Categories
Mounting and Racking
Shop solar panel mounting systems — roof mounts, ground mounts, rails, clamps, and attachment hardware from IronRidge, Unirac, SnapNrack, and more. Wholesale pricing for professional installers.
Flashing and Hardware
Chem Link M-1 Structural Adhesive/Sealant, BlackSKU: F1270BL
Flashing and Hardware
RoofTech RT-MINI II Self-Flashing Roof Mount Base - Deck or Rafter Mount Two in OneSKU: RT-MINI-8-SOLO
Solar Mounting & Racking Buying Guide
Racking accounts for only about 3 % of total system cost but directly affects labor time, roof integrity, and long-term performance. Choosing the right mounting system for the roof type and site conditions is one of the most impactful decisions on any project.
Roof Mount vs. Ground Mount
Roof-mounted systems are the default for residential installs — they use otherwise-unused space and avoid the foundation costs of a ground mount. Ground-mount systems cost more up front but allow you to choose the optimal tilt angle and azimuth, making them ideal for properties with shaded or complex roofs, or where the roof cannot support the load. Ground mounts also provide easier access for maintenance and panel cleaning. For large commercial arrays, fixed-tilt ground mounts on driven steel piles offer the fastest installation at scale.
Rails, Clamps & Attachments
A standard rail-based system consists of aluminum rails, mid-clamps between panels, end-clamps at the array edges, and roof attachments with flashing. Rail-less (direct-attach) systems eliminate the rails entirely and bolt each panel directly to the roof structure through individual attachments, cutting material cost by 40–50 % and install time roughly in half. The trade-off is less flexibility for panel-level removal and tighter structural requirements on the decking beneath. Shared-rail designs let adjacent rows share a single rail, reducing both material and labor on larger arrays.
Matching Racking to Roof Type
Composition shingle roofs represent roughly 75 % of residential installs and work with the widest range of rail systems — use flashings that slide under the shingle course to maintain the water barrier. Standing-seam metal roofs use clamp-on attachments with zero roof penetrations, preserving the roof warranty. Tile roofs require tile-replacement mounts or elevated brackets that transfer load to the roof structure without cracking tiles. Flat and low-slope roofs use ballasted racking weighted with concrete blocks, avoiding penetrations entirely but adding dead load the structure must support.
What to Verify Before Ordering
Confirm the racking system is UL 2703 listed (bonding and grounding of PV mounting systems). Check the engineering letters for your specific wind speed and snow load zone — most manufacturers publish span tables that map rail spacing to environmental loads. Verify module compatibility: clamp range must match the panel frame thickness, and rail strength must support the module weight at the planned attachment spacing. Finally, check that the system includes integrated grounding to simplify inspection sign-off.
Learn & Design Tools
Need help choosing?
Our team can help you select the right mounting and racking for your project.