READY SOLAR PROJECT · NEW WESTMINSTER
Solar PV, without
the main roof.
For this New Westminster homeowner, a separate solar pergola created a thoughtful alternative when the home’s cedar-shake roof was not suitable for roof-mounted solar PV.
Discuss your residential solar options
THE CHALLENGE
A roof that called
for another idea.
The homeowner wanted solar PV, but the main house’s cedar-shake roof was not suitable for their roof-mounted system. That did not have to end the conversation. Ready Solar looked beyond the main roof and considered a separate structure for the property instead.
This project is a reminder that solar planning begins with the actual site. A roof material or condition can shape the available options, but each home needs its own review.
THE SEPARATE PERGOLA SOLUTION
A structure made
for the array.
Ready Solar built a separate solar pergola so the homeowner could still add solar PV without placing panels on the main house roof. The pergola gives the array its own location while adding a defined outdoor structure to the property.
The approach is practical in its simplicity: when the original roof-mounted path was not right for this customer, the design changed rather than the goal being abandoned.
COMPLETED DESIGN
Solar with its own
footprint.
The completed pergola is shown from above alongside the home. Its separation from the house makes the project’s design decision clear: the solar PV belongs on the dedicated pergola, not on the cedar-shake roof.
For homeowners considering alternatives, a solar pergola can be one possible approach. It is not a universal answer, and the right design depends on the property and project goals.
SITE-SPECIFIC SOLAR PLANNING
Start with the
whole property.
A solar-pergola option needs its own careful review. Ready Solar considers the proposed location, sun exposure, site access, structural approach and electrical planning, alongside the homeowner’s priorities. Those checks help determine whether a separate structure is a sensible route for a particular property.
PROJECT QUESTIONS
Solar pergola FAQs
Why was a solar pergola considered for this New Westminster home?
The main house has a cedar-shake roof that was not suitable for this customer’s roof-mounted solar PV. A separate structure offered another design path.
Does a cedar-shake roof always rule out solar PV?
No. Roof suitability is site-specific. Materials, condition, geometry, access and the wider electrical and structural scope all need to be reviewed for the individual home.
What does Ready Solar review for a solar-pergola project?
We review the proposed location, available sun, site access, structural approach, electrical planning and the homeowner’s goals before recommending an appropriate next step.
READY TO EXPLORE OPTIONS?
Bring us your
site and goals.
If you are considering solar for a New Westminster home, we can start with the property, your goals and the available design paths.
A Ready Solar solar pergola project in New Westminster.