You’ve done your research, bought your panels, assembled your hardware, and attached your wiring. So, now what? Well, the most important aspect of building your own solar panels, of course, is your solar panel mounting options; basically, where are you going to put them?

Ultimately, you want your solar panels to point in the best possible direction, to harness the most sunlight. Every one of your solar panel mounting options has advantages and disadvantages that you should consider.

Top 3 solar panel mounting options

1) Roof Mounting – This is the most common mounting option available. Considered a cost effective solution, you are able to directly mount the panels to the structure of the roof. In weather conditions, this can be the most structurally sound location. In addition, if you have a lot of roof to work with, you can tie a large number of solar panels into one integrated system. However, the downside is the sheer bulk involved. If your roof is not able to handle the heavy load of the panel system, should should look at alternate options.

2) Pole Mounting – Often steel mounted and highly adjustable, pole mounting is one of the best solar panel mounting options available. One of biggest flaws behind a roof mounted system is its inability to obtain 100% solar coverage on your panel. A pole mounted system makes up for this flaw, since you can install your solar panel in the best possible location, based on your existing knowledge of your yard’s solar coverage. The only downside is your quantity limitation. Pole mounted systems usually have a safety maximum of 6-8 modules, unlike many roof mounted systems.

3) Ground Mounting – Sometimes when your roof is took weak, and pole mounting is simply not an option, it is best to go with ground mounting. Although not quite as adjustable as a pole mounting option, ground mounting does have its perks. In areas where you have lots of ground space, you are able to discretely layout large numbers of tied solar panels in one place. The only downside of this mounting option is usually in expense. Construction of the steel supports, concrete structures, and galvanized footings can often cost more than the panels themselves, so this is something to look out for.

Although roof, pole, and ground mounting are currently the most popular of the solar panel mounting options, they are definitely not the only ones. Tracking mounts, mobile systems, and building integrated photovoltaics are additional solar mounting systems to consider.