OneRoof Energy, a San Diego-based solar company, wants everyone to go solar. That’s why President and CEO David Field collected all aspects of a solar installation under one roof — financing, installation and maintenance.
Through its network of equipment providers and roofing experts, the company makes it easy for homeowners to start generating their own solar electricity with far fewer complicated details.
“We get notification from OneRoof that there’s a lead on a project, and we go to work,” says Jared Hartley, solar division manager for IES Residential, the company that handles the electrical connections during installations. “We help design plans for whatever roof we’re looking at and make sure we can get the materials to the roofer that they need.
Once the materials are on site, the roofer takes over the installation process. Brett Moran, solar sales manager for CertainTeed (see below for OneRoof vital statistics, including key partnerships), says the OneRoof system is easy to install and maintain.
“It’s amazing how fast the solar shingles can go up with just two installers,” Moran says. “We are so sure the installation will go well, we stand behind it and the people we have installing it. It’s a great program.”
How To Do It
Moran says the first step to installing a solar roof is to put down a two-ply underlayment — a fire-base sheet called Empire-Base, a heavyweight, SBS modified bitumen, fiber glass sheet designed for use as a base sheet for both hot and cold applied, built-up roofing systems.
“It’s an ice-and-water seal,” Moran says. “It has a Class A fire rating — the same rating you’d have on a regular roof because it is the roof. It acts as a roof and a solar system at the same time.”
Then the roofer places the starter flashing around the perimeter of the roof as well as raised louvers and starter vent flashing. Then the installer is ready to put down the first course of shingles.
Moran says the installers of OneRoof systems use the Apollo Solar Roofing product, which consists 14 high-efficiency polycrystalline silicon cells for a power rating of 52 watts per solar module.
“The way the Apollo locks on — on both the bottom and upper levels — the modules slide and lock into the wind clips,” Moran says. “The top is locked in by two clips. Once you have those locked down, they are covered by 100-mph wind warranty, just like a typical roof.”
Then the roofer installs five left and five right side flashings, which from the ground looks just like flashing around a skylight.
“It’s easy for installers to understand how to put it down,” Moran says. “Most of them have done something similar before on other roofing installations.”
Next, the installer ties in the shingles from right to left like a typewriter. The wire management is all done by wire clips.
“You can’t pinch wires or get crimped wires, so you don’t have all this wiring mess,” Moran says. “You’re connecting the shingles in series putting wire clips along the top of the system.”
Once an installer is done with the shingles, he has to terminate in waterproofing with left and right corner flashings. The wires, which are installed last, create the one and only penetration in the roof deck. This is a one-inch hole one inch above the last course of shingles, into which the installer puts the pipe-nipple, bushing, top, rough deck, homerun wires and ground wires. On top of that goes the top wire cover, which can run up to 17 inches in length.
“You have to make sure you get plenty of coverage,” Moran says. “As water backs up the roofline, you don’t want it to damage the shingles. But these shingles have been tested at 110-mph wind-driven rain. It’s the wires and water that don’t mix well.”
As you terminate to the roof edges, the roofer should install metal side flashings.
“We insist that they’re installed at a minimum 12 inches along the edges of the roof,” Moran says. “We want to make sure it’s watertight.”
The shingles have been prefitted to the roof dimensions and the solar shingles come to the roofer together as a kit, which includes almost the entire balance-of-systems.
“We believe this system is incredibly easy to install,” Moran says. “Two guys can install 1 KW every two or three minutes.”
Most roofs will hold 70 Apollo panels in two strings of 35. As CertainTeed is the manufacture of the shingles and the roofing materials, the company offers 10- to 15-year warranty for installation, which mirrors the one offered by OneRoof leasing.
“We wanted to copy that same sort of warranty,” Moran says. “We stand behind the people we have doing the installations. We’re proud to be working with OneRoof — and we hope to be working with them for a long time.” SPW
OneRoof Energy Vital Statistics
Founded:
2011
States Operating:
California, Hawaii
Partners:
Close to 100 partners to sell its solar leasing program
Partnerships Critical To Its Success:
National building and solar products company CertainTeed. OneRoof makes use of CertainTeed’s sales force, training, brand strength — and its network of 600 to 700 roofers to sell its SolarSelect Lease Program.
Integrated Electrical Services (IES) will provide the electrical installation component and has the ability to install projects in all 50 states. The company already has a breadth of industry experience through the installation of solar PV systems for many of the nation’s top builders, providing additional reach for the OneRoof Energy SolarSelect Lease.
Website:
www.oneroofenergy.com
