Groundwork for future PV lean-to.

[Jenni]

Hello. 

Bit of a last minute thought to combine 3 functions.

I've always known that in the future I was going to add a lean-to for rain cover over patio doors and to reduce solar gain. But a facebook ad caught my attention and seems a good idea to me to make the roof of said lean-to of solar panels. 

 

Mine will be a bit more modest, more like this construction - 

 

We're sorting out the patio build up this weekend, so need to put concrete pads in that can be attached to later on, they'll be buried under patio and not visible. 

 

My question is - how far out from the building should I lay the pads? 

Without solar as a consideration I was going to go for about 2.5m (with length of 5m along building, though this could be longer, up to 15m)

But thinking there might be a 'sweet spot' on the eventual depth of the roof that is better for the solar panels?

[ProDave]

You don't have to be precise if the size of the PV roof ends up larger just cantilever the end, a bit like I did with my balcony

 

 

I did the same, poured 2 concrete pads for the balcony legs at foundation time, and only recently uncovered them and completed the job.

[Jenni]

Thank you ProDave. Pads are in, hopefully patio fully laid in the next few weeks.