Integrated roofing
Solar Roof Tiles & Slates
Solar roof tiles and slates replace the roof covering itself, so the elevation reads as a slate or tiled roof rather than a rack of panels. We specify, design and install integrated solar-tile systems for new builds, re-roofs and period homes across the UK.
A roof, not a rack of panels
A solar roof tile — or solar slate — is a photovoltaic module shaped and sized to sit within a conventional roof covering. Instead of aluminium frames bolted above your tiles, the generating surface is the roof: low-profile, matte, and laid course by course like any other slate.
Seen from the street, a well-designed solar-slate roof reads as a clean, dark, uniform plane. There is no framing shadow line, no proud edge, and no ninety-degree return where a panel meets its bracket. For a great many homeowners — and for almost every conservation officer — that difference is the whole point.
When solar tiles are the right specification
Solar tiles cost more per kilowatt than on-roof panels, so we recommend them where appearance genuinely drives the decision rather than as a default. In practice that means three situations:
- 1 New builds and full re-roofs, where the covering is coming off anyway and integrating solar into the new roof avoids paying twice.
- 2 Period and character properties, where bolt-on panels would be visually jarring or unlikely to pass planning.
- 3 Prominent elevations — a front-facing or street-visible pitch where the roof is part of the architecture, not just weatherproofing.
How we approach the design
We are product-independent. Rather than resell a single manufacturer, we specify the system that suits the roof — matching tile format, colour and module layout to the existing or proposed covering, and setting out the array so ridge lines, valleys and hips stay clean.
Every scheme begins with the elevation, not the electrical yield. We size the generating area to the design first, then confirm the output, inverter and battery strategy around it — so the finished roof performs without ever looking like an afterthought.
Frequently asked questions
Do solar roof tiles look like a normal roof?
That is their entire purpose. A solar slate or tile is laid within the roof covering and sits flush with the surrounding slates, so the pitch reads as a continuous dark roof rather than a set of framed panels. On most schemes the generating area is only distinguishable close up.
Are solar roof tiles more expensive than ordinary panels?
Per kilowatt, yes — integrated tile systems carry a premium over on-roof panels. The economics improve markedly on a new build or full re-roof, where the covering is being paid for regardless and solar tiles replace part of it rather than adding a separate layer.
Can you match solar tiles to my existing roof?
Usually. Solar-slate systems are made in formats designed to sit alongside natural and man-made slate, and we specify the module and surrounding covering together so colour, size and coursing read as one roof. We confirm the match at survey before anything is ordered.
Considering solar roof tiles & slates?
Tell us about your building and the stage you're at. We'll advise on the right approach and, where it fits, take the project through to a finished installation.