The basic idea of a non-penetrating roof mount is to install satellite TV dish antennas or TV aerials onto an existing roof structure without altering the roof or causing damage to the building structure.

Using Google, it is easy enough to find various installers of non-penetrating roof mounts, but with a little imagination and outside the box thinking its possible to build your own custom multiple satellite TV dish/antenna non-penetrating roof mount. Since a picture is worth a thousand words, here is a series of pictures for people thinking about buying, building a custom non-penetrating roof mount or installing various kinds of outdoor antennas.

This guy is quite serious about his roof. Creative Thinking. However, there are several things a professional installer can do better:

1. Use a more easily assembled bracket like this:

This metal framework is lighter, anti-rust and easy assembly. Four bricks will be placed on both sides to stabilize the base. Weather resistant powder coat finish; 3 trays hold 10 standard size 8x8x16 concrete block ballast; adjustable base positioning…

2. It’s about security. When we set up an aerial or antenna on roof, we have to think about years to come and what nature will do to it. Did you notice the way 4 bricks were attached to the wooden frame? They were attached by nylon ties!
Do not underestimate nature’s power. For a regular quality nylon tie, a few months sunshine will turn it crispy and less intense. While it’s not holding some weight, it could be strong enough to hold things like cables together, but think about weights of 4 bricks, plus  vibration caused by wind, I don’t think the ties will be strongly attached to framework for ever. The result could be a disaster.

Conclusion: Never trust nylon ties. Use stainless steel wire and high quality screws whenever possible. A professional roof mount frame, for example, enable the bricks to be attached securely. The edge will be holding them inside the frame by the way.

3. Always place a protective barrier between the mount and roof surface. The wood framework won’t be looking good from far either. It does not worth it setting up such a big frame works holding such a small TV aerial high.

I found this interesting roof mounting method very unique and quite common across Japan. Many of the Japanese houses are constructed sole by wood, or at least a wooden roof. Installing satellite dishes are not exactly like installing an UHF TV aerial because constantly the aerials have to stand high to get across trees near to the houses.

Satellite dishes, with an correct angel, can skip trees easily. For aerials, it’s not that simple. The higher the aerial is, the better, or more stable the TV signal is.

I saw a lot of high standing aerial in Japan. These installation brackets are available in professional digital tv store, and even in electronic markets. It could be a effective way to install aerial but the cost is significant higher than those we can get in New Zealand.

As possible as the case is, Japanese installers do not drill holes or install anything on the roof. Any type of drilling will make it possible for a roof water leak, which eventually cost much more money to fix. Dishes are commonly installed on side walls, balcony gurard rails or other locations. Rarely can we see a dish on roof directly.

Even for the arials, some are side mounted on call with brackets sticking out holding the long pole with aerial; The above shown method costs around NZD600, including brackets and labor.