Is my roof suitable for solar?

Most landed roofs are. What really matters is enough unshaded area, a roof in good condition, and spare electrical capacity. Here is how to check yours before anyone climbs a ladder.

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The five checks

What makes a roof suitable.

A good solar roof comes down to five things. Most landed homes tick all five without trying.

Enough usable area

Roughly 5 to 6 m² per kWp. A typical landed roof easily holds 8 to 20 kWp of usable space.

A sound, watertight roof

Panels last 25 years, so the roof underneath should be in good condition and not due for replacement soon.

Good sun, little shade

Few tall trees or neighbouring blocks casting shade across the middle of the day.

A workable orientation

Singapore is near the equator, so most pitches and directions work. Flat roofs are tilted to face the sun.

Spare electrical capacity

Single-phase supports up to ~13 kWp; three-phase allows much larger systems.

By house type

Roughly what fits where.

A rule of thumb for usable roof by landed type. Yours will differ, but it sets expectations.

Terrace

6 – 10 kWp

Smaller roof, usually single-phase.

Semi-detached

10 – 16 kWp

Often near the single-phase ceiling.

Bungalow / detached

16 – 30+ kWp

Large roof, frequently three-phase.

The honest catch

When a roof falls short.

Some roofs are not worth it, and we will say so. The usual reasons:

The usable roof is tiny, or broken up by skylights, vents, and pitches.
Tall trees or neighbouring buildings shade the roof for much of the day.
The roof is old and likely to need replacing within a few years.

Know for sure

A checklist only gets you so far.

The only way to know your roof for certain is to measure it. Book a survey and we check the area, shading, condition, and your supply in person, with no obligation to go ahead.

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Common questions

Roof questions, answered.

Is my roof suitable for solar in Singapore?

Most landed roofs are. What matters is enough unshaded, usable area, a roof in sound condition, and spare electrical capacity. A site survey confirms it precisely.

How much roof area do I need per kWp?

Roughly 5 to 6 square metres of usable roof per kWp with modern panels. A typical landed roof comfortably fits a 10 to 20 kWp system.

Does roof direction matter in Singapore?

Less than in countries far from the equator. Most orientations and pitches work well here, and flat roofs are simply tilted to face the sun. Heavy shading matters far more than direction.

Can I put solar on a tiled roof?

Yes. Tiled, metal, and flat concrete roofs can all take solar. Tiled roofs need careful mounting and cost a little more; metal roofs are the simplest.

What if part of my roof is shaded?

Partial shade is workable. Panels can be laid out to avoid the worst areas, and optimisers or microinverters limit the impact. A survey maps your shading across the day.

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