Solar and Patio Pros Review: Services, Pricing, and Vetting Guide

Solar and Patio Pros is a contractor service that combines solar panel installation with outdoor living upgrades like patio covers, pergolas, and shade structures under one roof. If you searched for reviews or want to know whether they're worth hiring, the honest answer is: they can be a smart choice if you want both projects handled together and you do your homework upfront, but like any contractor, the quality of your experience depends heavily on how well you vet them before signing anything.

What Solar and Patio Pros actually does

Solar and Patio Pros (solarandpatiopros.com) is a home improvement company that positions itself at the intersection of two big outdoor projects: solar energy systems and patio/outdoor living construction. That dual focus is what makes them stand out from a standard solar installer or a pure patio builder. Instead of treating your roof and your backyard as completely separate jobs, they handle both, which means they can think about things like where roof-mounted panels interact with shade from a new pergola, or how to run conduit cleanly so electrical access doesn't ruin the look of a covered patio.

On the solar side, expect the typical offerings: rooftop solar panel systems, battery storage options, and grid-tie setups. On the patio side, the work typically includes patio covers (aluminum, wood, or insulated panel systems), pergolas, shade sails, and sometimes full outdoor room builds with lighting and electrical. A good contractor who builds patio covers should also coordinate the framing, permits, and electrical details so the finished system looks clean and works reliably. The combination pitch is that you get a single point of contact, one set of permits (ideally), and a team that's already thinking about how both systems live together on your property.

How solar and patio work overlap more than you'd think

Most homeowners think of solar and patio upgrades as totally separate decisions. But once you start planning them together, the overlap becomes obvious. A large patio cover on the south or west side of your house creates shade that changes your energy load calculations. A pergola with a metal roof can actually serve as a mounting surface for smaller solar panels, creating a dual-purpose structure that generates power while keeping you cool. Even just running electrical conduit for patio fans and lighting needs to be coordinated with your solar install to avoid redundant work or code violations.

If you live somewhere like Texas, Arizona, or the Southeast where summer heat is brutal, this bundled thinking makes even more sense. A well-placed insulated patio cover can cut your indoor cooling load, which directly affects how large a solar system you actually need. A contractor who understands both sides can help you right-size the solar instead of overselling panels to compensate for a hot, unshaded house.

• Shade structure placement affects your solar panel layout and roof access
• Patio electrical needs (fans, lighting, outlets) should be planned into the solar circuit design
• A pergola or carport can host solar panels, saving roof space and adding covered parking
• Bundled projects often share a single permit application, cutting timeline and fees
• Energy savings from shade structures reduce the solar system size you actually need

What to look for in reviews (and what the red flags are)

When you're reading reviews for Solar and Patio Pros, or any contractor combining two trades, you need to look past the star rating and pay attention to the specific themes that come up repeatedly. Here's what matters most and why.

Workmanship quality

Look for reviews that mention specific details: how the panels are railed and flashed, whether the patio cover posts are plumb, if electrical work passed inspection on the first try. Vague five-star reviews like 'great job, love it' tell you almost nothing. You want reviews where the homeowner clearly saw the work happen and can describe what went right. Photos in reviews are gold.

Scheduling and reliability

This is where bundled contractors often get their harshest reviews. Coordinating solar installers, roofers, electricians, and patio builders on the same job is logistically hard. Watch for patterns of crew no-shows, long gaps between phases, or projects that dragged weeks past the quoted timeline. One delay is normal. Repeated delays with poor communication is a red flag. Choosing a reliable patio contractor often comes down to how consistently they communicate and how quickly they resolve delays reliability.

Communication

The best reviews for any contractor mention a specific person who stayed in contact, answered questions promptly, and gave honest updates when timelines shifted. Bad reviews almost always mention ghosting after the deposit, or having to chase someone down for answers. For a solar-plus-patio project, you'll have questions about permits, utility interconnection, and construction phases, so communication isn't optional.

Permitting and inspection outcomes

Solar and patio covers both require permits in most jurisdictions. Reviews that mention clean permit pulls and passed inspections are a good sign. Reviews that mention having to fix unpermitted work, or homeowners who didn't know permits were required, signal a contractor cutting corners.

Warranty follow-through

Solar panels typically carry a 25-year manufacturer warranty and a separate workmanship warranty on the install (often 10 years). Patio cover warranties vary by material. The real test is what happens when something goes wrong after install. Reviews where the contractor came back quickly to fix a leak or panel issue are very telling. Silence after the check clears is the more common complaint.

Realistic pricing, financing, and timeline

Pricing for a bundled solar-plus-patio project varies widely by region, system size, and patio scope, but here are realistic ballpark numbers to set your expectations before you get a quote.

The federal Investment Tax Credit (ITC) still sits at 30% for residential solar in 2026, which takes a meaningful chunk off the solar portion of your project. Some states stack additional credits on top of that. The patio portion doesn't qualify for solar incentives, so make sure your quote separates those line items clearly for tax purposes.

Financing is commonly offered through third-party lenders, and Solar and Patio Pros likely has lending partners like GreenSky, Mosaic, or similar solar financing companies. Be cautious about dealer fees baked into financed quotes, where the contractor inflates the price to cover what the lender charges them. Always ask for a cash price and a financed price separately so you can see the real markup.

Timeline-wise, a solar-only install typically runs 4 to 12 weeks from contract to utility interconnection, depending on how fast your utility processes the interconnection agreement. Adding a patio cover project can run another 2 to 6 weeks on top of that, though if they're coordinated well, phases can overlap. Give yourself a realistic 3 to 6 month window from contract to fully operational, especially if permits in your county are slow.

Your vetting checklist before you hire anyone

Whether you're looking at Solar and Patio Pros specifically or comparing them against other local contractors, run through this checklist before you hand over a deposit.

1. Verify their contractor's license in your state: check your state licensing board's online lookup, not just what they tell you
2. Confirm they carry general liability insurance AND workers' comp, and ask for a certificate of insurance naming you as additional insured
3. Ask specifically who pulls the permits: if they say permits aren't required for your project, get that in writing or verify it yourself with your local building department
4. Request at least three references from completed projects similar to yours (solar + patio, not just one or the other), and actually call them
5. Ask to see a physical completed project in your area, not just photos
6. Get the quote broken down by line item: solar hardware, solar labor, patio materials, patio labor, permits, and electrical work separately
7. Ask which subcontractors they use and whether those subs are licensed and insured
8. Confirm what warranty covers the workmanship (not just the equipment), who backs it, and what the claim process looks like
9. Check that the contract includes a clear project timeline with milestone dates, not just a start date
10. Look up their business on your state's secretary of state website to confirm they're an active registered business

One thing a lot of homeowners skip is calling the references. Don't just read reviews on Google or Yelp. Call an actual past customer and ask the specific questions: Did the project finish on time? Did anything go wrong, and how did they handle it? Would you hire them again? That five-minute call often tells you more than twenty online reviews.

Bundling solar and patio together vs. hiring separate contractors

This is the real decision most homeowners face once they start getting quotes. Do you go with a bundled company like Solar and Patio Pros, or hire a dedicated solar installer and a separate patio builder? They are one option for answering who builds outdoor patios when you also want solar handled as part of the same project bundled company like Solar and Patio Pros. There's no universally right answer, but here's how to think about it.

My honest take: if your patio project is fairly standard (a covered patio or pergola with basic electrical) and your solar install is a straightforward rooftop system, bundling makes a lot of sense. You get one contract, one warranty contact, and someone thinking about how the two systems coexist. But if you want a highly custom patio build with intricate design work, or a more complex solar setup with battery storage and EV charging, you might be better served by hiring the best specialist in each trade separately. The coordination burden falls on you, but the expertise goes up.

This is worth comparing against what other local patio contractors and dedicated solar installers are offering in your area. It also helps to compare their patio work with what other contractors provide when you look for the best patio builders in your area. Get at least two quotes for each portion of the work so you have a real benchmark before deciding whether the bundle price is actually a deal.

How to get a quote and make a decision today

If you're ready to move forward, here's exactly what to do in the next 24 to 48 hours to put yourself in a position to make a smart decision quickly.

1. Pull your last 12 months of electricity bills and note your average monthly kWh usage: this is the first thing any solar installer needs to size a system
2. Measure or note the approximate square footage of your patio or the outdoor space you want covered
3. Take photos of your roof, backyard, and the area where a patio cover or pergola would go, including any existing structures, trees, or shade sources
4. Visit solarandpatiopros.com and request a quote through their contact form or phone number, providing the info above upfront to get a faster, more accurate estimate
5. While you're waiting, get at least one competing solar quote (EnergySage is a good tool for this) and one competing patio cover quote from a local contractor so you have benchmarks
6. When they contact you, use the vetting checklist from above: ask about licensing, insurance, references, and permit handling before you discuss pricing in depth
7. Once you have quotes in hand, compare total out-of-pocket cost after the 30% federal tax credit, not just the sticker price
8. Ask each contractor for a written project timeline with milestone dates before you sign anything

The homeowners who get the best outcomes on projects like this are the ones who come in prepared. When you show up to a quote with your energy usage data, your space measurements, and a list of specific questions, you immediately signal that you're an informed buyer, which tends to produce more accurate quotes and better contractor behavior throughout the project.

Bottom line: Solar and Patio Pros is worth contacting if you want a bundled approach to solar and outdoor living upgrades, but don't skip the vetting steps just because the concept is appealing. If you’re wondering who makes patios, look for a contractor that designs and builds the patio portion, including covers or pergolas, with clear plans and permits. Verify the license, check the references, get competing quotes, and read the contract carefully before you sign. Done right, combining solar and a quality patio upgrade can deliver real energy savings and a much better outdoor living space at the same time. If you are also shopping for the best patio solutions, the same bundled contractor criteria like workmanship and clear scheduling apply. Done carelessly, either project can become a headache that drags on for months.