If you’re considering installing a solar system, part of the process should be a physical site inspection of your property where possible. After my team has sent you an initial proposal and quote, which we use state of the art satellite imaging with great accuracy, we conduct an inspection to find out more about your home or building. We use state of the art satellite imaging with great accuracy to compile your initial proposal and quote. We then conduct an inspection to find out more about your home or building. No commitment to proceed with installation is required from yourself at this stage. While this may seem frustrating and unnecessary, it will benefit you in the long term. Our goals when conducting a site inspection are to:
- Present a refined quote which will be more accurate.
- Gain insight into your property to see if anything needs to be fixed prior to installation.
In the site inspection, we look for:
- The quality of your roof. If it is more than 10 years old, it may need repairs which are far easier to do before the install. We also look for asbestos, and if we find it, you will need to replace the roof. While this sounds costly, we want to ensure that all solar systems we install are an investment lasting at least 20 years+. If your roof has asbestos, this can cause problems down the track, and we can’t guarantee that your roof will last two decades. Everything we do at Cardinal Solar is from a quality and safety perspective – we don’t cut corners. Other installers may say its fine, but we at wont compromise safety.
- Your roof type. There are different roof types – tin (Colourbond), tiled, terracotta, and asbestos. There are also flat and sloped rooftops. The price of a solar system install depends on the type of roof (tiles is generally more costly). If your roof is tiled you may need extra tiles in case any are damaged. We can assist with sourcing and replacing tiles.
- Shade on your roof. We look for the proportion of shade cover on your roof to determine how efficient your solar system will be. We also make recommendations such as tree removal or trimming if it will have a big impact on the energy your system produces.
- Quality of your switchboard. Most homes built from 2002 will usually have a compatible switchboard. However if your switchboard does not meet regulations, it can be a fire and shock hazard, and will need to be updated. This just isn’t for our safety, it also wont be accepted by the electricity provider to turn on and use. We also look to see if there is space inside for extra circuit breakers/equipment.
- Access to cables. We need to determine how we will get the cables from the solar panels to the inverter. Each property is different and we look for the simplest solution with the least amount of modification to your home or building.
- Where the solar panels and inverter can be located. We ensure there is enough room on your roof for all the solar panels you may need, and if necessary, we look at splitting panels over different sections of the roof. We also look for the best spot for your inverter, preferably in a shaded area close to your meter.
Improving and making any necessary modifications to your infrastructure before the installation process begins, will only save you money in the long run. Otherwise, if we were to begin the installation and then notice areas that need fixing, it would slow down the process and increase the cost. The last thing you want is to have to rip up your solar system to fix your roof a few years down the track!
At Cardinal Solar we operate as a values-based business that honours high quality, integrity, ethical operations, and being considerate over all else. We strive for exceptional customer service throughout the entire solar process – from the initial quote to maintenance years later. Check out our ‘about’ page HERE for more information about our guarantee and promise.
