A perfect combination of services to meet the needs of a client base that has an increasingly close eye on carbon footprint and net zero targets has been brought together under one roof.
With a reputation across Northamptonshire for excellence and experience, adding a new solar panel installation service was the obvious next step for what is now Kingsley Roofing & Solar.
Kingsley Roofing, founded by Managing Director Paul Bone almost nine years ago and based in Moulton Park, specialises in installing, replacing and maintaining roofing systems for a variety of commercial premises, from warehouses and office blocks to public buildings. The majority of the firm’s projects are roofs for commercial new builds and complete roof repairs, lead work, flat roofs and pitched, and the team also offers fascia and guttering services.
State-of-the-art software provides its clients with real-time information via app or website, including up-to-date photographs so that they are able to keep a close eye on the progress of the work.
Around three years ago, a conversation between Paul and contracts manager Dale Dexeter (who has previous experience in the electrical sector) prompted a move into solar panels, the installation of which is a natural fit with the roofing skills. Dale, now a Director, and Paul work in partnership to bring additional benefits to clients.
Paul said: “Once we looked into it, we could see how beneficial it would be to expand into the installation of solar panels. The obvious benefit being that the roof would be checked thoroughly and any repairs or replacements required could be carried out before the panels are installed. There’s an obligation on firms that install solar panels to check the condition of the roof before they start, but to what extent some do that, if they’re not roofing specialists, I’m not sure.
“We know that we can offer clients an assurance that the roof under the panels is in good condition from the start, because if it’s not, you’re going to get problems further down the line and lose any financial benefits from using solar.
“The second major benefit is that domestic installation work is VAT free on solar panels. So, if you think there’s an issue with your roof, and you need repairs doing, it pays to look at installing solar panels at the same time because they the whole project becomes exempt from VAT.
“And, if you’re having both a roof repair and then installing solar panels, you’re saving hassle and costs by having the same team on site to deliver the whole project within the same timeframe, rather than dealing with two different points of contact and possibly two lots of work.”
Kingsley Roofing & Solar is MCS (Microgeneration Certification Scheme) accredited, so all work, on both the roof and the solar installation, comes with a warranty.
With regards to roofing work, the company works predominantly in the commercial sector, but installs solar panels on commercial and domestic premises, and carries out repairs to domestic roofs as part of a solar installation.
It is estimated that for a building that uses a lot of power, the return on investment for solar panels can be as low as two years, and there are payment schemes available to help owners and landlords make improvements to the energy usage.
Paul said: “We can put clients in touch with contacts who provide PPA solutions, and who pay for the installation and then sell the electricity back to the client. It’s a good way to avoid the large investment up front, and if you’re a business going to down the carbon net zero route, you still get the points from having solar panels installed, without the initial outlay.
“It’s a particularly good way for landlords looking to improve the EPC rating of their buildings to get solar panels installed and start generating their own green energy.
“We have grown considerably in terms of commercial clients over the past few years and that’s why we took the decision to stop pretty much all our domestic work, because we couldn’t provide the level of service we wanted to. Domestic customers with a leaking roof shouldn’t have to wait weeks because we’re busy on a large project, so we stepped back from that. But we’re still happy to hear from domestic customers who are thinking about installing solar panels and will make sure their roof is in good condition before we start.”
Find out more about Kingsley Roofing & Solar on 01604 242794 or visit the website.
