10/04/2021
Mike P
Redding, CA
Top Hat was the company I really expected and wanted to love--I chose them over a less expensive competitor. The people are very friendly, and it's a local business, which I try to support. However, if I had to do it all over again, I would not choose Top Hat and cannot recommend them to anyone. CONS: - Communication was lacking from Top Hat to me and between Top Hat employees. The crew disappeared from my project for a month without ever telling me they'd be gone or why they weren't coming back. I told one member numerous things I wanted done, but that wasn't communicated to the work crew, so many things were done opposite of what I asked. They also don't keep their word--I discovered a problem at the end of August. Twice they've told me someone would come out to fix it, and nobody ever came. It's been over a month and the problem still exists. - The crew is genuinely horrible at cleaning up. They left construction debris and drinking bottles all around, which I repeatedly cleaned up throughout the duration of the project. - Attention to detail is lacking, overall. This was evident in wires left not zip tied in my solar array, mounting locations of boxes (my generator plug box was wiggly), and the overall condition they left the site in (debris, trash, and ruts). - Every time I mow my property, I am reminded of how Top Hat left my yard in worse condition than they found it as my lawn tractor slams into the ruts and channels they left behind from their trailers and trucks being driven all over the front of my yard. This could have been mitigated by laying plywood on the ground before driving and parking on the dirt or parking at the top of the driveway. They only smoothed out their trench in one part of the yard, leaving me to do the rest of the yard by hand. - The company was verbally responsive when I raised my complaints, but, ultimately, the actions did not improve in the subsequent months they were on my property doing work. PROS: - They installed a solid system that produces many kilowatts of energy each day. I love feeling free from PG&E bill-shock! - The solar array just looks cool. BOTTOM LINE: When all is said and done, Top Hat installed a system that delivers the power they said it would. However, I feel that ANY solar company can accomplish this. The process of getting solar installed by Top Hat was sub-par and very frustrating for me, and now it seems they aren't standing behind their installation. If I had to do it over again, I would not have chosen Top Hat and cannot recommend them to anyone.