Compare Local Pros
Poco Solar Energy vs Bautista Builders Metal Roofing Solar General Contractor
Santa Clara Solar Contractors Comparison · Updated March 2026
Poco Solar Energy specializes exclusively in solar with 20 years of experience and active workers comp, while Bautista Builders offers broader services but lacks workers compensation insurance.
| Poco Solar Energy | Bautista Builders Metal Roofing Solar General Contractor | |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | ★ 4.7 | ★ 5.0 |
| Years Licensed | 20 years | 32 years |
| License # | 879366 | 676750 |
| Workers' Comp | ✓ Yes | — |
| Bond Amount | $25,000 | $25,000 |
| Location | Santa Clara, CA | Morgan Hill, CA |
| Website | www.pocosolar.com | www.metalroofandsolar.com |
Key Differences
What Customers Say
Poco Solar Energy
Customers consistently praise Poco's technical knowledge and diagnostic skills with solar systems, with many maintaining relationships spanning 15-30 years, though recent feedback notes communication and scheduling responsiveness has declined.
Key Takeaway: Poco has extensive documented customer feedback showing long-term solar performance and repair expertise, while Bautista has minimal available customer history to assess solar-specific quality.
Customer Reviews
Poco Solar Energy
Eddie showed up on time and got right to it and figured out the problem in short order. He completed the repairs in no time.
I've been a customer of Poco for over 16 years. I thought Darwin was irreplaceable, but I was wrong. Ed Is about the only person who could've replaced Darwin with his friendliness and expertise. Appre...
Poco Solar replaced my existing solar swimming pool heater. They did a very good job and I would recommend them.
Bautista Builders Metal Roofing Solar General Contractor
Mauricio put on a presidential 40 yr roof and did a great job! Just in time for the heavy rains. You saved me pal! Great job!
Consider Poco Solar Energy if...
- ✓ Your project is purely solar-focused, whether photovoltaic panels, battery systems, or pool heating, and you want a contractor whose entire business centers on solar technology
- ✓ You want protection from liability if a worker is injured, as Poco carries active workers compensation insurance
- ✓ You value customer feedback history showing long-term system performance and repair expertise, with some clients using their services for 15-30 years
- ✓ You're willing to be proactive about scheduling and communication, as recent reviews note responsiveness challenges that may require follow-up
Consider Bautista Builders Metal Roofing Solar General Contractor if...
- ✓ Your project combines solar installation with metal roofing replacement or other general contracting work, benefiting from a single contractor handling multiple scopes
- ✓ You're comfortable directly confirming insurance coverage and potentially accepting liability risks or securing additional coverage yourself
- ✓ You prefer working with a contractor with high owner involvement, typical of smaller operations
- ✓ You can assess quality without extensive customer feedback and are willing to request references for solar-specific projects similar to yours
Questions to Ask Before Hiring
- → For Bautista Builders: Ask specifically what insurance coverage protects you if a worker is injured on your property, and confirm whether your homeowner's policy covers contractor injuries or if you need additional coverage
- → For Bautista Builders: Request references from recent solar installation projects, including contact information so you can verify quality and timeline performance
- → For Poco Solar Energy: Ask about their current response time for scheduling estimates and service calls, and how they manage communication during busy periods given recent feedback about delays
- → For both: If your project involves roof work alongside solar, ask how they coordinate waterproofing, structural assessment, and warranty preservation
The Bottom Line
For solar-focused projects, Poco Solar Energy is the clearer choice. Their 20 years of solar specialization, active workers compensation coverage, and documented customer history provide both technical expertise and liability protection. You'll need to stay on top of communication, but you're hiring proven solar competence with proper insurance. Only consider Bautista Builders if your project truly requires integrated general contracting and metal roofing alongside solar—and only after confirming insurance coverage that protects you from worker injury liability. For most homeowners installing or servicing solar systems, Poco's specialized focus and proper coverage make them the safer, more qualified choice.
Get Up to 3 Free Quotes
Compare prices from licensed, verified contractors
Frequently Asked Questions
It means if a worker is injured on your property during the project, you could be held liable for their medical expenses and lost wages. Many homeowner's insurance policies don't fully cover contractor injuries. Before hiring Bautista, you need to confirm what insurance they actually carry and whether you need to purchase additional coverage to protect yourself from this risk.
Twelve additional years of licensing shows sustained business operation, but it doesn't eliminate liability risk. The practical question is whether you're willing to accept potential financial exposure in exchange for their broader general contracting capabilities. For solar-only projects, Poco's 20 years of specialized focus and proper insurance coverage offer less risk.
It depends on your tolerance for follow-up. Recent customers note scheduling delays and responsiveness issues, which can be frustrating during project planning. However, once work begins, customers report professional, knowledgeable service. If you're comfortable being persistent with phone calls and scheduling, their solar expertise may outweigh communication friction.
It's a reasonable consideration since coordinating multiple contractors adds complexity. However, you must first resolve the workers comp issue to avoid liability exposure. Ask Bautista for solar-specific references and compare their solar expertise against hiring Poco for solar after Bautista completes roofing. Sometimes two specialized contractors deliver better results than one generalist.
Looking for the Best?
See our ranked list of top solar contractors in Santa Clara.
Other Santa Clara Solar Contractors Comparisons
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 13, 2026.
This comparison is based on publicly available information. We recommend getting multiple quotes and verifying all credentials directly before hiring.
Get in Touch
Have questions or feedback? We'd love to hear from you.