How to Choose a BIPV Installer or Roofing Partner
Look for a team that can handle both halves of the job: the roofing and the electrical. Ask whether they've been trained on the specific system, whether they hold the licences your area requires for each trade, who carries responsibility once the roof is on, and whether you can see or speak to past projects.
What good looks like
A solar roof is a roof first. So the installer should be a roofer you'd trust with an ordinary roof, or should be working with one. The electrical work needs someone qualified for it under your local rules. Sometimes that's one company. Often it's two that have worked together before. Either can be fine. What you don't want is two firms meeting for the first time on your driveway.
Questions worth asking
- Have you installed this system before, or been trained on it?
- Who does the roofing and who does the electrical work? Are they both yours?
- Which licences do you hold, and do they cover both trades where I live?
- Who produces the layout drawing, and will I see it before you order?
- Who deals with permits and the utility?
- If there's a leak, who do I call? If there's an electrical fault, who do I call?
- What do the roof and electrical warranties cover, and who honours them?
- Can I see a finished project or talk to a past customer?
One contractor or two
| Setup | How it works | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| One company does both | A single contract and a single point of contact | That they are properly qualified for both roofing and electrical work |
| Roofer leads, electrician subcontracted | Roofer holds the contract and brings the electrician | That the electrician knows the system and is named in the paperwork |
| Two separate contracts | You hire each trade yourself | Who coordinates them, and who owns the join between the two scopes |
Things that should make you pause
Be wary of a quote that arrives without anyone looking at the roof. The same goes for an installer who can't tell you who does the electrical work, or who waves away questions about permits. And if nobody will say in writing who's responsible for what after handover, keep looking.
If you're a roofer
If you run a roofing company and you're thinking about offering integrated solar, the same questions apply in reverse. You'll want training on the system, an electrical partner you trust, and a clear picture of who supports you when a job gets complicated. We work with roofing contractors on exactly this.
Become an installation partnerQuestions we get asked
Do I need a roofer or a solar installer?
You need both skills. The installer may be one company with both, or a roofer and an electrician working together.
Is training on the specific system necessary?
We think so. Integrated systems have their own details, and the installation instructions are specific. Ask what training the crew has had.
What licences should the installer have?
That depends on where you are. Requirements for roofing and for electrical work are set locally. Ask the installer which they hold and check with your local authority if you're unsure.
Who should I call if something goes wrong later?
You should know that before the job starts. Get the contacts for roof issues and for electrical issues in writing.
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