Why flat roofs need different mounting
A pitched roof presents panels at a near-optimal angle naturally. A flat roof needs the panels tilted to capture sunlight — at 10-15° on commercial systems (lower than optimal but reduces wind loading and inter-row shading) or up to 30° for east-west "butterfly" arrays. The mounting structure is what makes a flat-roof solar install distinct.
Ballasted vs fixed
Ballasted systems use concrete blocks to weight down a frame that sits on top of the roof membrane — no penetrations, no warranty risk. Suitable for most modern commercial flat roofs. Fixed systems mechanically attach to the building structure — needed where wind loading is very high, on older membrane that won't support ballast weight, or where roof loading is critical. We assess your roof and recommend.
East-west vs south arrays
On a flat roof, you can choose: south-facing tilt arrays (higher peak output, more shading between rows, fewer panels per m²), or east-west "butterfly" arrays (lower peak output but more panels per m², better daily-load match for businesses with morning and evening peaks). For most commercial flat roofs, east-west wins on total annual generation per m².