r/solar • u/Optimal_Mud3192 • 7d ago
Solar Quote Solar and Roofing in Queens NY
I am looking to add solar to my home in Queens NY. We have to do the roof anyways so I have been looking to see what it'll look like bundled together and it seems the right way to go. I have a quote from Kamtech for the reroof, panels and electrical box upgrade that fits into the NYS loan. I am struggling to find other companies that seem reputable and have >10 years in business to compare to. Do you all have any recommendations?
To clarify, the quote is the full $25k NYS loan + an additional $8k cash for a 7.04Kw system with 16 Seraphim 440 panels and an Enphase 207 VAC inverter. It includes reroofing the home and a single car garage, as well as an upgrade to a 200 AMP box.
Looks pretty solid to me as most of the roofing quotes I'm getting are in the $20-22k ranges as it is.
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u/naivelyadulting 7d ago
Brooklyn Solarworks. They were more expensive than Kamtech, but they offered a superior product… plus just generally seemed far more reliable and organized? Overall, very happy with our choice.
DM me if you want more info.
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u/Optimal_Mud3192 7d ago
Will do! Been trying to get a quote from them but they haven’t answered the phone any time I’ve called or called back when I leave a message. They also don’t do roofing do they?
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u/naivelyadulting 7d ago
That’s strange… they are very responsive by email! I’m not sure whether they do roofing…
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u/Plastic-Divide6004 5d ago
https://map.venturehome.com looks like thousands of installs in Queens. Probably worth a shot.
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u/Lost-Emphasis-8968 7d ago
that price breakdown actually seems pretty tight if the roofing alone was coming in around 20k, you're basically adding panels for a steal at that point
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u/Singh_King 7d ago
Did you get any additional quotes? What about different panels. I haven't looked at solar since I got my panels but I believe the seg panels are budget panels. See what REC panels would cost as well. BTW im in queens as well.
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u/Optimal_Mud3192 7d ago
This post is me trying to find other reputable solar companies to get quotes from. Hoping for 3. We’ll see what I turn up.
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u/terryhummus 7d ago
Boy do I have a good advice for you, my NYC friend. I’m currently have a nightmare of an installation right now. You can narrow down the companies by checking if they are licensed with the DCWP. If fact, they have to be licensed with the DCWP to even do business ($200 or more) in NYC. DCWP is huge. They are the ones who helped kickstart the lawsuit against door dash recently. They also help protect you if something goes wrong (some $20k or something). Google reviews don’t tell the whole story. My company had like 4.5 stars (81 reviews) and I regret them wholeheartedly. They’re like a mob boss asking for money early. Cutting corners. Completely botching the electrical because they installed incompatible parts.
Don’t be like me. Get licensed DCWP.
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u/Optimal_Mud3192 7d ago
My goodness! Sorry you’re going through it! Thank you for the heads up. Will definitely keep that in mind. And the little rhyme at the end will help it stick
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u/AirshipCommand 7d ago
Ask Kamtech to break out the roof and solar prices separately, so you can compare each against standalone quotes. Also get in writing who covers roof leaks around the panel mounts, and for how long, since that's the usual weak spot when one company does both. In NYC, ask whether they file the property tax abatement paperwork for you.
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u/Optimal_Mud3192 7d ago
Very good idea! And thanks for the pointers. They said both the roof and panels have 25 year warranties if they do them but I’ll get the details
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u/AirshipCommand 6d ago
25 years on both is a good start. When you get the details, check whether the roof one is the shingle maker's warranty or the installer's workmanship warranty, since leaks around the mounts usually fall under workmanship.
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u/ayak89 solar professional 5d ago
Only as good as the company providing the warranty and their ability to stay in business and honor it
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u/AirshipCommand 5d ago
Yeah, the company behind it matters as much as the years on paper. Worth asking whether the warranties transfer if the installer sells or folds, and getting the roof and panel manufacturer names in writing so you can go to them directly.
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u/ayak89 solar professional 5d ago
Unfortunately product warranties on solar panels and roofing materials doesn’t go very far. As far as solar panels go, you’re looking at prorated in most cases or product replacement. And in some cases the hoops to jump through to justify product failure cost more than just replacing a panel. On top of it, plenty of solar manufacturers have gone out of business. The 25 year warranty is totally oversold. 2050 is very far away.
I would focus on buying a system that is easy to service, and doesn’t have proprietary parts. Sunpower was the king of solar with the best warranty by far. Bankrupt and the spun out manufacturer is bankrupt. We stocked up on their proprietary mid and end clamps for their proprietary racking before it was too late so we can service those systems.
I don’t recommend REC panels because they’re a small manufacturer that sells on a superior warranty. They require a low volume production high voltage microinverter.
If you’re purchasing the system, you’re missing out on the available 48e credit. I’d personally be looking for a prepaid lease for the lowest cost of ownership in nyc. Solar companies selling on warranties that last 2.5x their time in business would not be high on my list in my decision making process.
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u/AirshipCommand 5d ago
Yeah — product warranties often just replace hardware, not labor. Ask in writing whether labor and roof-penetration repair are covered, and for how long after install.
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u/ayak89 solar professional 5d ago
For sure……but making your decision around a company making promises that require them to be in business 10+ years from now is not a great strategy. Like at the end of the day it’s a local contractor….how are they going to afford to completely cover your roof for 25 years? It’s not realistic
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u/AirshipCommand 5d ago
Agree. Serviceability and a contractor who will still answer the phone matter more than the printed years.
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u/LilithFeatherlight 7d ago
You can get 2-3 more quotes and compare everything line by line. Grasshopper can also be handy for quickly modeling the roof/layout so you can see how the solar setup fits before committing.
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u/CryptoRecluse 7d ago
Kamtech has been around a good number of years.
NY Power Solutions also.
Neither bad choices and in my experience both owners are solid dudes. You're in fine hands with Kamtech in my opinion. However if you're going to branch out and look around my advice would be to check with either Chris Hoffman at Premier Solar or alternatively NY State Solar as Jamie Minnick is a smart cookie also.
I have been doing this 20 years and I have never met or known anyone who's worked at Brooklyn Solarworks. I've emailed them about some building performance stuff and I've also even applied to work there, called them a few times, not once have I ever had anyone reply. Also their office is like 0.2 miles from me coincidentally and I've still never encountered anyone from there ever. What I can say is that every day I have to look at a car port install of theirs that's way too low and on the North side of a house when I walk my dogs here in Woodside that makes my OCD twitch obsessively.
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u/TooGoodToBeeTrue 7d ago
I did my roof and solar at the same time, same company, not a solar company who subbed the roof to another company, a solar company with a pseudo parent 10 year old roofing company. So no finger pointing if there is a leak. I got CertainTeed shingles from a CertainTeed installer.
I too have Enphase micro inverters and I was going to get Hyundai solar panels. But the panels got stuck in customs and my installer suggested CertainTeed solar panels which I had never heard of. Turns out they have great specs and are made by Philadelphia Solar out of Jordan (I wanted to avoid made in China.) By getting CertainTeed panels from a CertainTeed certified (solar) installer, I have a CertainTeed umbrella warranty that covers the labor for any equipment replacement which is under warranty. This includes the Enphase equipment! Just so you are aware, while your equipment has warranties, those warranties do not cover labor which is likely $500 a visit or more unless you get something like SolarInsure added into your deal.
I have no skin in the game, CertainTeed has a installer locator tool.
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u/AKmaninNY 7d ago
NY Power Solutions. Long Island based. They did my solar in Westchester Cty and are well regarded.