Is My Roof a Good Roof for Solar? 3 Areas to Consider
John Esh
February 8, 2026

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You’re trying to determine if you want to put solar panels on your roof. Our president, John Esh, answers whether your home is a great solar panel candidate!

Since we’ve started installing roof top solar systems, we often get the question of, Is my roof a good roof for solar?


Direction

There are a couple factors that go into that. One of the most important ones is:

  • Which direction is it going to be facing?

Since we are here in Pennsylvania, the more direct south it can face, the better off we’re going to be. Anything that’s facing directly south or southeast, southwest, is okay. Anything that is directly east, west, north – not a good idea. You want as much direct sunlight as possible.


Shading

Something that inhibits direct sunlight obviously is shading. That’s the second point that you want to watch out for is stuff that shades the panels:

  • Do you have trees overhanging the roof?
  • Do you have chimneys?

You want to get rid of those or do whatever we can to not have any shading where the solar panels are going to be installed.


Environment

Solar continues to be a great investment, so if you’re looking at it from the perspective of finances thinking, I want to pay less on my utility bill, great!

Another great reason for solar continues to be, we want to reduce our impact on the environment or I want to stay clean, stay green.



Let’s Talk About It!

Both of those (above) are great factors. Solar is a solid investment and it’s something that you’re interested in or kind of want to get that question felt out a little further, you can give us a call! Usually within a few minutes, we can look your place up and tell you yes you’re most likely a great candidate for solar or no for whatever reasons. It’s as simple as a phone call!

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We can replace your existing home’s roof, whether it’s with new shingles, shakes, or metal, prior to installing the roof-integrated solar panels. Not interested in a full replacement? We can also help repair roof issues that you may be concerned about so that it’s ready for solar!

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John Esh | CEO & Master Installer

  • 25+ Years Experience: From ground crew to Master Certified Installer.
  • Local Roots: Serving Lancaster, Harrisburg, and SEPA since 1991.
  • Credentials: GAF Master Certified (ME27586); Licensed in PA (PA124258) & MD (#137952).
  • The "Why": Obsessed with "radical transparency" to remove the fear factor from home improvements.

James Wesser | Content Producer

  • Background: Former local news digital producer and journalist.
  • The Mission: Turning complex roofing jargon into clear, "fluff-free" answers for homeowners.
  • Local Tie: When not filming on-site, he’s likely roaming Hersheypark or building digital worlds.

Meet The Experts