Solar on a period property is a different job

A modern semi has none of the things that make solar on a period property awkward. Slate roofs that need careful handling, original detailing you don't want to disturb, conservation area sensitivities, freeholder permissions on converted apartments. None of those are dealbreakers, but they need someone who's worked on properties like yours before, rather than a sales-trained installer following a template.

Ashley's high-end residential background

Ashley Merritt - the named director of Renegade Solar - spent 2016 working in the Channel Islands on high-end mansions and apartments. The work ranged across loft conversions, kitchens, extensions, domestic and commercial properties, including listed-style buildings where the electrics had to be sympathetic to what was already there. If you're a homeowner in Bowdon, Hale, Hale Barns or central Altrincham looking at solar on a Victorian or Edwardian property, that's the kind of background you want quoting the job rather than someone who only got into solar last year.

What you actually get when you hire Ashley

The person who quotes is the person who installs - no salesperson at the survey, no project manager handover, no install crew you've never met. Ashley assesses the property himself and is on site for the work, and from the first call through to commissioning and aftercare he's who you ring. That matters on jobs where the design needs conversation: panel layout decisions on a complicated roof, what's acceptable to the conservation officer, how to route cabling without disturbing original plasterwork. He was an electrician for around twenty years before he was a solar installer, so the system gets designed by someone who actually understands the wiring it's going to land on, and if solar isn't right for your property, or one panel layout will look better than another, he'll tell you straight.

Property types we work on

• Victorian and Edwardian homes, typically with slate roofs and chimneys to design around
• Period conversions - large houses converted into apartments, where shared roofs and freeholder permissions need careful planning
• Properties in conservation areas, including parts of Bowdon, central Altrincham and surrounding areas
• Modern properties in heritage settings, where neighbouring listed properties affect what's appropriate

The Altrincham and Hale location pages have more on the housing stock in each area.

In-roof, on-roof, or ground-mounted

Different property types suit different installations, and Ashley will go through the options on site. On-roof is the most common - panels mounted on rails above the existing tiles or slates. In-roof (integrated) sits flush with the roofline rather than above it, which is often a better aesthetic match for period properties and conservation areas. Ground-mounted arrays are a strong alternative if the roof isn't suitable or you've got garden space, and on extensions or outbuildings with flat roofs, panels can be tilted to face south regardless of how the roof itself sits.

Battery storage where roof installation isn't ideal

For properties where roof installation isn't an option - listed buildings, restrictive conservation policies, significant shading, or aesthetics ruling out panels - a standalone battery system charges during cheaper off-peak periods and powers your home when electricity costs more, which can save a fair bit even without solar. Ashley fits Solax and AlphaESS systems with capacities from 6kWh upwards. See the home battery page for the full picture.

In a customer's own words

"Ashley did an excellent job installing the solar panels on my roof, the batteries next to my driveway, and the ground-mounted solar setup in my garden. As someone who likes everything to be perfect, I can say he did it exactly how I would have done it (if I had the experience). I highly recommend him to anyone interested in installing solar panels and battery storage."

That's the M43 customer who had Ashley install a multi-part system. Period property owners tend to be particular about how their home looks, and so is Ashley.

Performance in our climate

Modern panels generate electricity from daylight rather than just direct sunshine, and they actually run more efficiently in cooler temperatures, which suits us up here. Manchester rain helps keep them clean. Ashley fits DMEGC and Trina Vertex panels - both N-type modules with long warranties.

Credentials

• MCS-certified installer (NAP-66870) - your installation qualifies for Smart Export Guarantee payments
• TrustMark Registered
• NAPIT Registered (66870)
• Octopus Energy Trusted Partner
• 9.85/10 on Checkatrade from 105+ verified reviews
• 5-year minimum warranty on all equipment, panels warranted up to 30 years
• 2 years routine maintenance included on every installation

Coverage

Ashley is based in Prestwich and serves period properties and conservation-area homes throughout Greater Manchester, including Altrincham, Hale, Hale Barns, Stockport, Marple and surrounding areas.

Get in touch for a free survey and a no-pressure conversation about what would work on your property.