Most homeowners install solar years after renovating, then pay to undo work they just finished. If your roof or electrical system is being touched now, a small amount of preparation makes the later installation dramatically cheaper.

## What to do while the roof is open

Check and reinforce the structure. Panels and mounting add load. Timber battens and rafters that are borderline, or partly decayed, are far cheaper to replace while the tiles are already off.

Treat the timber. Anti-termite treatment on exposed roof timber is trivial now and impossible later.

Plan the array area. Note which roof planes get unobstructed sun and keep them clear of new vents, pipes and aerials. Putting a plumbing vent through the best roof plane is an easy mistake with a long tail.

Run a conduit. A capped conduit from the roof space down to the distribution board area costs very little during works and saves a surface-mounted run down a finished wall later.

## What to do at the distribution board

Leave physical space in the board, and leave capacity. A solar installation needs its own protection and connection point, and boards that are already full mean a second enclosure and a messier result.

## Understand the roof material implications

Mounting systems differ by roof type — concrete tile, clay tile, metal deck. If you are choosing a new roof covering anyway, ask how each option is penetrated for solar mounting and how those penetrations are weatherproofed. That question at specification stage avoids a leak-prone retrofit.

## Orientation and shading

Roof planes facing broadly toward the sun's path, unshaded by neighbouring buildings and trees, produce most. If you are extending or adding a porch roof, check you are not shading the plane you intend to use.

## The honest caveat

Solar economics depend on your consumption pattern, the tariff arrangements available at the time, the system cost and available incentives, all of which change. Nothing above commits you to installing anything — it simply means that if you decide to, the expensive preparatory work is already done rather than requiring a second round of roofing and electrical work.

## Talk to CRITANS — Free Preliminary Consultation

CRITANS Building Services is a CIDB-registered general contractor (0120231107-SL127438) based in Ampang, Selangor, serving Kuala Lumpur and the Klang Valley. We handle residential, commercial, retail, hospitality, industrial and educational projects end to end.

Send us your floor plan, photos or a rough idea and we will come back with a realistic scope and budget. Consultation is completely free.

WhatsApp us now: +6016-610 4189

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