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SolarCraft reviews
• updated MAR 3, 2026Loading map...
The Verdict
SolarCraft handles the basics well but doesn't deliver the standout experience you'll find at top-tier installers. We found a company where individual salespeople shine (Robert Arnold earned mentions in 50 reviews for accurate sizing and realistic timelines) but the operational backbone shows cracks. One reviewer waited six months from signing to activation, triple the promised timeframe, while their entire home renovation stalled because SolarCraft delayed a panel upgrade that should have happened immediately. Another discovered that claiming a 25-year panel warranty meant paying SolarCraft up to $2,000 for testing with no guarantee of a favorable outcome. The workmanship itself scored a 4.7, anchored by installers who ran clean conduit and delivered systems that perform as promised. In 25 reviews about post-installation issues, technicians resolved equipment failures quickly and often at no charge. But project management earned mixed marks: 101 positive mentions against 18 complaints about missed schedules and serial handoffs between project managers. If you value local expertise and can stomach the occasional coordination fumble, SolarCraft's employee-owned model and multi-decade track record in the North Bay make it a defensible choice. Just don't expect the white-glove reliability that defines premium installers.
If you're willing to manage timelines yourself and push for updates when things go quiet, SolarCraft's quality work and responsive repair team justify the choice. But if your project has moving parts that depend on the installer hitting deadlines, look elsewhere.
3 Stories That Stood Out
Andrew T. signed a purchase in May for a complete solar design-and-build on a house that was being fully renovated, and ended up waiting six months before the system went live — missing the entire summer of solar generation and only getting activated in mid-November. He had chosen SolarCraft because his roofing contractor recommended them and promised coordinated work, but the project stalled and his renovation sat open while electrical and roofing tasks waited for the solar team to move. The contract promised a 4–10 week build plus interconnection approvals, yet interconnection clearance took just six days while the company’s internal sequencing stretched the job out for months. A main panel upgrade that could have been done shortly after signing instead didn’t happen until October; once the panel crew was engaged, PG&E needed about a month to schedule a power shutoff, but SolarCraft hadn’t pushed earlier to avoid that bottleneck. Communication and project management broke down repeatedly: he got passed between two project managers, had to chase both SolarCraft and the roofers because they weren’t coordinating, and watched crews treat steps as strictly serial when some could have,
Maria R. had a photovoltaic system put on her home in 2003 for about $28,000 and expected the panels to follow the typical 0.5–1% annual degradation (roughly 15% over the lifetime). Instead, one panel failed after only a few years and was swapped for a different, inferior brand, and the whole array has lost roughly 70% of its performance to date. When she pressed SolarCraft to honor the original 25‑year warranty she had been led to expect, the company pointed her to the panel maker, Sharp, and insisted the warranty was the manufacturer’s responsibility. SolarCraft then required extensive testing and measurements — work they said would take many hours and cost the customer roughly $1,000–$2,000 — to prove the panels had degraded beyond normal levels before they would pursue a claim. Faced with the practical impossibility of producing those measurements and no guarantee of a favorable outcome, she chose to replace every panel and pay SolarCraft the full replacement cost herself. Her persistent takeaway: SolarCraft limits its warranty to workmanship and expects customers to chase manufacturer guarantees, a distinction she wishes had been made clearly at installation. The detail that l
In August 2022, David L. had SolarCraft install a 20 MWh/year solar-electric system on his Marin County property. From the first site visit through design, installation, and post‑install follow-up, Robert Arnold led the project and handled the details—sizing the array, configuring the system, coordinating the crew, and staying involved after the panels were live. He and the SolarCraft team kept David regularly updated on progress so he rarely had to call; that steady communication was the defining feature of the job. They were racing to go live and formally interconnect with PG&E before changes to the net‑metering rules, and SolarCraft made sure the install finished with time to spare. Robert also flagged likely snags early on—possible delays in PG&E permitting and the remote chance PG&E would require a new transformer at David’s expense—so there were no surprises when those issues didn’t materialize. David appreciated that Robert set realistic expectations from the start, a practice he found notably uncommon among contractors. David put the project in the broader context of PG&E and CPUC moves to trim some solar incentives, but noted that, with electricity prices climbing, the
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How We Got To Trust Score 86
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Serving customers for 16 years
Among the longest-standing installers in the market.
BBB Rating: A+
Excellent BBB standing. Strong complaint resolution.
Natural Review Patterns
Reviews were posted naturally over time.
What You Can Expect
Marilyn G. moved quickly to add mini-splits to a small rental cottage so she could lock in a tax credit that disappears after 2025. Two years earlier she had SolarCraft install solar panels on the same property that have kept performing well, so she turned to the same team for the heat-pump work. The installers arrived competent and efficient, used quality materials, and stayed pleasant through the job; the installation wrapped up cleanly and she ended up with no regrets. The most memorable detail was the continuity — proven results from the earlier solar job made rehiring SolarCraft an easy, low-stress choice when the tax-credit deadline was looming. She left a five-star review, and the practical takeaway for buyers is simple: reliable past performance mattered more than a pitch when timing was tight.
Stephen Marotto met with Robert Arnold at SolarCraft to explore installing solar panels and to learn about battery options for his home. Robert walked him through the costs and benefits, explained how the system would operate, and steered him toward higher-quality, safety-minded choices while answering every concern. Robert also took time to size the system precisely by carefully estimating Stephen’s electricity demand, and they ended up with a system that fits usage perfectly. He walked away pleased with the service and the value Robert delivered. More than two years after installation, he has been very happy with the system’s performance and the resulting economics: utility bills have dropped to very low levels, and the payback is tracking exactly as Robert predicted.
Stephen worked with Robert Arnold at SolarCraft to size and install a home solar system, and Robert took the time to walk him through the costs, benefits, and how batteries and the system itself operate. Robert pushed for quality and safety, answered every concern, and accurately dialed in Stephen’s electricity needs so the array ended up the right size. More than two years after installation, the system’s performance and the economics have matched those projections — utility bills are very low and the payback timeline is unfolding exactly as Robert estimated.
In August 2022, David L. had SolarCraft install a 20 MWh/year solar-electric system on his Marin County property. From the first site visit through design, installation, and post‑install follow-up, Robert Arnold led the project and handled the details—sizing the array, configuring the system, coordinating the crew, and staying involved after the panels were live. He and the SolarCraft team kept David regularly updated on progress so he rarely had to call; that steady communication was the defining feature of the job. They were racing to go live and formally interconnect with PG&E before changes to the net‑metering rules, and SolarCraft made sure the install finished with time to spare. Robert also flagged likely snags early on—possible delays in PG&E permitting and the remote chance PG&E would require a new transformer at David’s expense—so there were no surprises when those issues didn’t materialize. David appreciated that Robert set realistic expectations from the start, a practice he found notably uncommon among contractors. David put the project in the broader context of PG&E and CPUC moves to trim some solar incentives, but noted that, with electricity prices climbing, the
Carolyn Jarvis has trusted SolarCraft for more than 30 years and recently had them install a new solar system with battery backup at her home. She found the crew delivered solid workmanship and kept the lines of support and follow-up open after the install. Three employees stood out during the process: Dave Berry in sales, Janell in Operations and Taylor in Tech, all of whom she credits with making the job smoother. She also valued that SolarCraft is a long-time, local, employee-owned company — a fact that, to her, translated into hands-on service and reliable follow-through even after decades as a customer.
Cindy chose SolarCraft for a 13-panel system and, since it went live in December 2021, she discovered it produces more electricity than she'd expected. She experienced professionalism at every turn — from the on-site visit and the written quote to the installation and the post-install follow-up — and the process moved along smoothly. The detail that stands out is the performance: the array has outperformed projections, turning the project into a noticeably better investment than anticipated. For a homeowner weighing installers, the memorable combination here was a turnkey, well-managed installation and a 13-panel system that actually delivers above estimates.
Richard had solar panels installed on his home in 2011, and the whole install went smoothly. He later added edge guards to keep pigeons off the array, and after a small hiccup the on-site manager offered a free panel cleaning. Years passed and the manager moved on; SolarCraft stopped handling cleanings themselves, but when Richard needed service in 2020 the company tracked down and hired an outside cleaning crew to honor that original promise. The outside team cleaned the panels thoroughly, and what sticks with him is not just the tidy install but that SolarCraft followed through on a nine-year-old commitment by finding a contractor to make good.
Greg Tull chose SolarCraft, a locally owned and independent solar designer, installer and servicer, to put solar on two Marin County homes. He first worked with them on his Corte Madera property nearly a decade ago and brought them back for his next house. Across both installs he stayed 100% satisfied with the workmanship and ongoing service, and he steered numerous friends and neighbors their way over the years. The lasting detail that matters to a prospective buyer: SolarCraft delivered design, installation and long-term service consistently across two different homes and nearly ten years of ownership.
S K. bought a residential solar system from SolarCraft in February 2016 after being told the payback would be seven to eight years. By 2023 they found themselves hit with large PG&E “true up” bills — more than $2,000 — and now worry the system may never pay for itself. They reached out to SolarCraft several times seeking a fix and were disappointed to learn the inverter won’t accept additional panels, so adding capacity isn’t an option. On top of that, the salesperson who sold the system is no longer with the company. The lasting image: a promised 7–8 year payback turned into ongoing surprise charges, with a hardware limitation and no clear upgrade path to resolve it.
Long-term Satisfaction
Long-term satisfaction for SolarCraft drops to 4.1 ★ compared to early reviews. This decline is worse than 64% of installers we looked at.
Long-term reviews carry the most weight in our methodology because they are most representative of what you should be paying for: a system that will perform for years.