Solar panel installation: a guide for pros

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

Offering solar panel installation

Solar panel installation is a structural, electrical and utility job at once, and the customer judges the whole project by the quote and the schedule. Installers who win repeat referrals survey carefully, document the roof and the panel, and keep the permit and utility steps visible.

What customers ask

  • Will my roof hold the system, and what do I need to do first?
  • Will my panel need an upgrade, and what does that cost in the quote?
  • How long until the system is turned on?
  • What happens to the panels if I need a roof repair?
  • How much power will the system make on my roof?

How to win the job

  • On the first call, ask the roof age, the pitch, the direction and the shading. Those set whether the roof is a fit before the visit.
  • Bring a site survey kit and a shade tool, and show the customer the shade analysis on the roof plan.
  • Show the panel's capacity and the breaker plan, and explain whether an upgrade is needed and why.
  • Quote the racking, the wiring, the permit, the utility application and the monitoring as separate lines.
  • Walk the customer through the rapid-shutdown switch, the labels and the monitoring app before commissioning.
  • Give the customer the commissioning record, the warranty terms in writing, and the name of the contact for future roof work.

What to put on your profile

  • Photos of finished solar installs showing the roof attachment, the inverter and the panel connection
  • Examples of system sizes you have installed on different roof types, with the roof pitch noted
  • A short description of your shade analysis and roof survey process

Follow-up that helps the customer

  • Offer a roof-and-panel check before any future roof work, so the array can be removed and reinstalled correctly
  • Suggest a monitoring review after the first season, with the production numbers explained
  • Offer a battery storage plan for customers who want backup power later

Licenses and permits

Solar installation is commonly performed under an electrical contractor license and, for the mounting work, a roofing or structural license may apply. A permit with inspection and a utility interconnection are often required. Check with your state or local licensing agency, building department and utility before you take the job.

Questions

Who signs off on the roof attachment?

A structural or roofing engineer often reviews the attachment method for the roof type, and the permit reviewer may check it. Keep the review on file, and show it to the customer before the install.

What should I say if the utility is slow to approve the interconnection?

Tell the customer the utility controls the approval date, and keep them informed each week. Do not energize the system before the interconnection approval, even if the array is installed.

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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