We put the SolVe Mount to the test by using the oldest, thinnest slates we could find and tried to break the slates and watertight seal by hitting it with a hammer to simulate movement of the bolt/solar array during installation or extreme weather.

How do you locate the rafters on a roof when starting a solar installation? Ideally without needing to remove tiles/slates.

Top tip: Always start by locating the pins fixing the sofit to the roof. These pins are usually fixed into rafters so this will tell you where they are. Measure the distance between pins/rafters if you can't do so internally. Rafters will be spaced 400, 450 or 600mm apart.

A solar installer has made a helpful video here.

The easiest, fastest and most accurate option.

Using a Bosch D-TECH 200 to detect wood up to a depth of 38mm-80mm. It's as easy as scanning the roof area where you think the rafter should be, pass a few times and draw an X in the centre.

These are approximately £700 each available from Bosch or Amazon.

Video

About Bosch D Tect 200

Bosch D-TECT 200 demo

If you are a regular solar installer - this is the tool to use.

Set this to detect METAL. You are looking for the nail that fixes the batten to the rafter above where you intend to install the mount. Once found, repeat the process below to find the nail fixing this batten - the rafter will run straight through these points.

You want to drill the diamond cut hole 60mm below the overlapping slate or roof tile above.

Tip - the soffit fixings will tell you where the rafters are located and their spacing.