Solar mounts need structural timber. Every missed rafter costs time, fixings, and schedule. Aim for a repeatable loop: locate, mark, fix — without opening the roof.
Why accuracy matters for solar mounts
Mounts transfer load into the rafter. Off-centre fixings can reduce pull-out performance and create rework. Crews that locate rafters in minutes rather than hours finish arrays faster and with fewer callbacks.
On-roof workflow
- Plan array layout and expected rafter centres from drawings where you have them.
- Scan with free Rafter Finder on thin coverings like slate; use magnets on some thicker free jobs; choose Pro for every roof covering.
- Confirm each rafter with multiple vertical hits before drilling.
- Mark clearly for the fixing team; photograph critical lines if you need a record.
- Install mounts (any compatible system) into verified timber.
Free vs Pro for solar crews
Slate and similar thin interlocking jobs suit the free app well — reliable, offline, readable in sunlight. If your work spans every covering (thick concrete, stone, heavy slate, multi-layer), or you want AR overlay and sled-guided scanning, register interest in Pro & Sled.
Common solar pitfalls
- Assuming uniform rafter spacing without checking each bay.
- Trusting a wall stud finder on a roof with air gaps under the covering.
- Drilling on a single hit without confirming the line.
- Ignoring covering thickness when choosing free direct scan, magnets, or Pro.
Get the free app on the crew’s phones today. Join the Pro waitlist for thick-roof work.