A quick first check before a survey.
Is My Roof Suitable for Solar Panels?
Most pitched roofs in England and Wales can take solar panels, but direction, covering and shading all change how well a system will perform. This check gives you a plain answer with the reasoning behind it, so you know what to expect before anyone visits.
It is a guide, not a design. A free home survey confirms the roof structure, usable area, shading and electrical details needed for a proper system proposal.
Check your roof
Likely suitable
- A south-facing roof receives the most direct sun through the day in Britain.
- Pitched tile roofs are the most common surface we fit to.
This is a guide only. Your actual answer comes from a free home survey.
Get a QuoteRoof direction
In Britain the sun sits to the south, so a south-facing roof receives the most direct sun. South-east and south-west roofs perform well too. East and west roofs generate across the morning and afternoon, and using both slopes spreads generation across the day, which can suit households that use electricity in the morning and evening.
North-facing roofs receive the least direct sun. Some are worth fitting, many are not, and only a survey will give a reliable answer.
Roof covering
Tiled and slate pitched roofs are the most common surfaces for solar panels, using mounting hooks fixed beneath the covering. Flat roofs can take panels on angled frames, subject to the structure and wind loading. Metal roofs need fixings matched to the profile. Thatched roofs are not normally suitable for roof-mounted panels.
Shading
Shading from trees, chimneys, dormers or neighbouring buildings reduces generation. Partial shading can often be designed around by panel placement and inverter choice, so a shaded roof is not automatically ruled out. The survey records shading so the proposal reflects your actual roof.
Planning and listed buildings
Most domestic solar installations in England fall under permitted development, but conservation areas and listed buildings have additional rules. We check the planning position for your property as part of the survey.
Why homeowners choose Cozy Home Solutions
Cozy Home Solutions Ltd is an MCS certified installer of solar panels, battery storage and home EV chargers, based at Unit 2, Old Station Yard, Watlington Road, Cowley, Oxford, and working with homeowners across England and Wales. We are registered with NAPIT, HIES and EPVS, and we are a Hometree partner.
Every installation starts with a free home survey and a written quotation. When the work is finished, your system is commissioned and handed over with its MCS certificate, the DNO notification and the manufacturer warranties registered in your name. Battery cover runs to 10 years, and the installation itself is protected by an insurance-backed guarantee.
- Free home survey before any proposal
- DMEGC solar panels, Fox ESS batteries and Fox ESS EV chargers
- MCS certificate, DNO notification and warranties in your name
- Call 0800 688 9666, Monday to Friday, 9:00 to 19:00
Frequently asked questions
Can I have solar panels on a north-facing roof?
Sometimes, but north-facing roofs receive the least direct sun and many are not worth fitting. A survey gives a reliable answer for your roof.
Do east and west roofs work for solar?
Yes. East and west roofs generate across the morning and afternoon, and panels on both slopes can spread generation through the day.
Can solar panels go on a flat roof?
Yes, flat roofs can take panels on angled frames, subject to the roof structure.
Will shading stop me having solar panels?
Not necessarily. Partial shading reduces generation, but panel placement and equipment choice can often reduce its effect. The survey measures it.
Is the roof check a guarantee?
No. This is a guide only. Your actual answer comes from a free home survey.