The chimney must be taken into account in the design of a photovoltaic roof as an obstacle, a source of shade and a point requiring weathertight flashing. It does not have to undermine the point of BIPV. In a steel system, a passive zone can be planned around it while maintaining a consistent appearance of the roof slope. Renovation is also an opportunity to assess the condition of the chimney. However, its repair, reconstruction or removal should be decided by the function and requirements of the building, not only by the layout of the modules. First, it is necessary to establish which flues the chimney serves and whether all of them are in use. It may handle flue gases, smoke or room ventilation. Shutting down one heating appliance does not automatically mean that the entire chimney is redundant.

Replacing a roof with a photovoltaic roof in an occupied home also requires planning on the part of the residents. Access for the crews must be agreed, the attic secured, and it must be clear when disruptions may occur. An integrated system allows work on the roof covering and the energy system to be carried out according to a shared schedule. This makes organisation easier when the scope is clearly described. Good preparation reduces stress and helps maintain control over the renovation without daily improvisation. It is worth discussing working hours, access routes and areas that residents will not be able to use. A contact for the person making decisions on site is important. The way information about schedule changes is communicated should also be established.

Replacing roof tiles with an integrated photovoltaic covering clearly changes the character of the house. Instead of a fine, undulating pattern, a calmer surface with longitudinal divisions appears. The cells are part of this composition, and passive fields complete the roof slope. Such a renovation can refresh an older building without adding separate panels on a mounting frame. However, it is worth refining the proportions, the colour of the flashings and the relationship between the roof and the façade beforehand. Roof tiles create a rhythm of many small elements. A steel roof integrated with cells has a different pattern and usually emphasises the direction of the roof slope more strongly. As a result, the house may look calmer and more contemporary. This is not automatically a better effect, but a specific change that is worth assessing against the whole building form.