A roof that generates electricity without visible mounting above the roof surface is possible by integrating photovoltaics into the covering. In the steel variant, the cells are part of the roof panels, and passive elements complete the composition. There is no need to first cover the entire active area with ordinary material and then place modules above it. However, a complete system of structure, layers and fixings is still required. Integration means joining them properly. There is no separate structure holding standard modules above the finished covering. As a result, the roof surface keeps a more compact outline, and the installation does not look like an additional level. This is a significant benefit on a house with a simple form or on a roof clearly visible from the garden.

The eave marks the lower edge of the roof and strongly influences how the whole building is perceived. With integrated photovoltaics, it should be planned as carefully as the active roof surface. It must drain water, work together with ventilation and match the geometry of the covering. A well-resolved detail reinforces the advantage of BIPV, namely a compact form without a separate mounting structure for the panels. The aim is not to conceal it as much as possible, but to achieve a clear combination of function and appearance. It is the boundary between the roof and the façade. Looking at the house from ground level, we often see it more clearly than the middle section of the roof slope. An uneven line, a random height of the flashing or a poorly fitted gutter can weaken the effect even of very carefully laid panels.