My apologies to the moderators if this post is in the wrong forum, please move it if necessary.
Now that I have a Model S, I want to have a solar (photovoltaic) power system installed on my roof to reduce the cost of charging the car. I live in San Mateo, California (San Francisco Bay Area). There are many solar power companies working in my area, but I would like to hear from fellow EV owners in my area who have had solar power systems installed and if they can recommend the company they worked with.
I have already contacted SolarCity and after an onsite inspection they told me that they could not install a system on my roof because of the design of my house (post-and-beam construction, no attic, 4"x10" roof beams spaced 6 ft. apart supporting 2"x6" tongue-in-groove redwood planks topped by 1.5" of sprayed polyurethane foam covered with an elastomeric coating, the roof is in excellent condition). SolarCity said that their mounting systems needed closer beam spacings to tie into and that they did not install on foam roofs because of the possibility of leaks. I have had multiple penetrations made in my roof for added plumbing and electrical and have never had a leak. It's pretty easy to seal penetrations in foam roofs, but SolarCity doesn't want to work on foam roofs (even though they admit they do foam roof installations in places like Arizona). I even offered to sign a liability release to indemnify SolarCity against leaks but that did not persuade them to let me become a customer. So I gave up on them.
I'm interested in "ballasted" type PV panel systems that don't require roof penetrations since where I live the climate is moderate, there is no snow, and peak wind speeds do not exceed about 65mph as far as I know.
I have neighbors who live in exactly the same style of house as mine and they have PV systems. In fact one neighbor had SolarCity do their installation about 6 years ago, but now SolarCity says they won't install on our roof type. I was very disappointed to hear that.
I am still interested in the SolarCity battery storage unit that Tesla makes for them, but first I need to get a PV system on my roof.
Thanks,
Now that I have a Model S, I want to have a solar (photovoltaic) power system installed on my roof to reduce the cost of charging the car. I live in San Mateo, California (San Francisco Bay Area). There are many solar power companies working in my area, but I would like to hear from fellow EV owners in my area who have had solar power systems installed and if they can recommend the company they worked with.
I have already contacted SolarCity and after an onsite inspection they told me that they could not install a system on my roof because of the design of my house (post-and-beam construction, no attic, 4"x10" roof beams spaced 6 ft. apart supporting 2"x6" tongue-in-groove redwood planks topped by 1.5" of sprayed polyurethane foam covered with an elastomeric coating, the roof is in excellent condition). SolarCity said that their mounting systems needed closer beam spacings to tie into and that they did not install on foam roofs because of the possibility of leaks. I have had multiple penetrations made in my roof for added plumbing and electrical and have never had a leak. It's pretty easy to seal penetrations in foam roofs, but SolarCity doesn't want to work on foam roofs (even though they admit they do foam roof installations in places like Arizona). I even offered to sign a liability release to indemnify SolarCity against leaks but that did not persuade them to let me become a customer. So I gave up on them.
I'm interested in "ballasted" type PV panel systems that don't require roof penetrations since where I live the climate is moderate, there is no snow, and peak wind speeds do not exceed about 65mph as far as I know.
I have neighbors who live in exactly the same style of house as mine and they have PV systems. In fact one neighbor had SolarCity do their installation about 6 years ago, but now SolarCity says they won't install on our roof type. I was very disappointed to hear that.
I am still interested in the SolarCity battery storage unit that Tesla makes for them, but first I need to get a PV system on my roof.
Thanks,