Case Study: Solar Panel Installation – Shavington, Cheshire

The Project

This domestic solar PV installation in Shavington — a village just outside Crewe in Cheshire — involved fitting a full array of black monocrystalline solar panels across the south-facing roof of a detached residential property. The homeowner wanted to reduce their reliance on the grid, lower their energy bills, and take advantage of the Smart Export Guarantee to earn from surplus electricity generated.

The roof presented a split-section layout, requiring careful planning to maximise panel count and output while working around existing roof windows. Our team carried out a full site survey before installation to assess orientation, pitch, and any shading factors.

What We Installed

The installation comprised a full array of premium black-frame monocrystalline solar panels mounted across the main south-facing roof sections. Black-frame panels were specified to give a clean, low-profile appearance that sits well against the red tile roof without dominating the streetscape.

Alongside the panels, we installed a full perimeter bird guard mesh system — a stainless steel spiked mesh fitted around the entire panel edge. This prevents birds from nesting underneath the panels, which can cause wiring damage, panel degradation, and hygiene issues over time. It’s a finishing detail that’s easy to overlook but makes a real difference to the long-term performance and condition of the installation.

The Installation Process

Scaffolding was erected to give our team safe, stable access to both roof sections. Once in position, the mounting rail system was fixed to the roof structure, with all penetrations properly sealed to maintain weatherproofing. Panels were then lifted and secured to the rail system before the DC cabling was run and connected to the inverter.

Once the array was in place, the bird guard mesh was fitted around the full perimeter of each panel group — clipped and fixed so it sits flush without affecting the panels or racking, and without creating any gaps that birds could push through.

The system was then commissioned, tested, and certified to current UK electrical standards before handover.

Why Bird Guard Protection Matters

It’s a common oversight. Solar panels create a warm, sheltered space that pigeons and starlings are naturally drawn to. Once nesting begins, the damage can be significant — gnawed DC cables, blocked drainage channels, and a build-up of debris and droppings that accelerates panel wear.

The stainless steel mesh system we use is discreet, durable, and doesn’t void panel warranties. We recommend it as standard on every residential installation we carry out.

The Result

The homeowner now has a fully operational solar PV system generating clean electricity from two south-facing roof sections. The installation was completed within a single day, with minimal disruption to the property. All certification and documentation was provided at handover, including everything needed to register for the Smart Export Guarantee through their energy supplier.

Thinking About Solar for Your Cheshire Home?

This installation is a good example of what’s achievable on a standard Cheshire semi or detached property. If your roof has reasonable south, south-east, or south-west orientation, solar is almost certainly worth investigating. Our Solar Panels & Battery Storage page covers everything we offer, and we’re happy to provide a free, no-obligation survey and quote for any property across the area.

We also cover Crewe and Nantwich and the wider Cheshire region for all our electrical services, from solar and EV charging to compliance testing and domestic rewires.