Solar installation and roof penetrations: what good flashing looks like in Perth

Good flashing means every roof penetration on your solar install, whether it's a conduit entry, a tile bracket, or a mounting bolt, is sealed with a metal or rubber collar and roof-grade sealant so water can't get underneath the roof surface. If your installer can point to a flashing collar or a sealant bead at each penetration point, and none of it is relying on caulk alone to do the job, that's what a proper install looks like.

Roof leaks after solar are one of the most common complaints Perth homeowners raise, and in almost every case the cause traces back to an unsealed or poorly sealed penetration rather than a fault in the panels. This guide covers what flashing should look like on tile and Colorbond roofs, what to check once your installer leaves, what a developing leak actually looks like, and who's responsible if water does get in.

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What is roof flashing and why does it matter?

Flashing is the metal or rubber material that seals around a roof penetration, the point where a conduit, cable run, or mounting bolt passes through the roof surface, to stop water getting into the building. In a solar installation, flashing is needed at:

• Conduit entry points: where the cable run from the panels passes through the roof into the ceiling space, fitted with an aluminium or lead flashing plate sized to the conduit
• Rail mounting feet (penetrating systems): on tiled roofs, L-foot brackets typically bolt through the tile into the rafter below. Each of these penetrations needs a sealant or flashing treatment
• Tile lifters (on concrete or terracotta tile roofs): spring-mounted "tile lifters" let the mounting rail sit above the tile surface without penetrating it at all, though they still need to be installed correctly

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How does solar mounting differ between tile roofs and Colorbond?

Concrete and terracotta tile roofs (the most common roof type in Perth):

The standard approach uses tile hooks or L-feet bolted through the tile into the rafter:

1. A hole is drilled through the tile.
2. An L-foot or tile hook is bolted to the rafter through the hole.
3. A lead or aluminium flashing collar is fitted over the bolt penetration.
4. Roof tile sealant, typically silicone or a bituminous flashing compound, is applied around the collar.

Some installers use spring-loaded tile lifters instead, which attach the rail above the tile without penetrating it. Many prefer this method because it avoids roof penetrations on tile roofs entirely. Solar on tile roofs in Perth covers the tile-specific mounting process and what a fair quote should include in more depth.

Colorbond metal roofing:

Rails attach via clamps to the standing seams or rib profiles of the Colorbond, so no penetrations are needed at all. Done correctly, this is inherently watertight. If rivets or screws are used instead, which is less common, each one needs to be sealed with butyl rubber or an equivalent sealant. Solar on Colorbond roofs in Perth walks through installation considerations specific to metal roofing.

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What should I inspect after my solar installation?

On the day of installation or the day after, inspect your roof from a safe vantage point, or ask the installer to walk you through each penetration before they leave.

For tiled roofs:

• Check that no tiles were cracked during installation. Cracked tiles are a common sign of rushed work.
• Confirm flashing collars or sealant have been applied at every penetration point. Ask the installer to point these out directly.
• Check that any tiles lifted to run cable have been re-seated correctly. A tile that's lifted and not properly reseated is a source of water entry that may not show up until the first heavy rain.

For metal roofing:

• Confirm clamps sit on the rib or seam, not the flat pan. Screws into the flat pan are a leak point.
• If any screws were used, confirm sealant has been applied.

Conduit exit points:

• The conduit exit through the roof surface should have an aluminium or lead flashing plate fitted around it, caulked at the edges with roof-grade sealant.
• A conduit that simply exits through a hole in a tile with no flashing is an immediate water entry risk.

For the fuller list of what to check in your first month, see After your solar is installed in Perth.

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What does a solar roof leak actually look like?

Solar-related roof leaks rarely show up straight after installation. They tend to appear only after the first significant rain, or after several wet seasons once a seal slowly degrades. Watch for:

• Damp patches on the ceiling below where panels were installed, including areas beyond the array itself. Water can travel along rafters before it drips.
• Rust staining on ceiling plaster near roof penetrations.
• A musty odour in the ceiling space after rain.

If you suspect a solar-related leak, note the location and timing: which part of the roof took the worst of the rain, and how long after the rain the damp appeared. That detail helps work out whether the entry point is a panel penetration or something else entirely.

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Who is responsible for roof leaks after installation?

The installer is responsible for waterproofing their own roof penetrations. Solar retailers have to meet a minimum five-year whole-of-system warranty under the New Energy Tech Consumer Code, and that warranty should explicitly cover water ingress caused by the installation. Check your retailer is a current NETCC Approved Seller before you sign.

If the installer is still in business:

1. Contact them in writing with photographs and a description of the issue.
2. Ask them to repair the problem within a reasonable time, which is the standard Australian Consumer Law sets for fixing a service problem, and get a specific date from them in writing.
3. Keep a record of all communication.

If the installer has gone quiet or gone out of business, Consumer Protection WA (1300 30 40 54) handles disputes under Australian Consumer Law and can mediate a resolution. A complaint under the NETCC can also prompt action if the installer was an Approved Seller, though that route is an accreditation lever rather than a path to compensation. What to do when your solar installer goes out of business in Perth walks through the full process.

What the installer is NOT responsible for: pre-existing roof issues unrelated to the installation, such as cracked tiles from an earlier storm or degraded flashing around a different penetration. If the area around the installation had pre-existing issues, document the roof's condition before and after with photographs. It can complicate the claim otherwise.

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What should I check before and after installation?

Before installation, ask your installer:

1. What mounting method do you use on this roof type?
2. Will any tiles need to be drilled? If so, how are the penetrations sealed?
3. How do you handle the conduit exit through the roof?
4. Does your workmanship warranty cover roof integrity?

It's also worth confirming the installer's credentials properly before you sign anything. How to check a solar installer's credentials in Perth covers what to verify.

After installation, check:

1. Any cracked tiles. Photograph them immediately and tell the installer.
2. Flashing is present at every penetration point.
3. Displaced tiles are re-seated.
4. After the first significant rain, your ceiling space (if accessible) and the ceiling surface below the array for any dampness.

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Is it safe to add solar to an older tile roof?

Perth has plenty of concrete tile roofs that have been up for many decades, and tiles do get more brittle as they age. Brittle tiles crack more easily under foot traffic, which matters because installers need to walk the roof to mount rails and run cable.

If you're not sure how old your tile roof is, or you know it's getting on in years, it's worth arranging a roof inspection before your solar installer arrives so any fragile or already-cracked tiles are flagged in advance rather than discovered mid-install. Re-roofing with Colorbond at the same time as your solar installation avoids both the brittle-tile risk and the extra flashing work that comes with penetrating a tile roof. Roof age and solar panels in Perth covers how to weigh up re-roofing against installing on your existing tiles.

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Roof penetration quality is one of the less visible parts of a solar installation: you typically can't check it easily once the system is commissioned. The best protection is a workmanship warranty in writing, asking the right questions before installation, and a visual check once the installer leaves. If you spot an unsealed penetration or a cracked tile afterward, raise it with the installer straight away.