Interesting Weather Record Set Today

[Feathers and Fins]

Any penetration of any kind will in time create a leak on a roof. I am firmly against solor tubes and skylights even. Even with the best installers and methods it is still a penetration point for water. Screws are one of the worse. I cant tell you how many Sat Dishes I have seen cause a leak. Sure caulk it or tar it but if not maintained will leak within a year and even with care at best 5 years.

Then there is the potential for snow load or ice load both I have seen cause damages compounded by the Panels simply weight to framing ratio. Not near as bad on engeenered trussing compared to stick framing but stil an issue.

Now for the damage. when a leak caused by the install of the panels occur you need to remove the panels $$$ remove and replace the shingles and 9 out of 10 times decking as it takes time for the homeowner to detect the rot to the wood has been done. Then you need to reinstall everything only to have it happen again. Insurance is of NO help as it is NOT stoerm created.

I do energy calcs on houses often and can tell you this the best cost effective thing home owners can possibly do is have proper ventilation in the attic, proper insulation in walls and attic, Installing a thermostat in the house that has a dual setting for heat and cool with time modes for when to come on and off to maintain those temps.. My preffered range is 82 summer comming on at 3:30 to cool the house for half an hour before my family comes home and in winter maintain 65 constant. Install energy star appliances. Very simple things but will prolong the life of a house and the cost of maintaining it.

Most people do not think about the Thermostats and for very cheap you can save a lot. If the AC isnt running in summer for 8 to 10 hours a day how much saveings is that? Also Water Heaters are a big cost as is highflow older toilets. Then there is all the stuff people leave plugged in and never think about. Cell chargers, alarm clocks, computers. You may not think about it but they are on and eating energy.

Before I would ever think of alternitive energy for my house I would look at how much energy my house uses and how I can reduce that footprint.

[Wayne SW/MO]

I don't doubt what you say is true F&F, but any attempts to change the status qua has to pass a balance test. In my mind electric cars fail it because they aren't yet able to avoid polluting energy sources. Electricity in this country isn't clean overall. Your objections though don't seem to bring harm, but inconvenience.

I know from my career that what you point out in use reductions are absolutely true, and I might add easy fixes, but think what both could bring?

You also know that transmission of electricity causes substantial loss.

I've seen a solar farm and it's another eye sore on the ground.

Back to NG. Check out the Fossil Fuel Emissions chart.

http://naturalgas.org/environment/naturalgas.asp

Granted this is from the industry, but if we assume it is close, look at the difference, especially sulfur and mercury. The use of NG is old technology and shouldn't be all that expensive to convert vehicles, plus the cost difference should quickly pay for it. I would rather see us sink a quarter billion into rebuilding coal miners lives than some bankrupt corporation. NG is pretty much home grown and would at least lessen some of our influence on the unrest in the human population of the world.

[Feathers and Fins]

Wayne that inconvenience is harmful when you talk about cost to the family. That is something I do not think all the rocket scientist take into thought. Yes it could be good in new construction as an original cost, but retrofitting a house is very costly.

[Tim Smith]

Wayne that inconvenience is harmful when you talk about cost to the family. That is something I do not think all the rocket scientist take into thought. Yes it could be good in new construction as an original cost, but retrofitting a house is very costly.

...or as in the case of the lease program...no cost with a 200$ bonus up front.

I've seen enough basketball hoops and TV antennas on roofs to know that kind of leakage can be controlled.

[Feathers and Fins]

...or as in the case of the lease program...no cost with a 200$ bonus up front.

I've seen enough basketball hoops and TV antennas on roofs to know that kind of leakage can be controlled.

And I will be happy to make money off those who think like that all day long. That is the point though. Why should I be making money off it when its preventable.

[Tim Smith]

And I will be happy to make money off those who think like that all day long. That is the point though. Why should I be making money off it when its preventable.

I guess from my sample size of half a dozen houses and no leaks so far, I'm thinking the savings offset the cost/risks. I'm sure a sloppy installation would be a problem.

[Wayne SW/MO]

I don't know what the savings would be with ones own solar system, but the savings on the electric bill would not only offset a lot, it would accumulate. The panels would also offer some shade to the roof which would help to some degree in the summer.

Another thing is that there is very little going on at this time as far as installations, but necessity is the mother of invention and if there was a big demand i suspect that better mounting systems would appear. All that's needed is a need and a profit and they will happen.

[lee G.]

From 50 years in construction, I agree with F and F, look at it this way- If you make a hole in a water barrier, you dont have a water barrier anymore, seen it countless times.

[Wayne SW/MO]

From 50 years in construction, I agree with F and F, look at it this way- If you make a hole in a water barrier, you dont have a water barrier anymore, seen it countless times.

From someone else who was around a lot of home construction. I know they did and still do take stovepipe, electrical mast and plumbing vents through the roof, not to mention the ventilation turbines. these don't leak as a rule and in fact most last the life of a roof and a good roofer will replace all the seals when it's re-roofed.

[lee G.]

Wayne, you are talking about things that can be flashed, you cant do that with screw and bolt holes, flashing is the same as another shingle, caulking is a total different matter. Come to think of it, lot of cases the flashing for those leak from time to time,