There are a number of things that will determine whether your home will be a good candidate for a solar installation, but there are a few primary factors that should be considered if you're in a single-family residence: Roof Condition — Solar panels can be installed on all types of roofs, but you should think about your roof’s age and condition before you proceed with the installation. If you're planning to get a new roof sometime in the near future, you should wait to install it so you can avoid the cost of removing the panels later on. Roof Orientation — Solar panels have become more powerful and efficient, so they will produce energy no matter which direction they're facing. But if you want to maximize your production each year, it's best to face them toward the south (with West being the next best choice). Shading — You want your solar panels to capture as much sunlight as possible, so you should have the least amount of shading possible. Think about any potential shading on your roof from trees, from a second-story section onto a first-story roof facet, or a chimney. Even a building located next door can affect the amount of shading impacting your solar panels. In ideal circumstances, your panels shouldn't be affected by shade at all. But at best, the panels shouldn't be affected during peak production times throughout the day.