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Five Star Solar vs Sunrise Solar Roofing

Sacramento General Contractors Comparison · Updated March 2026

Quick Verdict

Two veteran solar contractors with similar credentials compete primarily on project scope and customer education approach.

Five Star Solar: Five Star Solar brings 20 years of experience with competitive pricing, quick installations, and thorough customer education across diverse project types including battery systems and expansions.
Sunrise Solar Roofing: Sunrise Solar Roofing offers 18 years of experience with efficient installations, post-installation support, and holistic home assessment identifying additional improvements like ventilation issues.
Five Star Solar Sunrise Solar Roofing
Rating 4.9 4.6
Years Licensed 20 years 18 years
License # 873535 913485
Workers' Comp ✓ Yes ✓ Yes
Bond Amount $25,000 $25,000
Location Elk Grove, CA Rancho Cordova, CA
Website www.fivestarssolar.com www.sunrisesolarroofing.com

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Key Differences

The most significant differentiator is project breadth. Five Star Solar demonstrates substantially more diverse experience, handling battery backup systems, system expansions, inverter replacements, ground-mount installations, and ADU projects alongside standard rooftop installations. Sunrise Solar Roofing's documented experience focuses primarily on standard solar installations with some attic ventilation work. Five Star Solar's customers consistently emphasize the educational component of their sales process, with detailed explanations that help homeowners understand system design choices without pressure tactics. Their installations frequently complete in one to two days. Sunrise Solar Roofing customers highlight post-installation responsiveness and discovering related home issues during consultation, suggesting a more holistic assessment approach. Both companies complete work efficiently, but Five Star Solar shows broader capability for complex or non-standard projects. The two-year licensing difference is minimal at this experience level, but Five Star Solar's documented handling of HOA approvals and contractor takeover projects suggests deeper experience navigating complications.

What Customers Say

Five Star Solar

Five Star Solar customers emphasize the educational sales process, competitive pricing after comparing quotes, and quick installation completion with professional crews handling diverse project types.

Sunrise Solar Roofing

Sunrise Solar Roofing customers highlight post-installation responsiveness, significant utility bill reductions, and holistic assessments that identify related home improvements during solar planning.

Key Takeaway: Five Star Solar customers focus on the decision-making phase with thorough education and pricing, while Sunrise Solar Roofing customers emphasize the post-installation relationship and ongoing support.

Customer Reviews

Five Star Solar

Jan 2026

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 ...

Jan 2026

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...

Dec 2025

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...

Sunrise Solar Roofing

Aug 2024

I got SunRise solar about 18 months ago, I’ve had two minor problems, they send someone out quickly. I have experienced excellent, professional and pleasant service with installation and follow up. ...

Jul 2024

Friendly, professional install at a reasonable price.

Oct 2023

I've had my solar from Sunrise Solar Roofing installed for almost a year now. Choosing to go with Sunrise Solar was the best decision I could have made. I saved thousands, yes THOUSANDS of dollars goi...

Consider Five Star Solar if...

  • You need battery backup integration, system expansion on existing solar, or ground-mount installation rather than standard rooftop panels
  • You want detailed education throughout the decision process to understand system components and design tradeoffs before committing
  • Your project involves HOA approval or you're taking over from another contractor who left work incomplete
  • Competitive pricing matters and you plan to compare multiple quotes, as customers consistently selected Five Star Solar after shopping around
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Consider Sunrise Solar Roofing if...

  • You value ongoing post-installation support and want a company that maintains contact throughout the first year and responds quickly to minor system issues
  • You appreciate contractors who identify related home improvements during the solar assessment process, such as ventilation or infrastructure concerns
  • Your project is a straightforward residential rooftop solar installation without battery systems or complex requirements
  • You prefer a contractor with demonstrated ability to complete installations ahead of the original timeline
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Questions to Ask Before Hiring

  • Ask Five Star Solar for references on projects similar to yours, particularly if you need battery systems or expansions, to verify their documented experience with complex installations
  • Ask Sunrise Solar Roofing about their experience with battery backup systems and system expansions if your project requires those components
  • Request both companies explain their post-installation support timeline and what issues they'll address in the first year versus what falls to manufacturers
  • Ask how each company handles permitting delays or inspection issues, given both operate in the same jurisdiction with similar timelines

The Bottom Line

Both contractors offer veteran experience with solid credentials, making this decision about project fit rather than fundamental competence. Choose Five Star Solar if you need battery systems, expansions, or non-standard installations, value detailed customer education, or want the most competitive pricing after shopping multiple quotes. Their 20 years and broader project portfolio make them the stronger choice for complex residential solar. Choose Sunrise Solar Roofing if your project is straightforward rooftop solar and you prioritize post-installation support and holistic home assessment. For standard installations, either will serve you well, but Five Star Solar's documented breadth gives them the edge for most homeowner situations.

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Frequently Asked Questions

At 20 and 18 years respectively, both are veteran contractors with deep experience navigating solar installations, permitting, and industry changes. The difference becomes relevant only if you have complex requirements like battery integration or system expansions, where Five Star Solar shows more documented project diversity. For standard rooftop installations, both have equivalent maturity.

Sunrise Solar Roofing customers specifically highlight quick response times for post-installation issues and ongoing contact throughout the first year. Five Star Solar customers mention support years after installation, but emphasize the upfront education more than follow-up service. If post-installation responsiveness is a priority, ask both companies to detail their service timeline and what they cover versus manufacturer warranties.

Five Star Solar has documented experience installing battery backup systems as evidenced by customer reviews mentioning this work. Sunrise Solar Roofing's available customer feedback focuses on standard solar installations without mentioning battery systems. If battery backup is essential, verify Sunrise Solar Roofing's specific experience with your preferred battery brand and system size.

Five Star Solar customers consistently mention competitive pricing as a decision factor after comparing multiple quotes, suggesting they position themselves aggressively on price. Sunrise Solar Roofing customers emphasize cost savings from the installed systems but don't specifically highlight initial pricing competitiveness. Get quotes from both, as Five Star Solar may have an edge if you're price-shopping.

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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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