How important is the "traditional" roof in times of photovoltaics?

Hello everyone,

our construction project is currently being reviewed by the architect, but regarding the top part of the house, I would be very interested in the assessment of the forum members.

The house (bungalow) has an almost 100% south orientation and will have a roof pitch of about 20 degrees. The roof area is about 14x14 meters in total with a gable roof without shading from neighboring buildings or similar. Considering the favorable solar panels and storage, a full-surface coverage with solar is an option (heat pump, e-car, home office).

Now the question is how modern a classic roofing with beaver tail tiles under the panels is? What options would there be if you want to realize an insulated roof with photovoltaics in 2025 and prioritize the most economical option?

[*]Classic roofing and then the solar substructure?
[*]Sandwich panels or even roofing felt like in the USA and solar panels on top?
[*]In-roof solar modules/integrated like SunRoof (probably the most expensive solution)?

I hope the question is not too disrespectful, but despite all research on the internet, there is little information on this topic and the differences between countries regarding roofing are immense.

Well, Biberschwänze under photovoltaic modules are really pearls before swine.

If you want to cover everything, you can also use regular roof tiles.

I have about 500 sqm of roof surfaces on various buildings, all covered with engobed Biberschwänze. I do have photovoltaic modules, but on a not quite optimal area that you actually don’t see. I have also hidden the modules on an outbuilding for aesthetic reasons, so to speak.

I also have a south-facing location but would not spoil the roofs with photovoltaic modules. The performance of the modules is constantly increasing, so you need less and less space. You can also install modules on a pole in the garden or as a garden fence. There are countless possibilities. They don’t necessarily have to be on a roof anymore.

So you have to decide. Either a nice look or photovoltaic modules. I don’t consider roof modules to be sensible.

However, there are also variants made of sheet metal that look like tiles. Not so expensive and not so elaborate. Most of them disappear anyway under the modules.

The house (bungalow) has an almost 100% south orientation

The house is oriented in all four cardinal directions

will have a roof pitch of about 20 degrees. Roof area is about 14x14 meters total with a gable roof

So roof facing south and north? Or east and west?

Now the question is how contemporary a classic roof covering with beaver tail tiles under the panels is?

Any normal covering is contemporary. You just won’t see the look anymore if you fully cover both sides of the roof (do you want to cover both sides?) with photovoltaic panels.
Roof covering costs money – depending on the tiles and roof construction sometimes more, sometimes less (beaver tail is just more expensive)

What options would there be if you want to realize an insulated roof with photovoltaic in 2025 and prioritize the most economical option?

[*]Classically cover the roof and then add the solar substructure?

That is the answer.

I also have a south-facing location but would not disfigure my roofs with photovoltaic panels.

So you have a roof that is 100% oriented to the south. So a shed roof. It should then be so flat that you can hardly see it from below and photovoltaic fits ideally on it.

You can also install modules on a pole in the garden or as a garden fence. There are countless possibilities.

... to waste your money. The only reasonable (economic) solution at the moment is the classic photovoltaic system on the roof, garage, or similar.

If you have a matte black roof installed today and put frameless full black modules on it, they barely stand out anymore. THAT would be my choice if the external appearance of the roof is so important to me.
But since I mostly stay in my house or in the garden looking at the garden/fields, I really do not care. I am too pragmatic for that. I would only shy away from red tiles and black photovoltaic or similar.

The house is oriented in all four cardinal directions.

My bad - too colloquial.
Gable roof with approx. 7x14 m south and 7x14 m north.

I also have to add that the appearance from the outside is pretty secondary to us and we think similarly there: You are either inside the house or in the garden with a view of the lake. Black is the desired color anyway (and if it’s up to my partner, then the facade as well).

The sandwich panels still trigger me a bit. I once had that in a house where I lived in the USA and found it quite livable (the panels were about 10 cm thick). But in Germany, it seems to be common only in commercial buildings. The counterarguments of noise during rain and heat in summer should weigh somewhat less with the solar panels, right? The topic of ventilation remains.

The sandwich panels still trigger me a bit. I once had them in a house where I lived in the USA and found them quite livable (the panels were about 10cm thick). But in Germany, they are apparently only common in commercial sectors. The counterarguments of noise during rain and heat in summer should weigh somewhat less with the solar panels, right?

Sandwich panels are also occasionally installed here. But the network – and also the forum here or the green one – is full of problems with this type of roofing. Mainly loud noises, because the panels “work” a lot. Also no price advantage. And visually the house must fit with it.
Rain and heat are actually not an issue. The photovoltaic system naturally helps the roof because the sun doesn’t hit it fully.

That leaves the topic of ventilation.

What do you mean by that?

I would also choose a classic roofing and make sure that the modules or roof width are designed so that practically the entire roof is covered. We have various options in the area here and were lucky that it looks decent. In my opinion, this includes completely black modules (which were even cheaper for us) as well as at least a symmetrical alignment. One neighbor has them positioned a bit far to the left and quite high, another has red tiles/black-checked modules and left out an antenna, etc. I understand that you don’t have to make a doctorate out of it, but with similar costs, the house can also be nice from the outside. Otherwise, the color of the car or the plaster color would also not matter. In this respect, I would at least "spend" a few thoughts on it as well. A house that is really nice inside rarely has a careless exterior, although I fear someone will argue the opposite with me immediately. Normal, inexpensive flat tiles and full-surface photovoltaics on both sides; in the end, you will probably like it that way too, I think. With a sandwich roof, I would be concerned about noise, which was even a problem for us, although we live in the countryside. The external insulation on the rafters works great against temperature but very poorly against noise, so we even heard the neighbor’s trash can lid or loud wind noises. Ultimately, we solved it, but we probably should have installed a soundproof intermediate layer.