Why Some Solar Companies Are Cheaper, (and What That Really Means).

If you’ve started looking at solar panels or battery storage in Nottingham, Leicester, Derby or across the East Midlands, you’ll notice prices are all over the place. One company promises a full system for thousands less than another. At first glance, the cheapest deal looks tempting, but there’s always a reason a system costs less.

I’m not here to tell you to buy the most expensive option. I am saying it’s worth knowing where corners can be cut so you can decide what’s worth paying for and what’s not.

1. Equipment Isn’t All the Same

Panels and batteries aren’t generic. Some cheaper quotes use products with short or unclear UK support and warranty routes. You might see a “25-year panel warranty” shouted about, but that’s the manufacturer’s product warranty (and is pretty standard). What you really want to check is the installer’s workmanship warranty, that’s what covers the roof work, fixing points and waterproofing.

Industry standard? Two years.

What do we give? Five years roof workmanship cover, because if there’s ever a leak or roof issue, it’s usually obvious within that window.

2. Surveys & System Design

Some companies never come near your property until the install day. We understand that early on, you may want an estimate before someone visits your home, that’s fine. But a proper pre-installation site visit must happen before fitting anything. That’s where cable routes, roof strength, shading and electrical checks are confirmed. Skip that and you risk an installer turning up, finding surprises and either walking away with your deposit or improvising something that isn’t ideal.

3. Scaffolding Often Overlooked but Vital

One of the easiest ways to slash cost is to cut corners on scaffolding. Some firms use the cheapest scaffold possible (or even none at all if you can believe that). Installers don’t feel safe on cheap scaffolding and want to get off fast. When a team doesn’t feel secure, the job gets rushed.

We use top-quality scaffold every time so our team can take the time to do it right. If you’re looking at solar in Nottingham, Leicester or Derby, have a look at our install videos and you’ll see the difference. click here to see one of our videos.

4. Installation Standards & Shortcuts

Not all installs are equal. Cable runs should be neat and protected in plastic trunking (sometimes called conduit - see image below of the white trunking in-between the batteries and inverter), roof fixings should be sealed properly, isolators correctly fitted and labelled. Rushed jobs can lead to water ingress, electrical faults and headaches later. A lot of the cost you don’t see goes into safe, tidy, long-lasting work. At Solarand BatteryCompany.com when it comes to your roof work, we don’t cut corners.

We use roofing teams that have been working on roofs since the 80’s. Leaders in their field when it comes to roofs. This leads to less leaks occurring and it’s why we are confident in extending our workmanship warranty for roof work. We don’t believe in having electricians on your roof fitting the panels is a good way to approach an installation.

5. Bird-protection

All of our installations come with bird-proofing as standard. Many installers don’t include this to keep their costs down. It is important that you have bird proofing installed during installation. Birds and squirrels love living underneath the nice cosy warm panels in winter (squirrels love to chew the cables too), this can cause sleepless nights from rustling birds and mess on your roof and patio. Adding bird protection afterwards is expensive, because the scaffolding cost needs to be paid again to access the roof.

6. Aftercare & Monitoring (Not Just Promises)

It’s easy to promise support at the sales stage. Some companies will tell you they “monitor” your system, but once you’ve paid, you’re on your own.

Before signing, ask to speak to an existing customer and ask how easy it was to get help when something went wrong. That’s a better test than any sales pitch.

7. Warranty Clarity

We touched on this with panels, but it’s worth repeating. Many installers wave around manufacturer warranties like they’re their own. But if they’re gone tomorrow, you’re left dealing directly with the manufacturer (often overseas).

Check you’re getting clear paperwork:

• Manufacturer product warranties for panels, inverters and batteries.

• Installer workmanship warranty in writing (ours is 5 years on the roof work. Check what others offer).

8. Business Practices You Can Spot

• Be wary of “too good to be true” deals where the installer pressures you to sign quickly.

• If they’re vague about what’s included, for example, no mention of scaffolding, monitoring or roof cover, there’s a reason.

The Bottom Line

Cheaper solar isn’t always bad, but every big price drop comes from somewhere. It could be lower spec gear, rushed installs, flimsy scaffold, little aftercare or minimal roof warranty.

If you want to buy once and have confidence it’ll last, dig a little deeper before signing. Watch installation videos, ask about the scaffold, find out what happens if something goes wrong, and check workmanship cover, not just manufacturer claims.

For homeowners in Nottingham, Leicester and Derby, taking the time to compare what’s really included will help you know if the “cheaper” option is good value or just risky.