Can I install solar panels on a slate roof without damaging the tiles?

Yes, the SolVe Mount is specifically designed for slate roofs and does not require tile removal or cutting. The mounting bracket sits flush on the slate surface and uses an expansion seal to create a watertight barrier.

Is the SolVe Mount MCS certified for slate roofs?

Yes, the SolVe Mount holds MCS certification (Certificate BBA 7460) for both natural slate and composite slate roof installations, meeting UK solar installation standards.

Where should I position the SolVe Mount on a slate roof?

Position 50mm above the rafter nail location as identified by the Rafter Finder app. On thin coverings such as standard slate, any position on the tile works. On thicker coverings, install as close to the overlapping tile above as possible.

Back to Roof Coverings

MCS_012 3.0 Certified

SolVe MountSolar Mounting for slate & composite slate roofs

Fire Safety compliant roof mounting. Airtight VMQ seal, no open air void in the roof — the fire rating is preserved. MCS 012 3.0 certified.

EASYFASTSTRONGLOW PROFILECompatible with slate and composite slate roofs.

Last Updated: July 2026

Key Takeaways

Minimally invasive diamond coring — no drill bits drilling through the roof covering.
MCS_012 3.0 Certified (Certificate BBA 7460) for natural and composite slate
Easiest Slate Solar Mounting - No roofing expertise required
IPX8 Rated - watertight slate roof installation.
Marine grade stainless steel - A4-80 bolt 33% stronger than traditional solar mounting.

SolVe Mount installed on natural slate roof with no tiles removed

SolVe Mount solar bracket fitted on composite slate roof - zero tile removal

Installation Difficulty

Quick

The Rafter Finder locates rafter nails instantly, giving you the rafter line. Core the 28mm hole, pre-drill using the guide provided, and screw in the mount — no seal height adjustment is required for standard slate. The process is highly repeatable and needs no specialist roofing knowledge.

A team of two can install 4 SolVe Mounts on a slate roof in under 4 minutes.

London, UK. Whole House Redevelopment - Slate Roof Solar PV

SolVe Mount installed on a new slate roof during London house redevelopment

Video: SolVe Mount being installed on a slate roof - close up

A whole house redevelopment in London including the addition of Solar PV. The project owner requested SolVe Mounts be used on the brand new slate roof as it's the least invasive way to mount solar on a slate roof.

SolVe Mount provides a lower profile installation and will not affect the fire rating of their newly constructed roof. With no tile removal required and a watertight IPX8 rated seal, it was the obvious choice for protecting a brand new roof covering.

The lowest profile, least invasive solar mounting for slate roofs.

Slate Roof Solar Mounts Installation in Ipswich — Case Study

SolVe Mount stud installed on composite slate roof in Ipswich — no tiles removed, IPX8 rated watertight seal

Video: Hunter Build & Solar Ltd using the Rafter Finder app on a composite slate roof in Ipswich

8 panels on one roof face, complete start to finish in 2.5 hours.

The customer was looking for a way to mount solar panels to slate roofs. They wanted to avoid flashing and move away from using Limpets or A-Slates.

They chose SolVe Mounts from HDM Solar, and booked in their on-site training. Thomas & David attended, and after the first mount was installed and they were shown how to use our Rafter Finder app, they were fully confident to continue on their own.

The install was 8 solar panels on each side of a slate roof. Their second roof took just 2.5 hours from start to finish. SolVe Mounts are fast, repeatable, easy to install, IPX8 rated with A4-80 marine grade stainless steel, ensuring a fit & forget installation on slate and tile roofs. Give them a try today.

"We have just used the SolVe mounts for the first time on a composite slate roof. Thomas and one of his colleagues from SolVe came to site to show us how the system works. Once we got into a rhythm this system really is the real deal and a time changer. Our 2nd roof was much quicker to install. 8 panels complete in 2.5 hours. This is a real game changer when it comes to slate roofs or even plain tiles. This is definitely our go to for this type of roof."
Jason Hunter, Hunter Build & Solar Ltd

Material Pedigree

The Seal Trusted Where Failure Isn't an Option

When failure means a downed aircraft or a breached reactor, engineers choose VMQ silicone. SolVe Mount uses the same seal material family — proven across six decades in environments that make a British roof look trivial.

Space

International Space Station

Docking port seals and habitat pressure boundaries — where a single failure breaches a pressurised environment in orbit.

Aviation

Boeing · Airbus · Rolls Royce

Pressure cabin door seals, jet engine assemblies, and aircraft fuel systems — maintaining integrity through thousands of flight cycles from −60 °C to over 200 °C.

Nuclear

Power Generation

Containment gaskets in nuclear stations where chemical resistance and zero compression-creep are non-negotiable.

Defence

BAE Systems

Submarine pressure seals, naval vessel systems, and defence electronics requiring long-term environmental resistance.

No sealant, flashing, grinding or removing slate required. Just tighten a nut.

Install Solar on Slate Roof Without Removing Tiles

Natural and composite slate tiles are common in both traditional and modern UK architecture. Standard slate is typically 4-6mm thick. The SolVe Mount is MCS certified for these materials and requires no special adjustments for standard installations.

How it works: The SolVe Mount uses a 28mm diamond core to create a precise opening in the slate or 'working area' to access the rafter. Our expansion seal expands when compressed, pressing outwards on the walls of the core hole and expanding beyond, creating a permanent watertight barrier. Forces are channeled directly to the rafter, ensuring the slate itself carries no load.

Positioning: With a 0-70mm mounting zone from the overlapping slate, you have plenty of flexibility to position the mount on the slate surface.

How to install:
CORE - 28mm diamond core to create your 'working area' to access the rafter.
DRILL - Pre-drill using the drill guide provided.
FIX - Screw in the fully assembled SolVe Mount. If using the all in one install method, the seal will compress as the bolt enters the rafter. Alternatively tighten once installed. For slate and composite slate roofings, no adjustment is needed.
DONE - Your MCS certified, IPX8 rated slate roof mount is complete.

The SolVe Mount ensures no load is transferred to the slate roof and creates a watertight seal that will outlive the roof covering.

Making solar installation simple, fast and repeatable. No slate expertise required.

Slate installation tip: Install 4 SolVe Mounts in under 2 minutes. Pre-assemble all Solve Mounts first. Core all holes in a row then pre-drill all holes before fixing the SolVe Mounts.

Unshrinkable Technology

Maintains a permanent 34-36mm expansion above and below the roof covering, ensuring no retreat or seal degradation over time.

172-Year Longevity

ASTM D395B testing confirms ~30% compression set after 172 years, preserving elasticity and waterproof "springiness."

Load Isolation

Forces are channeled directly to the rafter. The seal expands radially, exerting pressure only on the core hole walls, not the slate.

Triple-Seal Protection

Primary seal matches roof covering depth, augmented by upper and lower seals for 100% watertight confidence.

2D SolVe Mount Installation Animation

Close Up Installation Video Below

Related Roof Types

Heavy Slate Cambrian Slate Stone Roofs Concrete Interlocking Clay Plain Tiles Concrete Plain Tiles Rosemary Tiles Metrotile

Does the SolVe Mount Require Drilling Through Slate?

Official Distributor HDM Solar

UK distribution partner with branches across the country.

Official Distributor Phase Renewables