Panel mounting bracket assembly including an adjustable height extension device and related methods

An adjustable height extension device for a panel mounting bracket for mounting at least one solar panel on a building, the panel mounting bracket comprising a base to be positioned on the building and a vertical extension having a proximal end coupled to the base and a distal end vertically spaced apart from the base, the vertical extension comprising spaced apart vertical sidewalls extending vertically upward from the base and defining a cavity therebetween and a cross-support member extending laterally between the vertical sidewalls across the cavity, the adjustable height extension device comprising:

• a lower portion carried within the cavity of the vertical extension and vertically slidable within the cavity;
• an upper portion carried by the lower portion to be connected with the at least one solar panel;
• and
• a vertical height adjustment member comprising a head carried within the upper portion and a shaft threadably received by the cross-support member to cause the lower portion to slide vertically within the cavity to adjust a vertical height of the upper portion between upper and lower limits of a height adjustment range as the vertical height adjustment member is rotated.

A method for mounting at least one solar panel on a building, the method comprising:

• coupling a base of at least one panel mounting bracket to the building, the panel mounting bracket comprising a vertical extension having a proximal end coupled to the base and a distal end vertically spaced apart from the base, the vertical extension comprising spaced apart vertical sidewalls extending vertically upward from the base and defining a cavity therebetween and a cross-support member extending laterally between the vertical sidewalls across the cavity;
• coupling an adjustable height extension device between the at least one panel mounting bracket and the at least one solar panel, the adjustable height extension comprising a lower portion carried within the cavity of the vertical extension and vertically slidable within the cavity, an upper portion carried by the lower portion to be connected with the at least one solar panel, and a vertical height adjustment member comprising a head carried within the upper portion and a shaft threadably received by the cross-support member;
• and
• rotating the vertical height adjustment member to cause the lower portion to slide vertically within the cavity to adjust a vertical height of the upper portion between upper and lower limits of a height adjustment range.