Which way is my roof facing?

[ibby]

I put my postcode into good earth, and i found my house.

But which way is North and South?

Thanks

 

[whinmoor]

North is usually at the top.

HTH

 

[ibby]

Is that mean my roof is South East?

 

[Gavin A]

looks like it, unless you've spun the image round.

 

[needasparks]

I guess being a boy scout nowdays is forgotten, lol

Wherever the sun is at mid-day is south or look at the tree in the garden, the moss grows on the north side.

 

[ibby]

Nope thats the way My roof will be.

Once the hip to gable end conversion has been done,
and two dormers on the back it will look something like that.

One thing I am currently discussing with my builder is to extend my roof eves so it can accomodate afew solar panels.
(How big are they?)

Thanks

 

[Worcester]

Easiest way would be to make the North East wall a gable end, (same as you are planning to do to the Sout West wall) however you're going to get some shading from those new dormers

 

[ibby]

Easiest way would be to make the North East wall a gable end, (same as you are planning to do to the Sout West wall) however you're going to get some shading from those new dormers

I am doing this under permited development.
The problem is if i do that, I exceed the 50m3 space allowed.
and I hate flat roofs!

 

[Gavin A]

Easiest way would be to make the North East wall a gable end, (same as you are planning to do to the Sout West wall) however you're going to get some shading from those new dormers

I'd expect that would be next doors roof you're discussing, but could be wrong.

ibby - I really don't see that you're going to have space for a solar system with that layout. Could you not drop at least one of the dormas and put a window in the gable wall instead?

 

[ibby]

I'd expect that would be next doors roof you're discussing, but could be wrong.

ibby - I really don't see that you're going to have space for a solar system with that layout. Could you not drop at least one of the dormas and put a window in the gable wall instead?

I dont have enough head room for the stairs if I dont convert the the Gable end.
The Dormers are needed because I would like two double and a bathroom upstairs as well.

 

[Worcester]

If your house is a semi - looks like PV is a gonner then, however you might be able to do some solar thermal. (Sorry nearly all the houses round our way are detached, so I assumed it was a big detached house ...)

 

[Gavin A]

is it a semi-detached, or detached?

If it's a semi, then the most you're going to manage is a row of panels in landscape above the new dormas, and that's if you have the space above them, plus maybe one extra panel to this side of the dorma. You'll probably need to install this before the ridge goes on as well, to allow the brackets to get mounted below the top tile.

 

[ibby]

It is the semi.

is it even worth looking at the garage?
Its only a single.

 

[Worcester]

You'd get a better return / greater benefit from solar thermal bearing in mind with a new bathroom there'll be a bunch of plumbing to do anyway.

 

[ibby]

I was looking at PV, to off set my electric bill.
Maybe I should look at a smaller off grid system to power my computers and servers.

 

[Worcester]

Unless you are at home during the day you won't offset the bill much, do an ROI calc based on investment cost and savings and then you can make a proper judgement.

If you have drawings done for the roof conversion, then a number of people on the forum here should be able to give you a good ball park figure for your system, also some of them have 3d software so they can model your new roof for shading and give you a pretty accurate answer.

Just because PV is the latest things, doesn't always mean it the right thing - you might also want to look at combination panels that do both PV and Hot water in one panel.

 

[ibby]

Unless you are at home during the day you won't offset the bill much, do an ROI calc based on investment cost and savings and then you can make a proper judgement.

If you have drawings done for the roof conversion, then a number of people on the forum here should be able to give you a good ball park figure for your system, also some of them have 3d software so they can model your new roof for shading and give you a pretty accurate answer.

Just because PV is the latest things, doesn't always mean it the right thing - you might also want to look at combination panels that do both PV and Hot water in one panel.

The machines are always on.

I already have a copper tank, with an electric coil as a backup and a gas boiler which heats up the water.

I didnt know combination panels existed.

 

[Vegelen]

That roof looks ideal for solar.

You could stick panels all over it like a "clockwork orange" patch work quilt.

Connect them to a cheapo inverter and bobs your uncle, you'll be quids in.

Your neighbours will appreciate the aestethic elements of it too..

 

[ibby]

?!!!!??????!!!!

???????

 

[Gavin A]

I was looking at PV, to off set my electric bill.
Maybe I should look at a smaller off grid system to power my computers and servers.

more cost effective to just do a small grid connect system plus UPS for the servers / computers if you want a secure power supply.

I'd do a small PV system across the top of the dormas (as big as system as will fit), plus a wall mounted solar water heating system - but only if you already have a hot water tank based system, not really worth it if you have a combi boiler and / or electric showers.

That's if any of that will actually fit. Do you know what the distance is above the new dormas to the ridge?

 

[ibby]

more cost effective to just do a small grid connect system plus UPS for the servers / computers if you want a secure power supply.

I'd do a small PV system across the top of the dormas (as big as system as will fit), plus a wall mounted solar water heating system - but only if you already have a hot water tank based system, not really worth it if you have a combi boiler and / or electric showers.

That's if any of that will actually fit. Do you know what the distance is above the new dormas to the ridge?

I dont have a combi bolier it is just a gas heater,

The dormers , according to the drawing are full height.

 

[Gavin A]

The dormers , according to the drawing are full height.

you're pretty much stuffed then for anything conventional.

maybe the odd panel here and there with micro inveters or something.

 

[ibby]

oh no

 

[FB.]

Nope thats the way My roof will be.

Once the hip to gable end conversion has been done,
and two dormers on the back it will look something like that.

One thing I am currently discussing with my builder is to extend my roof eves so it can accomodate afew solar panels.
(How big are they?)

Thanks

I don't think you'll be able to fit a worthwhile amount of solar PV no matter how much redesigning you do to the dormers or eaves.
Fairly efficient 250Watt panels are about 1.7 x 1.0m in size. Those with slightly lower Watts (235, 240, 245 etc) tend to be the same size and are basically the same as the 250W but which didn't make the 250W quality grade when flash-tested at the factory.

 

[Gavin A]

there are a fair few alternative panel dimensions, such as 800mm wide, or 1500mm high, 1300mm high etc.

but nothing's going to fit in zero space if the dormers actually are going to be level with the ridge.

 

[moggy1968]

PV tiles?

 

[ibby]

PV tiles?

I didnt know they existed.

 

[SibertSolar]

Romag (Made in Britain!) integrated roof tile system here http://www.romag.co.uk/Our_products/Roof_integrated

 

[ian.settle1]

I put my postcode into good earth, and i found my house.

But which way is North and South?

Thanks

Well if you don't know which way North and South is from where you live how the hell do you expect the rest of us to know or should we get our crystal balls out?:90:

 

[ibby]

does anyone know how expensive solar tiles work out to be?

thanks

 

[Geordie Spark]

does anyone know how expensive solar tiles work out to be?

thanks

Have you tried Google? ................... and a compass ???

 

[ibby]

Have you tried Google? ................... and a compass ???

Yes, I have been using google and other search engines for around 17 years.

Was just a question, why the attitude?

 

[Geordie Spark]

Yes, I have been using google and other search engines for around 17 years.

Was just a question, why the attitude?

Good lad.

I just googled your question "

does anyone know how expensive solar tiles work out to be?" and found pages of answers to it.

I also found from looking at a tuppence ha'penny compass that the pointer pointed to the North, and from that was able to ascertain that my house faces South.

​

 

[telectrix]

tuppence halfpenny????? i've just stoked a sewing needle with a magnet and tied a piece of cotton to it. cost nowt, and our house faces buttonhole.

 

[Del Boy]

Just thinking outside of the box here but...

Do you get on well with next door and would they consider Solar?

If so I'd fill up your SE facing roof with solar panels for both of you, you would be able to put alot more on then and the would get a better payback and more electricity generated then faffing about with the current hip end, or putting panels on dormers. Plus it'll be a little cheaper for both as you are sharing scaffolding and roofer costs.

Obviously if you are doing an extension with dormers than this isn't an option.

Just a thought!

 

[telectrix]

or consider a wind generator. this can be fiited to the gable end similarly to a TV aerial, on a pole. (take your pick as to whether it's a north pole or a south pole)

 

[sedgy34]

to the OP your roof space is inadequate for solar pv for you to see any benefit (GIVE UP)!!!!!!
HAVE SOME SOLAR THERMAL, and underfloor heating,LED lighting instead, and i doubt your eligble for a small wind turbine too

 

[moggy1968]

Just thinking outside of the box here but...

Do you get on well with next door and would they consider Solar?

If so I'd fill up your SE facing roof with solar panels for both of you, you would be able to put alot more on then and the would get a better payback and more electricity generated then faffing about with the current hip end, or putting panels on dormers. Plus it'll be a little cheaper for both as you are sharing scaffolding and roofer costs.

Obviously if you are doing an extension with dormers than this isn't an option.

Just a thought!

And when either of you comes to sell your house, oops!!!

 

[moggy1968]

Yes, I have been using google and other search engines for around 17 years.

Was just a question, why the attitude?

It did occur to me to wonder why you didn't just look at a map!

 

[ibby]

didnt have a map