You have probably heard the old advice: get three bids and go with the one in the middle. It sounds safe. In roofing and solar, it usually is not. The middle price tells you nothing if the three quotes are not describing the same job. One may cover a full tear-off and a quality roof. Another may skip steps you cannot see from the ground. A third may use off-brand panels that fade in a few years.
This guide walks you through how to gather roofing and solar quotes, read them line by line, and compare them fairly. The goal is simple. By the time you finish, you will be able to look at any proposal, including ours, and know exactly what you are paying for and why.
Why Two Quotes Are Rarely the Same
Price is the easy part to compare. Scope is the hard part, and it is where most homeowners get burned.
On the roofing side, one contractor may quote a composition shingle roof, another a tile roof, and another may shingle right over your old roof to save money. Those are three different jobs at three different price points, and only one of them may be right for your home.
Solar quotes vary just as much. One installer may quote Qcells panels, a top-tier brand. Another may use a low-grade panel you have never heard of. A third may leave out the cost of removing and reinstalling your panels if your roof needs work first. Until the scope matches, the prices cannot be compared.
Define Your Scope Before You Collect Bids
The fix is to decide what you actually need before you start calling contractors. When every bidder quotes the same scope, the comparison becomes fair.
Ask yourself a few questions first:
- What kind of roof do you want? Composition, tile, or standing seam metal? Do you want a cool roof option like CertainTeed Solaris or GAF Timberline HDZ RS that reflects heat and can lower cooling costs?
- Are you adding solar? If so, which panels? We install top-tier, name-brand panels through our vetted, experienced solar partners.
- Do you want battery backup for outages? Approved options include the Tesla Powerwall 3, Qcells, and Enphase IQ batteries.
- Does your roof need work before solar goes on? If panels are already up there, the job includes removal and reinstallation.
We once helped a homeowner who was holding three roofing bids, each for a different material. After a short consultation, they realized a cool roof composition system fit their home best. Only then could they compare the bids on equal footing.
See our roofing and standing seam metal options
What a Complete Proposal Should Include
This is the checklist to hold every bid against. A complete, honest proposal spells out each of these. If a quote is missing several, that is your sign the price is low because the work is incomplete.
- Roofing system type, ventilation plan, and warranty
- Full tear-off versus roofing over the old layer (a full tear-off is the correct method)
- Underlayment and flashing details
- Solar panel brand, count, and expected production
- Racking and mounting system
- Battery model, storage capacity, and how backup is wired
- Solar panel removal and reinstallation, if your roof is being replaced
- Permits and inspections
- Cleanup and final walkthrough
- A written workmanship warranty, in addition to the manufacturer warranty
If you need your panels removed for roofing, see our page, solar panel removal and reinstallation.
Know Who You Are Hiring
Contractors are not all built the same. Most fall into three groups.
The independent "chuck in a truck"
Often the cheapest quote. The low price can come from missing licensing, missing insurance, weak safety practices, or warranties that disappear when the work is done.
National big-box installers
Heavy on advertising, lighter on local knowledge. You may be passed between departments, and the crew on your roof may be a subcontractor you never met during the sale.
A local, licensed specialist
Based nearby, licensed and insured, and accountable to its own reputation in your city. This is where we fit. Home Pro Roofing and Solar is based in Sunnyvale and serves homeowners across Santa Clara, San Mateo, and Alameda counties.
Why the Cheapest Bid Often Costs the Most
A rock-bottom price almost always means something was left out. Here is where the corners get cut.
Cheap or unknown equipment
Off-brand panels and inverters degrade faster, run hotter, and produce less power each year. Homeowners in Mountain View, Los Altos, and Redwood City often call us after a bargain system fails to hit the production they were promised.
Undersized systems and skipped site checks
A system priced to look cheap may be too small to cover your real usage. A proper contractor measures shading, roof pitch, structure, and electrical capacity first. Bargain installers often skip that step, which leads to weak production and roof problems later.
Rushed work and no quality control
Less time per job means loose wiring, missing flashing, and skipped testing. A good contractor tests every connection and confirms your battery backup actually works before leaving.
Warranty trouble
Many low-cost installers disappear within a few years. When they do, your labor warranty goes with them, and manufacturers can deny claims if the work was done by an unlicensed crew.
Learn more about professional roofing and roof replacement
Solar and Battery Backup Add Extra Risk
Battery storage is not a simple add-on. California now requires a licensed electrician for new battery work on existing solar systems, and for good reason.
Batteries involve high-voltage wiring, correct spacing, fire-safety clearance, and careful pairing with your inverter. When a cheap installer gets the pairing or settings wrong, the battery may never charge fully or may fail to power your home during an outage. Permits in cities like Palo Alto, Los Altos Hills, and Cupertino are strict, and skipping them can leave you with fines and insurance problems.
Learn more about battery backup and storage.
Verify Licensing Before You Sign
This one step protects you more than any other. In California, the right work calls for the right license:
- C-39 for roofing
- C-46 for solar
- C-10 for electrical work, including batteries
A contractor licensed for both roofing and solar, working with licensed electricians on battery installs, gives you the strongest protection. Home Pro carries the proper licensing (CSLB #1050229) and coordinates battery work with licensed electricians.
You can confirm any contractor's status yourself. The state's free Check a License tool shows whether a license is active and whether the contractor carries a bond and workers' compensation insurance.
"Check a License tool" → CSLB License Check
One more protection worth knowing. California law caps the down payment for home improvement work at $1,000 or 10 percent of the contract price, whichever is less. If a contractor demands a large deposit for "special-order materials," that is a red flag.
Questions to Ask Every Contractor
Bring this short list to each consultation:
- Are you licensed for both the roofing and the solar work? What is your license number?
- Do you pull all permits and handle inspections?
- What brand of panels, inverter, and battery do you install?
- Will you remove and reinstall my panels if the roof needs work first?
- What does your workmanship warranty cover, and for how long?
How Home Pro Keeps It Simple
Roofing and solar problems usually start where two trades meet and nobody owns the seam. We close that gap. Home Pro is licensed for roofing and solar, so flashing, waterproofing, structure, and solar mounting are all handled by one team. You get one point of contact and one coordinated project, not a stack of contractors pointing fingers.
With nearly 20 years of experience and top-tier equipment through our vetted, experienced solar partners, we deliver systems built to last. If you are weighing how to pay for the work, our financing options can help you compare cash, loan, and PPA paths side by side.
See our available "financing options"
Schedule Your Free Roofing and Solar Consultation
We are your local roofing, solar, and battery backup experts, based in Sunnyvale and serving Santa Clara, San Mateo, and Alameda counties. Call us at (800) 650-3134 or visit homeproca.com to get started. Free estimates, no obligation.
FAQ's
How many quotes should I get for a roofing or solar project?
Two or three is plenty, as long as each one covers the same scope. More quotes do not help if they describe different work. Make sure every contractor is bidding on the same roof type, the same panel brand, and the same battery, so you are comparing equal proposals.
Why is the cheapest bid often the most expensive?
A very low price usually means something was left out, such as a full tear-off, proper permits, quality equipment, or a workmanship warranty. Those gaps show up later as roof leaks, weak solar production, failed inspections, or repair bills the homeowner has to cover.
What should a complete roofing and solar proposal include?
It should spell out the roofing system and warranty, the tear-off method, flashing and underlayment, the solar panel brand and expected production, the racking system, the battery model and capacity, any panel removal and reinstallation, permits, cleanup, and a written workmanship warranty. If a quote is missing several of these, the price is low because the work is incomplete.
Should I replace my roof before installing solar?
If your roof is near the end of its life, yes. Putting solar on an old roof means paying to remove and reinstall the panels when the roof finally needs replacing. Replacing the roof first, or doing both together, saves that double cost and protects your warranty.
How do I check if a contractor is licensed in California?
Use the state's free Check a License tool on the CSLB website. Enter the license number or business name to confirm the license is active and the contractor carries a bond and workers' compensation insurance. A licensed roofer or solar installer will give you that number without hesitation.