Flat roofs are cost competitive with pitched roofs

Pitched roof labor and installation costs typically account for around 10% of the total cost of a solar panel system. This is partly due to the logistics of climbing up a steep roof to install solar panels and their mounts. In contrast, installing a solar panel system on a flat roof is a much simpler process, workers can move freely on the roof without special equipment, and most roofing materials used on flat roofs can easily handle the wear and tear that occurs during installation.

As an added bonus, solar installers do not need to drill holes in a flat roof to install flat solar panels. Solar systems on pitched roofs typically use "penetration mounts," which are mounts that hold the solar panels to the roof by drilling multiple holes. Flat roof systems typically use a weighted mounting system (called a "ballast mount system"). This system uses gravity to hold the mounts to your roof without any drilling.

It is worth noting that solar panels installed on flat roofs sometimes require professional planning to maximize power generation. On the other hand, installing flat panels on a pitched roof requires using hooks or clamps to tilt your solar panels so that they are exposed to sunlight for as much of the day as possible. This has a slightly higher power generation advantage than the sloping roof.