Solar Ready Home Checklist: What to Plan During Construction
What to plan during construction for future solar — roof, conduit, inverter and meter provisions.
Cost estimates only: Any building or upgrade figures in this guide are indicative, not fixed prices or quotes. Costs and inclusions vary by project, supplier, location and time. Confirm current written prices and specifications directly with your builder, suppliers and relevant trades.
- Solar-ready provisions are cheap during the build and enable easy solar installation later
- Key provisions: roof orientation, structural capacity, conduit from roof to inverter, inverter space, meter board space
- Some builders include solar as standard; others offer it as an upgrade or package
- Installing solar during the build is convenient but may not be the cheapest option — shop around
- A solar-ready home can have panels installed in a few hours; a non-solar-ready home requires costly retrofitting
Rooftop solar can reduce grid electricity purchases, but the dollar saving varies with system size, location, shading, household usage, export limits and electricity tariffs. Whether you install solar during the build or after handover, planning solar-ready provisions during construction can make a later installation simpler and less disruptive.
What Does 'Solar Ready' Mean?
A solar-ready home has the structural and electrical provisions in place so that solar panels can be installed quickly and cheaply later. Without these provisions, installing solar requires running cables through walls and ceilings, upgrading the meter board, and potentially reinforcing the roof — all expensive retrofitting work.
Solar Ready Checklist
- Roof orientation — north-facing roof (in Australia) for maximum sun exposure; discuss with your builder if your roof orientation isn't ideal
- Roof structural capacity — ensure the roof can support the additional weight of solar panels; most roofs can, but check
- Conduit from roof to inverter — a pre-installed conduit (pipe) from the roof space to the inverter location, so cables can be run without cutting walls
- Inverter location — a designated space for the inverter (garage, laundry or exterior wall), with a weatherproof enclosure if exterior
- Meter board space — ensure the meter board has space for a solar meter and additional circuit breakers
- Electrical circuit — a pre-wired circuit from the inverter location to the meter board, so the inverter can be connected without additional wiring
- Roof access — ensure safe access to the roof for installation and maintenance
- No roof penetrations in the solar zone — ensure no vents, skylights or flues are in the area where solar panels will go
Tip
Installing Solar During the Build vs After
You have two options for solar:
- During the build — the builder includes solar in the contract; convenient; one payment; may not be the cheapest option; limited panel/inverter choice
- After handover — you shop around for the best deal; wider choice of panels and inverters; can take advantage of government rebates; requires the home to be solar-ready
If your builder offers solar as an upgrade, compare the itemised system specification and price with current independent quotes. Check panel and inverter models, system size, warranties, network-connection work, any switchboard upgrades and how the STC value is applied. A builder package may be more or less competitive depending on the project.
Rebates and Incentives
The federal Small-scale Renewable Energy Scheme (SRES) provides Small-scale Technology Certificates (STCs) for eligible rooftop solar. The STC value varies with system size, location, installation date and certificate market conditions and is commonly shown as a discount in the quote. State, territory and local incentives can change, so check current government programs rather than relying on an older rebate amount.
| Item | Example Cost |
|---|---|
| Solar-ready provisions (during build) | $200–$800 |
| Solar system (6.6kW, supply and install) | $4,000–$8,000 |
| Solar system (10kW, supply and install) | $6,000–$12,000 |
| Battery (10kWh, supply and install) | $8,000–$15,000+ |
| Solar + battery package | $12,000–$25,000+ |
- What does your 'solar-ready' provision actually include — just the roof, or conduit, circuit and inverter space too?
- Does the roof orientation suit solar, and is there a clear north-facing zone free of vents and skylights?
- Is there a pre-installed conduit from the roof to the inverter location?
- Does the meter board have space for a solar meter and additional breakers?
- If I install solar through you, how does the price compare to independent quotes?
- Assuming 'solar-ready' means more than a suitable roof — many builders don't include conduit or circuits
- Letting vents, skylights or flues intrude on the best north-facing solar zone
- Installing solar through the builder without comparing independent quotes — the difference can be thousands
- Forgetting to confirm meter board space, then paying for an upgrade at installation time
- A true solar-ready home includes conduit, a pre-wired circuit and a designated inverter space — get it confirmed in writing
- Even if you install solar after handover, the provisions cost only $200–$800 during the build
- Ask for a hybrid (battery-compatible) inverter if you plan to add a battery later
- Keep the north-facing roof zone clear of penetrations so panels can sit in the ideal position
Battery Storage Preparation
Plan for future battery storage too.
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