Solar panels fitted to your roof can significantly cut your electricity bills and reduce your reliance on the grid. We install solar PV systems on homes and commercial properties across Wymondham and the surrounding area, working carefully around your existing roof structure.
Photo from one of our recent jobs
Call any time. Calls are answered day and night and passed straight to our roofers.
Solar photovoltaic (PV) panels convert daylight into usable electricity for your home or business. Whether you own a detached house in Wymondham, a semi in nearby Attleborough, or a commercial building serving the broader Norfolk area, a well-designed solar system can make a measurable difference to your annual energy costs. Electricity prices have risen sharply in recent years, and generating your own power during the day directly reduces what you draw from the grid.
This page explains what a solar installation actually involves, what questions to ask any installer, what things typically cost, and what to watch for if you are comparing quotes across the Wymondham, Norwich and mid-Norfolk area.
Solar panels do not require direct sunshine to generate electricity - they work on bright overcast days too. The key factor is the pitch and orientation of your roof. South-facing pitches at 30-40 degrees produce the most output, but east-west facing roofs can still deliver useful generation, particularly when split across both sides of a ridge.
A common reason homeowners delay solar is uncertainty about whether their roof can take the extra load. A standard residential system typically adds between 15 and 20 kg per square metre. Most modern roofing structures cope with this comfortably, but older properties - particularly those with cut roofs rather than trussed rafters - may need a structural check before installation goes ahead. Any reputable installer should flag this before work starts, not after.
A solar PV system has four main components: the panels themselves, an inverter, the mounting framework, and the wiring connecting everything to your consumer unit. Some systems also include a battery storage unit, which stores surplus generation for use after dark rather than exporting it to the grid.
Panels are rated in watts peak (Wp), and a typical home system in the UK runs between 3.5 kWp and 6 kWp. A 4 kWp system with around 10 to 12 panels might generate between 3,400 and 4,200 kWh per year in an average location in England - enough to cover a typical household's annual electricity consumption of around 2,500 kWh.
The inverter converts direct current (DC) from the panels into the alternating current (AC) your home uses. String inverters are the most common and most cost-effective option. Microinverters - fitted to each panel individually - are more expensive but can be better where partial shading affects part of the roof. A good installer will recommend the right type for your layout, not simply the most expensive option.
Battery storage is worth considering alongside your initial installation. Retrofit battery systems are also available if you want to add storage later. Popular battery units currently range from 5 kWh to 15 kWh of usable capacity. Adding a battery to a new solar install typically adds £2,000 to £5,000 to the project cost, depending on the size and brand chosen.
A typical domestic solar installation runs as follows:
A standard 4-6 panel domestic installation typically takes one to two days on site once scaffolding is in place. Larger or more complex systems take longer.
The Feed-in Tariff closed to new applicants in 2019, but the Smart Export Guarantee (SEG) replaced it. Under the SEG, energy suppliers with more than 150,000 customers are required to offer a tariff for surplus electricity you export to the grid. Rates vary between suppliers and change over time, but export tariffs of 4p to 15p per kWh are typical. To access the SEG your system must be installed by a Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS) certified installer and must have an MCS certificate - this is not optional if you want to be paid for your exports.
When comparing installers in the Wymondham, Norwich and surrounding mid-Norfolk area, always confirm that they hold current MCS certification. This is a scheme requirement, not a sales pitch - without it, your installation will not qualify for export payments and may not be accepted by mortgage lenders or insurers if you come to sell your home.
A 4 kWp solar PV system (roughly 10 panels) on a standard pitched roof in England typically costs between £6,000 and £8,000 fully installed, including VAT at 0% (solar installations on domestic properties currently attract zero-rated VAT). A larger 6 kWp system typically costs between £8,000 and £11,000. These figures assume a straightforward pitched roof with good access - additional costs apply for complex roof layouts, flat roof mounting frames, or significant remedial work needed to the roof itself before panels can be fitted.
Battery storage, where included, typically adds £2,000 to £5,000 to the total depending on capacity. An EV car charger, often installed at the same time, adds a further £800 to £1,200 in most cases.
A solar PV system for a typical Norfolk home costs between £6,000 and £11,000 installed, depending on system size, roof complexity, and whether battery storage is included.
A solar installation is only as good as the roof beneath it. Panels are typically mounted for 20 to 25 years, so any existing issues with felt, battens, flashings or cracked tiles need addressing before mounting hardware is attached. Fixing a leaking roof once panels are in place is significantly more disruptive and expensive than dealing with it beforehand.
Assessing the condition of your roof should be part of any installation survey. Where remedial work is needed, we will quote for it separately and clearly, so you can decide how to proceed. Panels should only be mounted on a roof that can be warranted as weathertight.
Solar panels pair well with air source heat pumps. A heat pump runs on electricity rather than gas, so generating your own electricity during the day reduces the running cost of the heat pump directly. If you are considering both technologies, it is worth planning them together - the heat pump's electricity demand will affect the optimum size of your solar array.
Heat pumps also shift a household's peak electricity consumption to daytime (when heating is needed most), which aligns reasonably well with solar generation patterns, particularly in spring and summer. In winter, when heating demand is highest, solar generation is at its lowest, so a battery or a well-designed tariff can help bridge the gap.
We carry out solar PV installations across Wymondham and the surrounding mid-Norfolk and south Norwich area, including villages and towns such as Hethersett, Cringleford, Bowthorpe, Hellesdon, Drayton, Taverham, Mattishall, Watton and Ashwellthorpe.
If you are based in Wymondham or nearby and want a straightforward conversation about whether solar suits your roof, call us to arrange a site visit. We will look at the roof, give you an honest view of what is possible, and provide a written proposal showing system size, expected generation and total cost.
Before signing anything with any installer, ask these questions:
A straightforward installer will answer all of these without hesitation. Vague answers to the roof weatherproofing and MCS questions in particular are worth taking seriously before you commit.
If you are thinking about solar panels for your home or business in Wymondham or the surrounding area, start with the roof. Call us to arrange a survey and we will give you a clear picture of what your roof can support, what the installation involves, and what it is likely to cost.
No obligation · We'll call you to arrange a free visit
Call any time. Calls are answered day and night and passed straight to our roofers.
A new roof is one of the biggest investments you can make in your home. We install complete roof replacements on houses,
Active leaks, storm damage, slipped tiles and failed flashings need attention before water gets further into the roof st
A tired or failing roof can cause serious damage to your home if left too long. We carry out full roof replacements in W
Cracked tiles, leaking flashing or a damp patch on your ceiling - roof problems rarely wait. We carry out roof repairs a
