LA Solar Group Review 2026: They Make Their Own Panels (Mixed Reputation)
Our take
3.3 / 5
Best for
Buyers drawn to black-on-black aesthetics from a single vertically-integrated vendor
Think twice if
Post-install service responsiveness is a priority. The roof leak complaint pattern is real
LA Solar Group is genuinely unusual in California residential solar: the company manufactures its own black-on-black panels in addition to performing the installations. Most installers in our comparison (Palmetto, Sunrun, Sunnova, Solar Optimum, Baker Electric, etc.) all use Tier-1 third-party panels. LA Solar Group is the only one that is vertically integrated; one vendor owns panel manufacture, install, warranty, and ongoing service.
The reputation picture is mixed. Yelp shows 4.2/5 across more than 1,000 reviews — unusually high volume for a regional installer. The BBB file logs 55 complaints over 3 years, and roof leaks show up repeatedly across SolarReviews, Yelp 1-star reviews, and Reddit. Install times range widely, from 3-week fast turnarounds to 9+ month drags.
Footprint and Profile
LA Solar Group is headquartered in Sun Valley (LA area) with significant operations across Southern California. Privately held, with its own panel manufacturing operation separate from the install business but under common ownership.
Equipment and the Vertical Integration Story
LA Solar Group manufactures its own panel line, typically black-on-black monocrystalline panels marketed on aesthetic appeal. Third-party inverters (Enphase, SolarEdge) and batteries (Tesla, Franklin) are paired with the house-brand panels. The integration story is appealing on paper: one vendor owns the warranty stack from manufacture through install. In practice, buyers should note that a vertically integrated warranty is only as strong as the long-term viability of the manufacturer — LA Solar Group panels are not a Tier-1 mainstream brand with deep secondary-market support if the company faces future financial stress.
Reviews and Reputation
- Yelp: 4.2/5 across 1,000+ reviews. High volume, positive skew.
- BBB: 55 complaints over 3 years, not accredited. Meaningful complaint volume for company scale.
- SolarReviews: Mixed — some complaints specifically around roof leaks and post-install responsiveness.
- Reddit r/solar: Mixed mentions; roof leak is the recurring theme.
Common Complaints
- Roof leaks. Recurring across multiple review sources. Workmanship-quality variance on roof penetrations is the specific issue.
- Timeline slippage — 3-week fast installs contrasted against 9+ month drags.
- Net-metering coordination delays after install.
- Unexpected additional charges at install, extra electrical work, trenching, or rewiring not clearly disclosed at quote.
- Communication friction once issues surface post-install.
Financing
LA Solar Group offers cash, loans, and leases / PPAs. In the PPA model, LA Solar Group or a financing partner may own the system and you pay for power produced. Financing terms and ownership structure vary by contract; read carefully and clarify who actually owns the panels at close.
Warranty
25-year standard. The panel warranty is backed by LA Solar Group itself rather than a Tier-1 manufacturer like Qcells or Panasonic, which is the tradeoff of vertical integration. The company has been operating for some years, but long-term panel warranty honor depends on the manufacturer still existing in decade-plus timeframes.
When LA Solar Group Makes Sense
LA Solar Group is interesting for buyers specifically drawn to the all-black aesthetic and willing to trade some long-term manufacturer-backing certainty for vertical integration. It may make sense in the LA metro for buyers with strong personal references to a specific sales rep. The recurring roof leak pattern and the BBB complaint volume mean extra due diligence is warranted — specifically around workmanship warranty length and leak-response SLAs.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does LA Solar Group really make their own panels?
Yes — they are one of the very few California residential installers with their own panel manufacturing. This differentiates them from Palmetto, Sunrun, etc. which all use Tier-1 third-party panels.
Are LA Solar Group panels Tier-1?
No. Tier-1 is an industry classification applied to large, bankable panel manufacturers (Qcells, Longi, Jinko, Canadian Solar, etc.). LA Solar Group's panels are house-brand manufacture.
What's the roof leak issue?
Multiple review sources (SolarReviews, Yelp 1-star, Reddit r/solar) report roof leaks traced to workmanship on roof penetrations. Ask the sales rep directly about their roof-penetration process and the warranty response time for leaks discovered post-install.
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