Century Roof And Solar vs Save A Lot Solar
Alameda Electrical Contractors Comparison · Updated March 2026
Century Roof and Solar offers 30 years of veteran roofing and solar experience versus Save A Lot Solar's 14 years focused exclusively on solar installations.
| Century Roof And Solar | Save A Lot Solar | |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | ★ 4.8 | ★ 4.9 |
| Years Licensed | 30 years | 14 years |
| License # | 721502 | 971422 |
| Workers' Comp | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Bond Amount | $25,000 | $25,000 |
| Location | Hayward, CA | Oakland, CA |
| Website | www.centuryroofandsolar.com | www.savealotsolar.com |
Key Differences
What Customers Say
Century Roof And Solar
Customers emphasize thorough project evaluations, strong coordination across multiple trades, and attention to detail with clean jobsite practices, though pricing is noted as premium.
Save A Lot Solar
Customers consistently praise personalized consultation, competitive pricing, appropriately-sized systems rather than overselling, and responsive communication throughout the project.
Key Takeaway: Century's reviews focus on multi-scope project management and comprehensive service delivery, while Save A Lot's feedback centers on value pricing and avoiding oversized system recommendations.
Customer Reviews
Century Roof And Solar
It's good to know that there are still honest and hard working people that truly want to help their customers. The process of replacing my tile roof, gutters and insulation with Century Roof and Solar...
I contracted Century Roof and Solar to repair my roof. Tony (owner) visited my home for a consultation and was very thorough in explaining my options. It was a clear he was a man who knew his roofs. H...
Co-worker suggested Century Roof and Solar, went with the factory install. So I could transfer material and labor, to the new owner when I sell. Tony (owner) Pedro, Mark, Jose and to all the other wor...
Save A Lot Solar
They did my panels a few years ago and I could not be happier with the service, and the product.
Locally run, great people, skilled at designing a small system that the big players couldn’t be bothered with. On time and on budget with no surprises.
Jon and team were great to work with.
Consider Century Roof And Solar if...
- ✓ Your roof is older than 10 years or shows signs of wear, making it practical to address roofing and solar in a single coordinated project with one contractor managing both scopes
- ✓ You need structural repairs, dry rot remediation, or significant roofing work before solar panels can be safely installed
- ✓ Your project involves multiple systems such as solar, battery backup, electrical panel upgrades, and roofing modifications like skylights or ridge venting that benefit from veteran-level coordination
- ✓ You value three decades of field experience diagnosing hidden issues and managing complications that arise during installation
Consider Save A Lot Solar if...
- ✓ Your roof is in good condition with at least 15 years of remaining life and you need solar installation only
- ✓ Competitive pricing is a priority and you want a solar specialist rather than paying for multi-trade overhead
- ✓ You prefer working with a company focused exclusively on solar technology, equipment selection, and system sizing rather than broader home improvement services
- ✓ You have a challenging property situation such as strict local permitting or an older home requiring specialized solar design
Questions to Ask Before Hiring
- → Ask Century Roof and Solar for a detailed breakdown separating roofing costs from solar costs if you're considering both, and clarify what warranty coverage applies to each component
- → Ask Save A Lot Solar who they coordinate with for roofing work if issues are discovered during installation, and whether that adds timeline delays
- → Ask both companies for references from projects completed in the past year that match your specific scope, whether that's integrated roofing-solar or solar-only installation
- → Confirm with both contractors how they handle unexpected structural issues discovered during installation and whether their quotes include contingency provisions
The Bottom Line
If your project involves roofing work or your roof is more than 10 years old, Century Roof and Solar's veteran experience and multi-trade capability justify their consideration despite premium pricing—you're paying for comprehensive scope management and three decades of diagnosing hidden issues. If your roof is sound with 15+ years of life remaining and you only need solar, Save A Lot Solar offers focused solar expertise at competitive pricing with strong customer feedback on personalized service and appropriate system sizing. The decision hinges on whether you need roofing services: integrated projects favor Century, while solar-only installations on good roofs favor Save A Lot's specialization and value positioning.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Using one contractor like Century Roof and Solar eliminates coordination issues and warranty confusion between trades, which matters if problems arise later. However, if your roof is sound and you only need solar, a specialized solar contractor like Save A Lot often delivers better pricing and deeper solar-specific expertise. The key question is whether your roof needs work within the next 15 years, since removing and reinstalling solar panels later costs thousands.
For straightforward solar-only installations on newer roofs, the difference is less critical—both companies demonstrate competence in their review patterns. The experience gap becomes significant when projects involve older homes, structural unknowns, or integration challenges across multiple building systems. Century's three decades means they've diagnosed thousands of roofs and encountered more edge cases, while Save A Lot's 14 years is still substantial for solar-specific installations and equipment selection.
Customer feedback indicates Century's pricing runs higher than competitors, which customers attribute to comprehensive scope and warranty options. Save A Lot is repeatedly described as competitively priced against other solar companies. If you only need solar and your roof is sound, you'll likely see a meaningful price difference. If you need roofing work anyway, bundling both with Century may prove more cost-effective than hiring separate contractors.
Century's 30-year veteran status gives them broader experience with structural complications, dry rot, and integrating work across old building systems. Save A Lot specifically mentions successful installations on century-old homes and challenging jurisdictions, showing capability with complex properties from a solar installation perspective. Ask each company for references matching your specific roof complexity and home age to evaluate their relevant experience directly.
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How We Compare Contractors
License Verification
All license data is sourced from official California CSLB records and verified regularly.
Review Analysis
Customer reviews are aggregated from Google and analyzed to identify patterns in service quality.
Detailed Comparison
We analyze credentials, insurance, experience, and feedback to highlight meaningful differences.
Not all licensed contractors are created equal. While a valid license is the baseline requirement in California, contractors can vary significantly in experience, insurance coverage, and customer satisfaction.
- Experience matters: A contractor with 15+ years of experience has likely encountered and solved problems that newer contractors haven't faced yet.
- Workers' compensation protects you: If a contractor without workers' comp insurance has an employee injured on your property, you could be held liable.
- Reviews reveal patterns: Individual reviews can be misleading, but patterns across many reviews often reveal a contractor's true strengths and weaknesses.
- Bond amounts vary: A contractor's bond provides financial protection if they fail to complete work as agreed. Higher bonds offer more protection.
Taking time to compare contractors on these factors can save you from costly mistakes and help ensure your project is completed by a qualified professional.
Data Sources: License information from California CSLB. Ratings and reviews from Google. Last verified March 08, 2026.
This comparison is based on publicly available information. We recommend getting multiple quotes and verifying all credentials directly before hiring.
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