Scudder Solar installed a high-end 36-panel solar system on the roof of my house about a year ago…read more And it's worked perfectly ever since. I contacted/interviewed six different local solar companies locally before I finally chose Scudder to execute on my project (2 companies never even showed up for their appointments). Scudder was very, very competitively priced too, but they were far more professional/superior in the sales process than any of the other companies - I interviewed. It was more of an education process that was provided to me by Scudder (Thank you, Chris Supinski - my sales guy) compared to all the others that dabbled in high-pressure sales tactics (which is a "Big Mistake" - with me!). Of course, executing the contract with Scudder, I hoped and believed that Scudder's professional sales process would translate into a professional install as well with quality project management and craftsmanship. And Scudder Solar never disappointed me in that regard!!! At every stage of the process from start to finish, the team was organized, cordial, on time, and the people were amazing!
Scudder not only took care of the solar install for me but also did a main power panel upgraded from 200amp's to 400amp as well. All of which was fully permitted by the City of Monterey. And Scudder took care of all the red tape/paperwork for the city permits for that too. Go, Scudder! You Rock!
Please note: I did a lot of research on Scudder and Pete Scudder and his team locally at Scudder Roofing have a stellar reputation. Scudder Solar is a subsidiary of Scudder Roofing (I believe or just a DBA) and is by far the Central Coasts most premier roofing company and has been for decades.
So, everyone, just a little bit of advice to think through here ...if you're having someone put solar on your roof, they should be first and foremost a "Roofing Company" (NOT a solar company) since they will need to:
1) Pull up (remove) some roof tiles (or shingles, or composite roof tiles, etc.).
2) Then mount the stanchions (e.g., the brackets that secure the solar racking to your roof).
3) And it's those "Stanchions" that require mounting/penetrating your roofs "waterproof membrane" to secure/mount the solar "Framework" that holds/connects the solar panels to the roofs structure (rafters).
Secondly, make sure they are a great electrical company too (with journeyman electricians) because they will have to wire your solar panels to your solar control panel that feeds your homes main electric panel.
RE: Electrical. Scudder had their guy come out (Keith) and he was a certified commercial electrician (not just a residential electrician) with his helper at the crack of dawn (as I agreed) and proceeded to cut the stucco on the side of my house (big square hole). All of this was too flush mount the new 400amp main power panel upgrade and reframe the studs (2X6) in the side of the garage wall of my house to accept the new panel to ready it for the 2 PM city inspector (city permit inspection). Sure, the city was out in the AM, cut the power to the house at the street and the power was back on in like 6 hours. So these guys from Scudder worked straight through lunch without even taking a break. Who does that? And all the while, I had ice chests with ice ready to preserve my refrigerator/freezer food and never even had to use them. Sure, crazy ridiculous efforts by Scudder, but make sure your solar installers have guys like Keith on board as well. The Scudder Solar Electrical Team - Killed it in record time!
So, the moral of my story is you don't just need solar guys, you need certified roofers, electricians and potentially even guys with saws to cut threw stucco, guys to frame walls and more. In short, Scudder has them all, and over the course of the project, nine different folks were on site for my project over the four days they knocked my project out (of the park that is).
I'm not here to toot my own horn, and surely I'm not here to steal Scudders thunder, but I do have skills and this solar project with Scudder was on my 27th home I have owned over the years (Yep, I am old), and although I have never had a solar system before on my properties, I know quality craftsmanship and people when I see it!!! And that's what Scudder delivered - in spades.
It's a shame that Yelp only allows "Five Stars" - The Scudder team deserves "TEN STARS"! In any event, my bad, I should've written this review a year ago when Scudder finished the install last year, but today was the day to put this out there after seeing the work they did today by coming back out to my house with their complimentary "First Year Free" cleaning of my solar panels. So, Scudder followed through as they promised to do a year ago ... if I simply called them back within the first year for the free panel cleaning. So, today, I couldn't resist myself and knew I had to write this review because the Scudder Solar Team deserves it! Go, Scudder! Again, YOU ROCK!