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Eastcrest EnergyEastcrest
Upgrades & Retrofits

Solar Array Edge Screen Installation in New Jersey

The gap between a solar panel and the roof shingle underneath is about four inches, and to a gray squirrel it looks like a purpose-built den. We've pulled birds' nests, chewed MC4 connectors, oak leaves packed into the backsheet space, and once a family of raccoons out from under arrays all over New Jersey. Edge screens — sometimes called critter guards — are the fix. Eastcrest installs perimeter aluminum mesh around the full boundary of your array so nothing larger than an insect gets in. The installation sounds simple and in the wrong hands it isn't. Clipping mesh to the module frame incorrectly can stress the seal on the panel, and drilling new roof penetrations to anchor the mesh is a good way to void the warranty on both the solar array and the roof underneath. Our crew does this the way the module manufacturers and the racking manufacturers want it done, with no new penetrations and no frame modifications.

  • 25-Yr Warranty
  • Licensed & Insured
  • NABCEP Certified
  • $0-Down Financing
What's Included

Everything you get when you work with us.

  • Full-perimeter aluminum mesh

    Black-powder-coated aluminum mesh sized to your array footprint, cut on site to fit odd edges and staggered module rows.

  • Stainless clips designed for solar frames

    UV-stable stainless clips that grip the module frame channel — no adhesives, no screws through the frame, no roof penetrations.

  • Pre-install cleanout

    We remove any existing nests, debris, and chewed materials from under the array before sealing the perimeter.

  • Wiring inspection and repair estimate

    While we're up there, we check every MC4 connector and DC home run for chew damage and flag anything that needs attention.

  • Visual confirmation photos

    Before-and-after photos of every side of the array, included in an email you can file with your records or warranty.

  • Workmanship warranty

    Five-year warranty on the mesh installation itself against clip failure or mesh separation under normal weather conditions.

How We Work

From first call to flipped switch.

  1. Site Visit and Measurement

    We measure the perimeter of each array section, note module make and frame height, and check whether the racking sits flush to the roof or is tilted. Tilted arrays and east-west layouts sometimes need custom mesh panels cut on site.

  2. Animal and Debris Removal

    Before the mesh goes on, we clean out whatever's already living under the array. Nests, droppings, and gnawed wire insulation all come out. If there are active animals present we schedule the install after they've vacated — we do not block anything in.

  3. Wiring and Panel Inspection

    With the underside accessible, we inspect every DC home run, MC4 connector, and micro or optimizer for chew damage. If we find compromised wiring, we quote the repair separately and you decide whether to proceed before we seal the perimeter.

  4. Mesh Installation

    Mesh is cut to length, clipped to the module frame at roughly 8-inch intervals, and overlapped at corners. We work from a ladder and roof walks, not off the racking, so the array structure is never used as a handhold. Expect two to four hours for a standard residential array.

  5. Final Walk-through

    Every edge and penetration gets inspected before we leave. If we find anything off, such as frayed wiring, missed flashings, animal damage we flag it on the spot.

Deeper Dive

Why this matters.

Why squirrels target solar arrays

Gray squirrels in New Jersey overwinter in protected cavities — under eaves, in attics, inside tree hollows — and a rooftop solar array offers almost all of the same appeal with better sun exposure. The space under the panels stays roughly 15 degrees warmer than ambient in winter, is shielded from hawks and owls, and is out of reach of most ground predators. Once a squirrel finds a way in, it marks the space with scent, which attracts more squirrels the following season. The damage compounds: chewed DC insulation can cause arc faults, shredded roof underlayment leads to water intrusion, and nest material packed between the panel and the roof creates fire risk if a connector fails. We've seen enough systems with chewed SolarEdge optimizer cables to know that an edge screen is cheap insurance once squirrels have identified your roof.

Birds and what they do differently

Birds — mostly house sparrows, starlings, and occasionally pigeons on wider eaves — build nests rather than chew wiring. The problem birds create is mass accumulation of nest material: dry grass, twigs, and droppings packed into the inch or two of space between the panel and the roof. In a dry summer that material becomes a fire hazard if a DC arc occurs. In a wet season, the packed material holds moisture against your shingles and accelerates granule loss. Bird nests under a solar array also attract secondary pests — mites, beetles, and other insects that migrate from the nest into the attic. Edge screens stop all of it at the perimeter. The mesh we use has openings small enough to block house sparrows, which are the smallest nesting bird common to NJ rooftops.

Roof-safe mounting that doesn't void warranties

The wrong way to install edge screens is to drill new screws through the roof deck to anchor the mesh, or to use a construction adhesive that sets against the shingle. Both approaches create leak paths, both void almost every asphalt shingle warranty in North America, and both typically void the solar racking warranty as well. The right way uses stainless clips designed specifically for solar module frames — the clip slides into the module's frame channel, grips the lip of the frame, and holds the mesh without touching the roof at all. No penetrations, no adhesives, no modifications to the panel frame. This is the method recommended by the major module manufacturers we work with, and it's the only method we use. If a roof warranty is ever called into question on one of our installs, the install itself will not be the reason the claim is denied.

When to add edge screens after a squirrel incident

Most of our edge-screen work is reactive rather than preventative — a homeowner hears scratching overhead at 6 a.m., discovers the source, and calls us the same week. If you think squirrels are already in your array, the sequence matters. We do not install mesh while animals are active under the panels, because sealing them in creates a worse problem than the original infestation. Instead, we inspect, identify the entry points, and either wait for the squirrels to leave on their own (morning hours in warm weather) or refer you to a licensed wildlife-control operator for a one-way door solution. Once the array is confirmed empty — usually verified by trail camera or monitoring the space for 48 hours — we install the mesh and the problem doesn't come back. Preemptive edge screens on a new or recently cleaned array are much simpler and run roughly half the time of a post-incident installation.

Common Questions

FAQs about array edge screens.

Will the mesh damage my panels or void the warranty?

No. The clips we use are frame-channel clips that grip the existing lip of the module frame without piercing, abrading, or adhering to any part of the panel. The major module manufacturers we work with explicitly allow this type of edge screen installation.

What's the difference between aluminum mesh and plastic critter guard?

Plastic guards are cheaper but degrade in UV exposure within a few years and become brittle. Aluminum mesh with a powder-coat finish holds up for 15 to 20 years in NJ weather without sagging or cracking. For a one-time install we think aluminum is the only material worth using.

Can you install edge screens during winter?

Yes, as long as the roof is safe to access. We don't work on snow-covered or iced roofs. A clear cold day is actually easier than summer for this work because the panels aren't hot to the touch.

Do I need edge screens if I've never had an animal problem?

If your area has heavy tree cover, known squirrel activity, or nearby bird colonies, preventative screens are worth it. If your roof is isolated from trees and you haven't seen nesting activity in several years, you can probably wait. We'll give you an honest read during the site visit.

What happens if an animal has already chewed through my wiring?

We inspect every MC4 connector and DC home run during installation and quote any needed repair separately. Chewed DC wiring is a real fire and arc-fault risk, so we recommend repairing it the same visit if the damage is confirmed.

Also Consider

Other ways we can help.

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