Solar Panel Installation
Solar Panel Installationin Colne & Surrounding Areas,Fitted by Roofers.
Cut your electricity bills without risking your roof. Our panels are fitted by a roofing team with 25 years' experience, so every fixing goes in right and your roof stays watertight underneath.
- 25 years' experience
- 5.0 Google rating
- £5m public liability
- Checkatrade member
- 24/7 emergency callouts
The service
Solar installed with your roof in mind
Solar panel installation means mounting photovoltaic (PV) panels on your roof using brackets fixed through the roof covering into the rafters, then connecting them to an inverter that turns the energy they generate into electricity your home can use. The panels are the visible part, but the fixing work on the roof is what decides whether you get years of free energy or a slow leak.
It suits homeowners who want lower energy bills and more control over rising electricity costs, especially those with a south, east or west-facing roof that isn't heavily shaded. It's also an ideal time to add solar if you're already planning a new roof, because the scaffolding is up and the roof underneath is brand new.
Why use a roofer? Every bracket on a solar system means lifting tiles or slates and fixing into the structure. Done carelessly, it cracks tiles, breaks the membrane and lets water in around the hooks. Our team fits panels as roofers first, which means tiles are cut and dressed correctly around brackets and the roof is left as watertight as we found it.
Why it matters
What goes wrong when solar is fitted badly
Solar panels can hide problems. If brackets are fixed into battens instead of rafters, or tiles are cracked during fitting, water can track in underneath panels where no one can see it. It may be months before a stain appears on a bedroom ceiling, by which time the timber around the fixings may be soaked.
Fitting panels on a roof that's already near the end of its life is another common and expensive mistake. If the roof needs replacing in a few years, the panels have to come off, be stored and refitted, adding a significant extra cost.
Putting off solar altogether has a cost too: every month without it is another month of buying all your electricity from the grid.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Fitting panels on an old roof that will need replacing soon.
- Choosing an installer who isn't a roofer and doesn't check the roof structure first.
- Not asking how the roof will be made watertight around each bracket.
- Focusing only on panel price, rather than the quality of the roof work underneath.
Our process
How we handle your solar panel installation
- 01
Roof and site survey
We inspect the roof covering, structure and orientation, and check the loft, so we know the roof can carry panels for their full life.
- 02
Honest recommendation
If the roof is sound, we plan the system. If it's near the end of its life, we tell you, and explain the option of a new roof and solar together.
- 03
Scaffold and fit brackets
Scaffolding goes up and brackets are fixed into the rafters, with tiles or slates cut and dressed around each fixing.
- 04
Panels and connection
Panels are mounted and the system connected. Every fixing point is checked before scaffolding comes down.
- 05
Handover
We walk you through your system and leave your roof watertight and tidy.
What you get
The benefits, in plain terms
Lower electricity bills
Use the power your roof generates during the day instead of buying it from the grid.
Roof protected
Brackets fixed into rafters and tiles dressed correctly, by roofers who know what's under the covering.
One scaffold, two jobs
Combining solar with a new roof saves a second scaffold and removes the risk of fitting panels on a failing roof.
Honest advice
If your roof isn't ready for solar, we'll tell you rather than fit panels you'll have to remove later.
Staged payments
The same clear, staged payment approach we use on all major roofing work.
Fully insured
£5 million public liability and employer's liability cover on every job.
In detail
Solar panel options for northern homes
Solar works in the North of England, panels generate from daylight, not just direct sun. Here's what to consider.
On-roof vs in-roof systems
On-roof systems sit on brackets above your existing tiles or slates and are the most common choice for existing roofs. In-roof (integrated) systems replace part of the roof covering with the panels themselves, sitting flush for a neater look, usually best installed as part of a re-roof.
We'll explain which suits your roof and why.
Slate, tile and flat roofs
Slate roofs need particular care, as slate is brittle and fixing points must be worked through carefully. Interlocking concrete tiles are more straightforward. Flat roofs can take panels on angled frames, provided the roof covering is in good condition and properly protected under the frames.
Orientation and shading
South-facing roofs generate the most, but east and west-facing roofs still perform well, spreading generation across the morning or afternoon. Chimneys, trees and neighbouring buildings can cast shade; we check this during the survey.
Solar and roof replacement together
If your roof is due for replacement, combining it with solar means one scaffold, one disruption, and panels fitted onto a brand-new roof that carries our 10-year insurance-backed guarantee. It's the option we recommend most often to homeowners who want both.
Who solar suits best
Solar tends to suit households who are home during the day, people working from home, families with high electricity use, and anyone planning to stay in their property long enough to benefit from years of lower bills. It can also be paired with battery storage so power generated during the day can be used in the evening, ask us and we'll talk through whether that suits your home.
Landlords sometimes add solar to rental properties to make them more attractive to tenants.
Getting the roof ready first
Panels are designed to last many years. Your roof needs to last at least as long. During the survey we check the age and condition of the coverings, the battens and membrane where we can see them from the loft, and the strength of the rafters. If anything needs attention, slipped tiles, perished felt, failed flashings, it's far easier and cheaper to sort before the panels go on than after. If your roof is close to the end of its life, a new roof with solar fitted at the same time gives you a fresh start on both.
Working with Vertex
What it's like to work with us
Vertex Roofing Group is a roofing company based at Emmott Court in Colne. Brendan O'Hanlon founded the business in 2017 after years on the tools, and today a team of six carries out every solar panel installation job we take on. You deal with the people doing the work, not a call centre.
Every job starts with a proper inspection. You get a written quote based on what we've actually seen, and if something unexpected turns up once work begins, we show you photographs and agree it with you before anything changes.
Staged payments on larger jobs
On larger projects such as roof replacements, you pay in four 25% stages: to book, when materials and scaffolding arrive, at the halfway point, and on completion and sign-off. You never pay too far ahead of the work.
Insured and reviewed
We hold £5 million public liability insurance and employer's liability cover, we're a Checkatrade member, and we're rated 5.0 on Google by customers across Lancashire and Yorkshire.
How much do solar panels cost?
It depends on the size of system, your roof type and whether it's combined with other roofing work. We don't publish prices; we survey your roof and give you an accurate written quote.
Do solar panels work in Lancashire and Yorkshire?
Yes. Panels generate electricity from daylight, so they produce power even on overcast days, though output is highest in brighter months.
Will solar panels damage my roof?
Not when fitted correctly. Brackets should be fixed into rafters with the covering dressed around them, which is exactly why we fit them as roofers.
My roof is old. Should I still get solar?
If your roof will need replacing within a few years, it's usually better to replace it first or at the same time. We'll tell you honestly after the survey.
How long does installation take?
A typical home installation is usually completed within a few days, depending on system size and scaffolding. We confirm timings with your quote.
Can you fit solar on a slate roof?
Yes. Slate needs careful handling, and our team has extensive experience working on slate roofs across the Pennines.
Can solar go on a flat roof?
Yes, using angled frames, as long as the flat roof covering is in good condition.
Which areas do you install solar in?
Across Lancashire and Yorkshire, plus Kendal and the Lake District.
Related services
Start generating your own power, on a roof that stays dry.
Book a roof and solar survey. We'll tell you honestly whether your roof is ready.
Your next step is simple. Request an estimate or call us, and we'll arrange a time to inspect your roof. You'll see what we find, get an honest recommendation on your solar panel installation, and receive an accurate written quote. There's no obligation and no pressure: just clear information from a local team based in Colne who cover Lancashire, Yorkshire, Kendal and the Lake District.
£5m insured · Staged payments · 5.0 on Google