Solar panels designed around your roof
Roof mounted solar PV for homeowners in Sunderland and across the North East, specified from a proper assessment of orientation, usable area, shading and your electricity consumption, then installed and evidenced to standard.
The factors that actually decide output
Roof orientation
South facing roofs generally perform best, though east and west arrangements can be viable depending on how you use electricity.
Usable roof area
Available area, pitch, obstructions and roof condition determine how many panels can be installed sensibly.
Shading
Trees, chimneys and neighbouring buildings affect output. Shading is assessed before any array is specified.
Electrical arrangement
The existing consumer unit, earthing and metering arrangement are checked as part of the design.
A complete, documented installation
- Site and roof assessment, including shading and structural considerations
- System design with array layout, inverter selection and electrical arrangement
- Supply and installation of panels, mounting system, inverter and isolation
- Commissioning, testing and generation monitoring setup
- Handover pack with system information and commissioning records
- Notification of the installation to the relevant network operator where required
Suitability, stated plainly
Solar PV is not right for every property. Limited roof area, significant shading, poor roof condition or a consumption pattern concentrated outside daylight hours can all change the answer.
Where that is the case we will say so, and where relevant we will suggest a different measure or a smaller system rather than overselling an array.
Sized for your property
Compact array
Smaller roofs
A modest array for properties with limited usable roof area or lower electricity consumption.
- Panel count
- Array size
- Inverter
- Monitoring
Standard array
Typical family homes
A full roof array sized around annual consumption and daily usage pattern, with generation monitoring included.
- Panel count
- Array size
- Inverter
- Monitoring
- Documentation
Solar with storage
Evening electricity use
A solar array specified alongside battery storage so daytime generation can be used later in the day.
- Array size
- Battery capacity
- Inverter
- Monitoring
Panel counts, array sizes, equipment and pricing are confirmed in your written proposal after a technical assessment.
Is my home suitable for solar panels?
Six things decide the answer. None of them can be settled from the street, which is why an assessment comes before a specification.
Usable roof space
Panels need a continuous run of roof clear of vents, chimneys and dormers. Small or broken up roof planes limit array size more than most people expect.
Orientation and pitch
South facing pitches generally generate most. East and west pitches spread generation across the morning and evening, which can suit some households better.
Shading
Trees, chimneys, aerials and neighbouring buildings all reduce output, and shade that moves across the array during the day matters more than a single fixed obstruction.
Roof condition
Tiles, slates, battens and flashings carry the mounting system for decades. If the covering is near the end of its life, that is worth addressing before panels go on.
How much electricity you use
A large array on a low consumption property exports most of what it makes. Annual consumption and the times of day you use it shape the sensible system size.
Electrical infrastructure
The consumer unit, earthing arrangement, metering and available space for isolation and cable routes are checked as part of the design.
Solar often works best alongside home battery storage, so daytime generation can be used in the evening. See combined solar and battery systems for how the two work together.
What happens after I request a solar quote?
- 01
You send the details
Submit a solar quote request with your address, roof description and a rough idea of your electricity consumption.
- 02
We review and get in touch
We check the basics, including likely roof area, orientation and obvious shading, then contact you to fill in the gaps.
- 03
Technical assessment
A survey confirms roof condition, usable area, shading, structure and the existing electrical arrangement before anything is specified.
- 04
System design and written proposal
You receive the array layout, panel count, inverter, monitoring and any battery option in writing, with the assumptions stated.
- 05
Installation
Dates are agreed, scaffolding and access are arranged where needed, and the installation is carried out by a specialist allocated to solar PV work.
- 06
Commissioning and handover
The system is tested and commissioned, monitoring is set up, the network operator is notified where required, and you receive the handover pack.
Solar panel questions answered
Do solar panels work in the North East?
Yes. Solar PV generates from daylight rather than heat, so it works across the North East. Output is lower than in southern England and varies through the year, which is why systems here should be sized from an assessment of your roof and consumption rather than a national average.
Does my roof need to face south?
No. South facing pitches usually generate the most over a year, but east and west facing roofs are frequently viable and spread generation into the morning and evening. North facing pitches are rarely worthwhile and we will tell you if that is the case.
What happens if my roof is shaded?
Shading is assessed before an array is specified. Depending on the pattern, options include repositioning the array, reducing the panel count or using equipment that limits the effect of a shaded panel. Where shading is severe we will advise against installation.
What is a solar inverter?
Solar panels produce direct current and your home uses alternating current. The inverter converts between the two, manages the array and usually provides the monitoring data. It is selected to match the array, and for battery systems, the storage as well.
Will my property need a survey?
Yes. A technical assessment of the roof, structure, shading and electrical arrangement is carried out before a system is designed. We do not quote a final specification from a photograph or a postcode.
How many solar panels do I need?
Panel count depends on usable roof area, panel output, your annual electricity consumption and your usage pattern. It is confirmed during the technical assessment rather than estimated from the property type alone.
Will solar panels work on a north facing or shaded roof?
Output is reduced on north facing or heavily shaded roofs, and in some cases we will advise against installation. We assess shading and orientation first and tell you honestly if the roof is unsuitable.
How long does a solar installation take?
Most domestic roof mounted installations are completed within a small number of days on site, subject to roof access, scaffolding requirements and electrical works. Your programme is confirmed in the proposal.
Do solar panels need maintenance?
Solar PV requires little routine maintenance beyond keeping panels reasonably clear and monitoring output. We provide system information and monitoring at handover so performance can be checked.
Can I add a battery to solar panels later?
In most cases yes. If storage is a likely future step, we can allow for it in the initial design so the later addition is straightforward.
Do you provide savings or payback figures?
We do not publish generic savings or payback figures. Any figures we provide are based on your assessed consumption, tariff and system design, and are presented as estimates rather than guarantees.
A Managed Delivery Approach
Warm Homes Net Zero Ltd operates through a managed delivery network supporting retrofit, renewable energy and home energy improvements. Coordination, evidence and quality control stay with us from enquiry to handover.
A structured customer journey
Every enquiry follows the same route, from first contact through to handover, so nothing depends on who happens to pick it up.
Appropriately matched specialists
Work is allocated by measure, location, recorded competency, certification requirements and availability rather than convenience.
Clear scope and quotation
Scope is set from what the property needs, and the quotation reflects that scope in writing before any work is booked.
Managed coordination
Scheduling, access and occupant communication are coordinated centrally by Warm Homes Net Zero Ltd, not left to the installer.
Evidence and documentation
Photographic and documentary evidence is captured against the property and the measure as the work progresses.
Completion and handover
Completion is checked against the requirements set for the measure, then the documentation is compiled and handed over.
Ready to Explore Your Options?
There is no instant online price, because a sensible specification depends on the property. Here is what happens instead.
- 01
Tell us about the property
Send the postcode, property type and how you currently use electricity or heat the home.
- 02
We review the enquiry
The details are reviewed against the measure you are interested in and coverage in your area.
- 03
Technical suitability is assessed
Where required, a survey or technical assessment confirms what the property can genuinely support.
- 04
A delivery route and quotation
A suitable delivery route and a written quotation are then developed for the confirmed scope.
Request a solar assessment
Share a few details about the property and how you use electricity, and we will confirm what your roof can sensibly support.
Related Services
Home battery storage
Store daytime generation and use it in the evening, or retrofit storage to an existing array.
Solar and battery systems
Generation and storage specified together as one matched system.
Request a solar quote
Send your property details and we will confirm what your roof can support.
Technical surveys & design
Standalone surveys, technical assessments and design support, without committing to an installation.