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Five Star Solar vs Lawson Mechanical Contractor
Sacramento General Contractors Comparison · Updated March 2026
Five Star Solar is a specialized solar contractor with proven customer feedback, while Lawson Mechanical is a multi-generational mechanical contractor without solar-specific documentation.
| Five Star Solar | Lawson Mechanical Contractor | |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | ★ 4.9 | ★ 5.0 |
| Years Licensed | 20 years | 67 years |
| License # | 873535 | 178385 |
| Workers' Comp | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Bond Amount | $25,000 | $25,000 |
| Location | Elk Grove, CA | Sacramento, CA |
| Website | www.fivestarssolar.com | www.lawsonmechanical.com |
Key Differences
What Customers Say
Five Star Solar
Customers consistently praise Five Star Solar for fast installation completion, competitive pricing, and thorough education throughout the solar process without sales pressure.
Key Takeaway: Five Star Solar has extensive verifiable customer feedback documenting solar project performance, while Lawson Mechanical has no available reviews to confirm current solar installation capabilities or customer experience.
Customer Reviews
Five Star Solar
The folks at Five Star Solar were professional, experienced, fast, organized, and available for questions and communication. My solar system has been working flawlessly since they installed it. I had ...
In October 2025, I saw an ad about installing solar panels. I called my company, and they filed for bankruptcy. I called other companies, and they told me that they won't finish by December deadline f...
Like so many of us that were going to do some type of solar project at some point we now had to scramble to get our solar projects completed by year end due to the abandonment of the Tax Credit. I was...
Lawson Mechanical Contractor
A good plase.
Consider Five Star Solar if...
- ✓ You want a contractor whose entire business focus is solar installation, with documented experience in panel systems, battery backups, inverter replacements, and both rooftop and ground-mount configurations.
- ✓ You value the ability to verify contractor performance through multiple customer accounts of actual solar projects, installation timelines, and post-installation support.
- ✓ Your project involves complexities like HOA approval processes, system expansions, or taking over incomplete work, where Five Star Solar has documented experience.
- ✓ You prefer competitive pricing with an educational sales approach, as consistently mentioned in customer feedback rather than pressure tactics.
Consider Lawson Mechanical Contractor if...
- ✓ You have an existing relationship with Lawson Mechanical from previous non-solar work and trust their general contracting capabilities enough to explore their solar services.
- ✓ You value extreme business longevity and are willing to be among the first to document their solar installation work publicly.
- ✓ You plan to request extensive solar-specific references, crew credentials, and examples of completed solar projects directly from the company before deciding.
- ✓ Your project involves mechanical work beyond solar installation where their broader mechanical expertise might provide integrated value.
Questions to Ask Before Hiring
- → Ask Lawson Mechanical directly: How many solar installations have you completed in the past two years, and can you provide references specifically for solar projects with battery systems?
- → Ask Lawson Mechanical: Who on your crew holds NABCEP certification or specialized solar installation training, and how long have they been performing solar work?
- → Ask Five Star Solar: What warranties do you provide on installation workmanship versus equipment, and how do you handle service calls after installation?
- → Ask both companies: What is your typical timeline from contract signing to final utility permission to operate, and what causes delays in that process?
The Bottom Line
For a solar installation project where you need to decide this week, Five Star Solar is the clear choice unless you have compelling reasons otherwise. They specialize exclusively in solar with documented experience across the project types homeowners actually need—battery backups, system expansions, HOA approvals, and various installation configurations. Multiple customers confirm their pricing competitiveness, installation speed, and educational approach. Lawson Mechanical may be an excellent mechanical contractor with impressive longevity, but without documented solar project history or customer feedback, you're essentially betting on unverified solar capabilities. If you're considering Lawson, make that decision only after obtaining specific solar references and confirming active solar practice.
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Frequently Asked Questions
The data doesn't confirm active solar installation work from Lawson Mechanical—only that their mechanical contractor license permits such work. You need to ask them directly for recent solar project references, crew qualifications, and photos of completed installations. A license classification doesn't guarantee active practice in that specialty area.
For solar specifically, yes—20 years means Five Star Solar has worked through multiple generations of solar technology, inverter types, and battery systems. Lawson's 67 years reflects overall business longevity in mechanical contracting, which is impressive for stability but doesn't indicate solar expertise. Specialization matters more than general business age for technical solar installations.
Long-established contractors sometimes rely entirely on word-of-mouth and repeat commercial clients rather than maintaining online review profiles. However, for a homeowner making a decision this week, the absence of verifiable customer feedback means you cannot confirm their current work quality, communication style, or project management approach without doing additional direct reference checking.
Potentially, if your project involves integrated HVAC considerations or complex mechanical coordination. However, solar installation primarily requires electrical expertise, roofing knowledge, and utility interconnection experience rather than mechanical systems background. Ask Lawson directly how their mechanical background specifically benefits solar installations beyond what a specialized solar contractor provides.
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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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