Coronado Solar Overview
Coronado Solar is a solar installation company, made up of around 25 employees, with headquarters located in Avon Park, Florida. Despite its relatively small size, the company provides its services throughout most of the state and in certain Caribbean countries.
Coronado Solar was formed in 2008 as part of Coronado Custom Homes, which was founded in 2002. Coronado Solar uses its wealth of experience to provide businesses and homeowners with suitable solar energy solutions, paired with reasonable pricing and ongoing support to create long lasting relationships with its customers.
Solar Panels & Services offered by Coronado Solar
Specific solar panels offered
There is no specific mention of the types of solar panels offered by Coronado Solar. Their online presence is also very limited which suggests that they prefer using more traditional forms of marketing, such as local events and word of mouth recommendations to attract new customers.
Customer reviews indicate different solar panels are recommended during the consultation phase and depend on various factors.
Specific types of solar solutions offered
Coronado Solar offers grid-tied (with or without batteries) and off-grid battery backup solar energy solutions for commercial or residential properties in Florida.
- Grid-tied without batteries – The energy derived from the solar panels is not backed up and can either be used or sold back to the grid.
- Grid-tied with batteries – Energy coming from the solar panels can be stored in batteries and used in case of a grid outage.
- Off-grid battery backup – All energy for the property is generated from the solar panels and has no links to the power grid. This solution is used when diverting the grid’s power to the site is not practical or wanted.
Additional services:
- Racking – For properties whose roofs might not be able to support solar panel installation directly, Coronado Solar can install panels onto standing seam metal roofs. An S-5 mounting system would allow the company to avoid penetrating the roof directly, and the panel can be attached to the vertical sections.
- Solar Powered Carports – Solar panel-covered carports serve the dual purpose of creating a shaded area to protect vehicles while also creating energy. This option also qualifies for the 30% tax credit in Florida.
- Solar Attic Fans – These fans can move 400-800 cubic feet of air per minute to reduce the temperature by 30-40 degrees Fahrenheit, allowing AC units to work more efficiently.
Installation costs & process
Costs
Florida is widely considered one of the best states for solar power generation in the US, which makes it much cheaper than in some other states. The average cost per watt in Florida ranges from $2.30 – $2.85, compared to other states that average around $3.50 per watt.
Coronado Solar does not provide its exact pricing online and will require conducting a consultation in order to provide a quote. The company provides these consultations free of charge, and their prices vary based on several factors, such as size, type, and building specifications. Coronado Solar also assists clients in applying for tax credits which will help offset the cost of transitioning to solar.
Based on the customer reviews that we trawled, several customers mentioned that the company’s prices were competitive when compared to its competitors. Here is an example:
| “I had attempted to install solar at our NJ home for the last year and a half, always being denied by our electric utility. So I attempted to do our Florida home. I contacted Cornado and 6 weeks later all done! Everyone there has been great, the salesman, the office, installers and even the delivery guy. All that at a competitive cost. Thanks Coronado.” |
Coronado Solar explains the installation process that will take place over the weeks following the consultation, covering permits, installation, and inspection by the power company for any grid-tie systems. They also create an image render to send to clients, showing them what the solar panels will look like once installed.
Legitimacy
Coronado Solar appears to be a legitimate business.
| Coronado Solar was founded in 2008 and is legally registered in the state of Florida. |
| The company, along with its parent company, holds licenses as a roofing contractor (CCC1326519), building contractor (CBC12553671), and solar contractor (CVC56809). |
| Coronado Solar has been BBB accredited since 2019, although there are no reviews about the company on the platform. |
| Coronado Solar is locally owned and operated by Dennis Mee, a solar, roofing, and building professional from Florida. |
Awards and Accreditations:
- The Company is a certified Generac partner.
Usually, information about the types of solar panels and other related equipment used would be more readily available. In addition, we were unable to access some key information that we would usually look for, such as the number of completed projects it has, as well as the total amount of watts installed. While the company does boast BBB accreditation, it surprisingly doesn’t have or doesn’t display any other industry-related awards which is often well-advertised by most solar companies.
Maintenance
Coronado Solar’s maintenance services are not explicitly stated on their website, with the only mention of it appearing when stating that solar systems require no maintenance and carry 25-year warranties. To better understand the level of maintenance and support offered, customer reviews were consulted, and the overall sentiment is that Coronado Solar can do much better in this department.
Some reviews also stated that getting hold of Coronado often proved difficult.
Notwithstanding, there are positive reviews, too, with people complementing the professionalism displayed by the sales and installation teams in particular while also expressing how happy they were to see the installed system was producing the energy levels agreed upon.
The combination of a lack of freely accessible information and the negative comments of some customers suggests that potential customers should be sure to clarify the company’s maintenance and warranty process beforehand to avoid any issues later on.
| Key Points | |
| Solar Panel Warranty | 25 Years |
| Workmanship Warranty | Unspecified |
| Power Production Guarantee | Unspecified |
| In-house contractors | Unspecified |
| Free Consultation | Yes |
Customer Service (Review Analysis)
Two customer reviews will be looked at in further detail to show the polarization of experiences Coronado Solar has provided. The negative one comes from a customer who was told that even after installation, his roof was secure for another 15 years. However, the first rain after the solar panels installation resulted in leaks and damage to the customer’s two ceilings. Although the leaks were repaired, ceiling repairs are not within Coronado’s remit. That damage, the customer claims, resulted in a complete roof change barely two years later due to the damage caused by Coronado.
In terms of the solar panels per se, the customer informed Coronado Solar that one panel, in particular, was not functioning at full capacity. The reply, allegedly, was that they sell those panels but don’t warranty them. This resulted in the customer contacting the solar panel company directly, who then sent a new panel, free of charge, and a different installer.
The positive review, on the other hand, spoke of a friendly and knowledgeable salesperson who not only made the signing of the contract easy and understandable but was also present at every stage, from design to installation of the system. Furthermore, the customer acknowledged that though there were some issues, these were quickly handled by Coronado and is sure that they will be able to count on them in the future should the need arise.
These vast discrepancies in the reviews once again emphasizes that customers should clarify all terms of warranty and ongoing maintenance with the company before confirming installation.
The SolarEmpower View
While several years’ experience, BBB accreditation, and some very positive reviews does stand Coronado Solar in good stead, the number of complaints about various services across different platforms means that potential customers should approach cautiously. The company also lacks at providing easily accessible information, making it difficult for our experts to recommend them confidently.
| 💲Cost: 8/10 | ✅Legitimacy: 7/10 |
| ⭐️Quality: 6/10 | 📞Customer Service: 5/10 |
