A solar roof generates electricity and contributes to the envelope protecting the home. Alongside appearance and electrical specifications, ask how the complete roof assembly manages water.
Article seven in the VOLTECTA series sets out questions for a design meeting, not installation instructions. The solution depends on the product, roof and project conditions.
Assess the complete assembly
A continuous appearance does not establish watertightness. Understand the roles of active tiles, underlying layers and finishing components. IEA PVPS’s review of BIPV requirements includes watertightness alongside electrical and construction requirements.
Request a roof section explaining each layer. Clarify which components belong to the solar supplier’s scope and which to the roofer’s. Do not assume solar tiles replace every other roof layer.
Ask for drawings of the junctions
Roof windows, pipes and service openings interrupt the envelope. Building America guidance emphasises integrating penetration flashing with the roof’s continuous water-control layer.
Request project-specific details for walls, ridges, edges, openings and transitions between active and infill roofing. Ask how each detail connects to the layers beneath it, not just how it looks.
Check what the product documents cover
Request instructions for the proposed model, permitted roof pitches, accessory lists and relevant water-penetration test information. Establish which assembly and installation conditions any test report covers.
Electrical output or a generation warranty does not itself establish roofing watertightness. Ask the designer to explain how the documents support the proposed project solution and what further checks are needed.
Include electrical routes in the design
Have cable routes and equipment locations coordinated with the roof designer and qualified electrical professional. Every penetration should have a defined detail before site work reaches it.
Discuss component replacement too: who opens the assembly, restores the roof layers and checks the work? Do not open electrical connections or climb onto the roof for a personal inspection.
Inspect and document before completion
We recommend agreeing inspection points before layers are covered, photographing concealed details and keeping drawings, specifications and maintenance instructions in the handover record. Ask the designer to define completion checks.
Establish a contact for leaks and document responsibility across roofing, waterproofing and electrical work. If damp appears, record it from a safe location and seek professional assessment rather than improvising a repair.
Start with your roof plans
For an initial VOLTECTA review, share plans or photographs, location and project stage. Identify existing openings and any known leaks or earlier repairs.
This focuses the discussion on the complete assembly: the tile, connections, layers and responsibility for the building envelope.
Technical sources
Technical background, not an endorsement of a VOLTECTA product or project.
Building a new home or replacing a roof?
Send a roof plan or building photographs for an initial suitability review.
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