Philadelphia, Pennsylvania · Side-by-side

Solar Installers vs Roofers in Philadelphia, PA: which one do you actually need?

A short, honest decision rule, then top-rated firms of each in Philadelphia. No paid placements.

3 solar installers ranked 3 roofers ranked Updated October 2026

The short answer: Rule of thumb: if the roof has <10 years of life left, reroof first, then solar. Solar companies will tell you this; roofers won't always.

Solar installers design, permit, and install residential and commercial photovoltaic systems, battery storage, and EV charging integrated with solar.

Roofing contractors handle repair, replacement, and inspection for residential and commercial roofs, asphalt, metal, flat, and specialty materials.

Hire a solar installer when…

Hire a solar installer for the panels and mounting system, they handle the roof penetrations as part of the install.

Top-rated solar installers in Philadelphia

  1. Ethical Energy Solar
    https://ethicalenergysolar.com/service-areas/lancaster/
  2. Most Recommended Solar
    https://zip.solar/most-recommended-solar-companies-in-raleigh
  3. Green Power Energy
    https://greenpowerenergy.com/new-jersey/solar-panel-installation/edison/

See all solar installers in Philadelphia →

Hire a roofer when…

Hire a roofer if your roof needs replacement BEFORE solar goes on. A 15-year-old roof should be replaced first, not drilled into.

Top-rated roofers in Philadelphia

  1. Roof Gurus
    https://roofgurus.com
  2. Stelwagon
    https://stelwagon.com
  3. Surf & Turf Roofing, Solar and Windows
    https://www.surfandturfroofing.com/bellmawr-roofing/

See all roofers in Philadelphia →

Quick decision rule

Rule of thumb: if the roof has <10 years of life left, reroof first, then solar. Solar companies will tell you this; roofers won't always. If your job sits squarely on one side of that line, you only need one trade. If it crosses, get a quote from each and let them tell you who owns which piece.

Get new posts in your inbox. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.