DIY: Solar Energy on a Flat Roof

Install the bases for solar panel racks on the flat roof by bolting them to the rooftop with lag bolts. If the flat roof is made of metal or some other very strong material, you can drill pilot holes with a metal bit and put the lag bolts directly into the roofing. If you are unsure about the strength of the roofing, put the lag bolts directly into the rafters beneath the roofing.

Attach tiltable racks to the bases that you bolted to the roof. These racks can be adjusted based on the angle of the sun. Adjust these racks twice a year, moving them to their flat positions in March and to their angled positions in September, allowing the panels to take maximum advantage of both winter and summer sunlight.

Mount the solar electric panels on the tiltable racks by attaching them with the small bolts that are provided with the racks.

Wire the panels together into a single circuit by connecting the wires on the backs of the panels. Install a metal protected conduit that runs from the location of the panels to the main electrical service box of the building. Feed a cable from the panels to the service box through this conduit.