Hi Joel:
For many years, when Petersen Dean was Old Country Roofing, I would
install
the inverters and wiring for the Atlantis Sunslate roofs that they would sell.
I liked that partnership. Also, I recognize that solar is less and less of a
specialty anymore. Sooner than later, I would expect that solar installations
will be installed largely by electricians, general contractors, and even
roofing
contractors (as long as they carry appropriate licensing.)
However, many of my old partners, such as roofers who I have often
referred,
are now entering the solar industry. So my partners are becoming my
competitors. They have that right.
My hope is that whoever is installing solar, will at least provide a
quality
installation. What worries me about the system I serviced this week, where the
modules were left sitting on a sloped roof without attachments, is that the
roofing attachments is the aspect of the project that the roofer should be able
to do best, but they skipped that step. That gives me some concern for the
safety of PV system owners and their neighbors.
Nick Soleil
Project Manager
Advanced Alternative Energy Solutions, LLC
PO Box 657
Petaluma, CA 94953
Cell: 707-321-2937
Office: 707-789-9537
Fax: 707-769-9037
________________________________
From: Joel Davidson <joel.david...@sbcglobal.net>
To: RE-wrenches <re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org>
Sent: Fri, January 28, 2011 6:55:21 PM
Subject: Re: [RE-wrenches] Roofers installing solar = creative, new
installation
methods
Andrew,
Carter era contractors did not kneecap alternative energy industry in the
1970s, but that's not a wrenches subject.
Sure, everyone has stories about bad customers, GCs, subs, equipment, etc.
Some
of us are honest enough to admit that we have made a mistake or two. You don't
have to work for or with people you don't like or buy equipment you don't
like.
But I don't know anyone in the building or energy industry who does not work
with others.
Few contractors nowadays do all the trades in-house. Do you sub out
structural
engineering, surveying, roofing, arborist, concrete cutting, crane, etc.? Then
what's wrong with you being a sub if you like the other guy's work and can
control design and electrical installation or whatever you need to control?
There are plenty of decent contractors in your service area who would like to
have a good go-to PV company just as you like to have good go-to roofer. You
know your design and electrical costs and what margin you need for that
portion
of your work. So what's the hassle?
Joel Davidson
----- Original Message -----
>From: Solar Energy Solutions
>To: RE-wrenches
>Sent: Friday, January 28, 2011 8:41 AM
>Subject: Re: [RE-wrenches] Roofers installing solar = creative,new
>installation methods
>
>
>Joel,
>
>Our company cannot survive without selling an entire system. When we
>help the unqualified and untrained we legitimize unsubstantiated pv
>businesses. We get a dozen phone calls a month from folks wanting
>us
>to install their systems. It is a rat hole and we have learned that
>not only are such ventures unprofitable, they are fraught with poor
>designs and a plethora of other hassles. This whole thing reminds me
>of the Carter solar Gold Rush where, sure, a bunch of systems were
>installed, but look at the damage it did to the industry.
>
>Respectfully,
>
>
>
>Andrew Koyaanisqatsi
>President
>Solar Energy Solutions, Inc.
>Since 1987,
>Moving Portland and Beyond
>to an Environmentally Sustainable Future.
>503-238-4502
>www.solarenergyoregon.com
>
>"Better one's House too little one day
>than too big all the Year after."
>
>--- On Fri, 1/28/11, Joel Davidson <joel.david...@sbcglobal.net>
wrote:
>
>
>>From: Joel Davidson <joel.david...@sbcglobal.net>
>>Subject: Re: [RE-wrenches] Roofers installing solar = creative,
>>new
>>installation methods
>>To: "RE-wrenches" <re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org>
>>Date: Friday, January 28, 2011, 7:06 AM
>>
>>
>>
>>Guys,
>>You're missing a business opportunity. Instead of complaining
>>about
>>roofers' bad work and competition, show the company owners photos
>>of
>>their screw-ups and your quality work. Tell him that he is a risk.
>>Then offer to do their design and electrical installation (let
>>them
>>do the sales, roofing, and grunt work).
>>Joel Davidson
>>----- Original Message -----
>>>From: Warren Lauzon
>>>To: RE-wrenches
>>>Sent: Friday, January 28, 2011 3:35 AM
>>>Subject: Re: [RE-wrenches] Roofers installing solar =
>>>creative,new
>>>installation methods
>>>
>>>
>>>We have seen a lot of the roofing companies nibbling around the
>>>edges of solar installs lately. I have only seen a couple of
>>>installs personally, and they were far from what I would call
>>>professional or reliable. Not quite as bad as your example, but in
>>>
>>>one case they had used Romex to run the wiring down to the inverter,
>>>
>>>and not in conduit.
>>>
>>>From: Nick Soleil
>>>Sent: Thursday, January 27, 2011 8:11 PM
>>>To: re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org
>>>Subject: [RE-wrenches] Roofers installing solar = creative,new
>>>installation methods
>>> Hi wrenches:
>>> Have you noticed that roofing companies have recently been
>>>trying to sell solar? One company thought of something that I
>>>had
>>>never considered. Listen to this neat story.
>>> I was servicing a job today, where a roofing company
>>> recently
>>>removed and re-installed a PV array on a 12 degree sloped roof.
>>>
>>>The funny thing is that the roofer didn't want to penetrate his
>>>new
>>>roof, so he and the customer decided to leave the panels
>>>sitting on
>>>the composition roof without any attachments to the structure.
>>>They didn't think it was necessary!
>>>
>>> Shortly afterward, the array slid down the roof, and a
>>>MultiContact connector came unplugged. The customer noticed
>>>that
>>>his system was not operating, and called us to the site.
>>>
>>>
>>> Nick Soleil
>>>Project Manager
>>>Advanced Alternative Energy Solutions, LLC
>>>PO Box 657
>>>Petaluma, CA 94953
>>>Cell: 707-321-2937
>>>Office: 707-789-9537
>>>Fax: 707-769-9037
>>>
>>>
>>>
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