof underneath has problems — nail sickness, deteriorated felt, weak battens — those problems will be far more expensive to fix with panels in the way. Here is what to assess before going solar.
Before any solar installation, the roof must be in sound condition. Nail sickness, deteriorated felt, damaged battens or weakened rafters should be repaired or the roof replaced before panels go on. Removing panels for roof work later costs £1,000-£2,000 in scaffolding, panel removal, storage and reinstallation — on top of the roof repair cost itself. It is always cheaper to fix the roof first.
A typical domestic solar array adds 12-15kg per square metre of roof area. Most modern tile roofs can handle this without structural modification. However, Swindon's post-war estates used lightweight prefabricated trusses designed for the specific tile weight specified at construction. Adding solar panels to a truss roof requires a structural assessment to confirm adequacy. We can carry out this assessment as part of a combined roof survey and solar preparation service.
South-facing roof slopes at 30-40 degree pitch generate the most electricity. South-east and south-west orientations produce 85-95 percent of optimal output. East and west facing roofs produce 75-85 percent. North-facing roofs are generally not suitable. Swindon's latitude of 51.5 degrees north means the optimal pitch is around 35 degrees, which matches many of the town's post-war roof designs.
We are not solar panel installers — we are roofers. Our role is ensuring your roof is in the best possible condition before the solar company arrives. We survey the roof condition, identify any repairs or replacement needed, carry out the work, and certify that the roof is structurally sound and weathertight. This gives the solar installer a reliable substrate and gives you confidence that you will not need to remove the panels for roof work within their 25-year lifespan. Call 0179 329 7084 for a pre-solar roof assessment.
Call 0179 329 7084 for free advice.
0179 329 7084"Honest advice, professional work, fair pricing. Everything you want from a local roofer."
"Free survey was thorough. Clear explanation, no pressure. Will use them when the time comes."
"From first call to finished job — professional, punctual, clean. Highly recommend."
Before any solar installation, the roof must be in sound condition. Nail sickness, deteriorated felt, damaged battens or weakened rafters should be repaired or the roof replaced before panels go on. Removing panels for roof work later costs £1,000-£2,000 in scaffolding, panel removal, storage and re
A typical domestic solar array adds 12-15kg per square metre of roof area. Most modern tile roofs can handle this without structural modification. However, Swindon's post-war estates used lightweight prefabricated trusses designed for the specific tile weight specified at construction. Adding solar
South-facing roof slopes at 30-40 degree pitch generate the most electricity. South-east and south-west orientations produce 85-95 percent of optimal output. East and west facing roofs produce 75-85 percent. North-facing roofs are generally not suitable. Swindon's latitude of 51.5 degrees north mean
We are not solar panel installers — we are roofers. Our role is ensuring your roof is in the best possible condition before the solar company arrives. We survey the roof condition, identify any repairs or replacement needed, carry out the work, and certify that the roof is structurally sound and wea
Nothing. Quotes are always free, written and itemised with no obligation. We never charge a call-out fee — the survey, diagnosis and written specification cost you nothing regardless of whether you proceed. For formal condition reports, the inspection fee (£120–£250) is credited against any work booked. We survey, photograph, explain and quote in writing. If you decide not to proceed, there is no charge. Prices reflect the southern England labour band. Conservation area properties in Old Town may cost 20-40% more due to like-for-like material requirements.
Emergency repairs: same-day response, available 24/7 including weekends and bank holidays. Standard repairs: usually within a few working days of the survey. Planned re-roofs and larger projects: typically scheduled within 2-4 weeks depending on the time of year. We confirm your start date one week before and again the day before work begins. Swindon's exposed plateau at 120m means storm damage is more frequent than in sheltered valley towns. Our crews carry the 12 most common tile profiles for same-visit repairs.
Yes. Every job carries our written 10-year workmanship guarantee covering all labour, fixings and installation methods. This guarantee is backed by our NFRC membership and £5 million public liability insurance. Materials carry separate manufacturer warranties on top — typically 25-30 years for GRP and EPDM flat roofing, 40-60 years for concrete tiles with A2 stainless nails compliant with BS 5534:2014+A2:2018, and 100+ years for natural slate.
Nothing. Quotes are always free, written and itemised with no obligation. We never charge a call-out fee — the survey, diagnosis and written specification cost you nothing regardless of whether you proceed. For formal condition reports, the inspection fee (£120–£250) is credited against any work booked. We survey, photograph, explain and quote in writing. If you decide not to proceed, there is no charge.
Emergency repairs: same-day response, available 24/7 including weekends and bank holidays. Standard repairs: usually within a few working days of the survey. Planned re-roofs and larger projects: typically scheduled within 2-4 weeks depending on the time of year. We confirm your start date one week before and again the day before work begins.
Yes. Every job carries our written 10-year workmanship guarantee covering all labour, fixings and installation methods. This guarantee is backed by our NFRC membership and £5 million public liability insurance. Materials carry separate manufacturer warranties on top — typically 25-30 years for GRP and EPDM flat roofing systems and 40-60 years for tiles with stainless fixings.
Nothing. Quotes are always free, written and itemised with no obligation. We never charge a call-out fee — the survey, diagnosis and written specification cost you nothing regardless of whether you proceed. For formal condition reports, the inspection fee (£120–£250) is credited against any work booked. We survey, photograph, explain and quote in writing. If you decide not to proceed, there is no charge.
Emergency repairs: same-day response, available 24/7 including weekends and bank holidays. Standard repairs: usually within a few working days of the survey. Planned re-roofs and larger projects: typically scheduled within 2-4 weeks depending on the time of year. We confirm your start date one week before and again the day before work begins.
Every job carries our written 10-year workmanship guarantee covering labour, fixings and installation method. Materials carry separate manufacturer warranties — 25–30 years for GRP/EPDM flat roofing, 40–60 years for concrete tiles with A2 stainless fixings. NFRC registered, £5 million insured.
If you have questions about any topic covered in this guide, call 0179 329 7084 for a free consultation. We can discuss your specific situation, inspect your roof at no charge, and give you honest advice tailored to your property type and local conditions. We do not employ salespeople and we do not pressure anyone into work they do not need. Our business is built on honest advice and quality workmanship — the kind of service that generates referrals and repeat customers. Twenty years of serving Swindon homeowners has taught us that the best customer is an informed customer who understands their options and makes their own decision.
We are NFRC registered, carry five million pounds of public liability insurance, and provide a written 10-year workmanship guarantee on every job. We have been serving Swindon and surrounding Wiltshire since 2003. Our business is built entirely on honest work and word-of-mouth recommendation. We do not advertise, we do not cold-call, and we do not employ salespeople. Every customer comes to us through recommendation or by finding us online — and we keep them by doing excellent work at fair prices. That is a business model we are proud of and one that benefits every homeowner who works with us.
We cover every postcode and neighbourhood across Swindon and a 15-mile radius. From the 1840s Railway Village to the 2020s Wichelstowe development, from hilltop Highworth to floodplain Cricklade, from the wind-exposed western estates at Shaw and Toothill to the sheltered inner suburbs at Covingham and Eldene. We carry the twelve most common tile profiles on every van, maintain relationships with specialist suppliers for reclaimed Welsh slate, Cotswold limestone tiles and traditional materials, and switch between modern specifications and period-appropriate techniques daily. Whether your property needs a single tile replacement, a full re-roof, a flat roof conversion, or specialist chimney work, we have the expertise, the materials and the local knowledge to do the job right first time.
A good roofer surveys from the roof, not from the ground. Photographs everything and explains what they find in plain language. Provides a detailed written specification, not just a price. Uses the correct materials for the property type and local conditions. Specifies stainless steel fixings as standard rather than the galvanised nails that caused Swindon's nail sickness crisis. Includes scaffold and waste removal in the quote. Offers a meaningful written guarantee backed by trade body membership and adequate insurance. Turns up when they say they will, does what they quoted, cleans up after themselves and stands behind the work for years afterward. This is the standard we maintain on every job and the standard you should expect from any roofer you hire.
Twenty years of continuous service to Swindon homeowners means something. It means we have fixed roofs on every type of property in every neighbourhood. It means we have seen every roofing problem this town can produce — from the nail sickness crisis on the post-war estates to the listed building conservation work in Old Town and the Railway Village. It means we know which materials last in Swindon's exposed conditions and which fail prematurely. It means we have relationships with suppliers who can source reclaimed Welsh slate, period clay tiles and specialist materials within days. It means we have a reputation built entirely on doing good work at fair prices — no advertising, no cold calling, just honest workmanship that speaks for itself. And it means we will still be here next year, and the year after, and for the full ten years of your guarantee. That is the difference between a local roofer and a name you found on a lead generation website. Call 0179 329 7084 and experience the difference.
From £150, no call-out fee.
More →Full re-roofs, 10yr guarantee.
More →GRP/EPDM, 25yr guarantees.
More →Same-day 24/7 response.
Call Now →Cleaning, repairs, replacement.
More →Repointing, flashings, stacks.
More →Biocide, 3-5yr protection.
More →uPVC roofline, ventilation.
More →Fitted to your roof.
More →Code 4 flashings, valleys.
More →Repair, matching, re-roofing.
More →Surveys from £120, fee credited.
More →Last updated: August 2026
Local Swindon roofers you can trust.
0179 329 7084