Can You Install Solar If Your Roof Contains Asbestos?
- Daniel O'Malley
- Nov 24
- 2 min read
Many businesses assume that if their roof contains asbestos, solar is a non-starter.
In reality, an asbestos roof doesn’t have to stop you going solar – it just means we approach the project differently, with safety, structure and tax in mind.
The Problem with Asbestos Roofs
Older industrial buildings often have asbestos cement sheets on the roof. Over time they can:
Become brittle and fragile
Be more prone to leaks
Raise concerns about safety if disturbed
You can’t simply walk all over them or bolt a modern solar array straight through them and hope for the best. That’s where roof over-cladding comes in. How We Make an Asbestos Roof “Solar Ready”
Rather than disturbing the asbestos, we typically over-clad the roof:
A new steel or composite layer is installed over the top of the existing sheets
Loads from the solar mounting system are transferred into the new cladding and supporting structure
The old roof is encapsulated in place, reducing the risk of fibre release
This approach means you get:
A stronger, more robust roof that can safely carry solar
Improved weatherproofing and leak protection
A cleaner, smarter-looking roof as part of the overall upgrade
In other words, we’re not just adding solar – we’re upgrading the building fabric at the same time. Building the Cladding Cost into the Solar Project
For commercial clients, we’ll scope the roof cladding and solar as one integrated project. That has three big advantages:
Single design – structural loads, fixings and weather details are all designed together.
Single contractor – one team co-ordinating cladding, solar mounting and electrical works.
Single business case – you’re looking at the full picture: better roof + cheaper, cleaner energy.
Tax Relief: Fully Deductible Under the Annual Investment Allowance
Because cladding and mounting are directly linked to the solar installation, the spend can often be treated alongside your solar system for capital allowances.
Pink Renewables already helps businesses use the Annual Investment Allowance (AIA) to deduct 100% of qualifying commercial solar costs – panels, inverters, mounting frames and associated equipment – from their taxable profits in the year of purchase (up to the AIA limit and subject to current rules).
Where the over-cladding is an integral part of making the solar installation possible, it can be factored into that overall investment and discussed with your accountant as part of the same claim.
That means you’re not just fixing an asbestos roof problem – you’re doing it in a tax-efficient way, tied to an asset that generates savings for decades.
Note: tax treatment will always depend on your specific circumstances, so we’ll work alongside your accountant to make sure everything is structured correctly.
The Bottom Line
If your roof contains asbestos, you don’t have to write off solar.
By over-cladding the roof and treating that work as part of a single solar investment, you can:
Make the roof stronger and more watertight
Unlock long-term energy and carbon savings
Potentially deduct the full cost under the Annual Investment Allowance, subject to current rules and professional advice
The result: a safer building, a better roof, and a solar system that works hard for your business and your tax bill at the same time.
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