Is Your Roof Good for Solar? The 5-Minute Self-Check
Before anyone climbs a ladder, you can size up your own roof in about five minutes. Here’s the checklist.
Most Minnesota roofs work for solar. A few factors decide how well — and most “problems” are fixable.
Direction
South is best; southwest and west are excellent too (and west can better match evening usage). East works. A purely north-facing roof usually sits out — but you may have other planes, or open land for a ground mount.
Shade
The biggest variable. All-day shade from tall trees hurts; partial or moving shade is manageable, especially with microinverters. Trimming a branch can transform a roof.
Pitch and space
Most residential pitches are fine. You mainly need enough unobstructed area on your good planes — clear of vents, chimneys and dormers — for the system size you want.
Roof age and condition
This is the one to plan around. If your shingles have less than ~10 years left, it’s smarter to re-roof first so you don’t pay to remove and reinstall panels later. Our sister company handles roofing, so we can time it as one project.
This self-check gets you 80% of the way. A free, roof-specific assessment confirms the rest — including a real shade analysis.
Frequently asked.
My roof faces east-west, not south. Is that a dealbreaker?
No. East-west arrays produce well and spread output across the day. We model your exact planes to size it right.
My roof is old. Should I wait on solar?
Re-roof first, then install — ideally as one coordinated project so you never pay to detach and reset panels later.
Have a question we haven't covered?
Talk to a local iSolar expert — free, no pressure. Call (651) 565-1140.