Satellite dish installation: a guide for pros

What customers ask, how to win the job, and what to put on your profile.

Offering satellite dish installation

Satellite dish installation is a roof and signal job where the customer judges the picture and the leaks. Win it by checking the sky view, the signal margin and the roof plan before you climb.

What customers ask

  • Will you damage my roof?
  • Why is the signal weak?
  • Can you run the cable through the attic?
  • Will the dish stay in the wind?
  • What channels will I get?
  • What warranty do I get on the mount?

How to win the job

  • On the site visit, check the sky view to the satellites with a finder, and write down any obstructions and the best mount location.
  • Show the customer the mount location and the roof penetration plan before you drill.
  • Quote the dish, the mount, the coax, the connectors, the grounding and the roof sealing as separate lines.
  • Test the signal strength and quality at the receiver, and show the readings to the customer before you leave.
  • Photograph the mount, the flashing and the grounding connection, and leave the photos in the job file.
  • Set up the receiver channel list and leave a written note with the satellite settings and the warranty contacts.

What to put on your profile

  • Post photos of clean roof mounts with flashing, sealant and grounding visible
  • List the dish brands and mount types you install
  • State the roof types you work on, and your fall protection practice in a short line
  • Show a sample signal test report with the readings and the details blurred

Follow-up that helps the customer

  • Offer a second receiver or a multiswitch when the customer has more TVs
  • Suggest a roof and seal inspection after the first storm season
  • Recommend a signal check after any tree growth or a new building that could block the view

Licenses and permits

Satellite dish installation usually does not need a separate contractor license for the dish, but grounding to the electrical system and roof work may need a licensed trade or a permit. Confirm your scope with your state or local licensing agency and your local building office before you climb a roof.

Questions

Do I need a license to work on a roof?

Roof work may require a contractor license or a permit depending on the area and the work. Check with your state or local licensing agency and your local building office before you take the job.

Who does the grounding connection?

Grounding the mast to the home's electrical system is electrical work, and it should be done by a licensed electrician where the rules require one. Refer it out and note the referral in the quote.

How do I handle a customer who wants the dish mounted on a fragile roof?

Explain the risk in writing, offer a ground mount or wall mount, and do not climb or drill a roof you judge unsafe.

About this guide

This national guide is written and checked by infinibell. Rules and conditions differ by place, so local pros are credited on guides for the cities they serve, not on national ones.

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