14 solar installers ranked by CR ScoreUpdated 0 paid placements in this rankingHow we rank →
Best overall in Calera: Artistic Solar Films, CR Score 80/100; 4.8★ from 309 Google reviews; open Saturdays until 5 PM.
Best for emergencies (open 24/7): Express Roofing and Solar of Decatur, posts 24/7 hours; ranked #3 of 14.
Most-reviewed: Battery Sales & Service, 169 Google reviews at 4.6★, the most of 14 ranked after Artistic Solar Films; ranked #5.
Rankings can't be bought. Contractors can't pay to change their rank or score. How we rank
14 Calera solar installers are ranked here by CR Score, from 8 published factors. 1 is open 24/7, 5 open Saturdays and 2 open Sundays, based on posted hours. The median Google rating is 4.8★ across 14 rated businesses.
| Rank | Business | CR Score | Google rating | Based in | Hours | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Artistic Solar Films | 80 | 4.8★ (309) | Vestavia Hills, 21 mi away | Sat | Overall |
| 2 | Solar Reflections Services | 76 | 4.9★ (127) | Birmingham, 17 mi away | — | — |
| 3 | Express Roofing and Solar of Decatur | 73 | 4.8★ (6) | Decatur, 37 mi away | 24/7 | Emergencies |
| 4 | Trivium | 73 | 5.0★ (4) | Olive Branch, 22 mi away | Sat | — |
| 5 | Battery Sales & Service | 70 | 4.6★ (169) | Birmingham, 27 mi away | — | Most reviews |
| 6 | Alabama Solar Film | 69 | 3.0★ (69) | Birmingham, 30 mi away | Sat · Sun | — |
| 7 | Small Tech Solar | 69 | 3.3★ (28) | Hoover, 22 mi away | — | — |
| 8 | Go Solar Power | 67 | 4.0★ (5) | Birmingham, 28 mi away | — | — |
| 9 | Design 1 Solar Group Birmingham | 67 | 1.5★ (11) | Birmingham, 35 mi away | Sat | — |
| 10 | Solar Busters Glass Tinting & Shades | 67 | 4.8★ (17) | Birmingham, 29 mi away | — | — |
Ordered by CR Score, a 0–100 score from 8 published factors. Paid placement never changes the order.
Scores below: based on 6 of 8 factors; credentials and recency not yet collected. Hatched segments mark factors we don't have yet.
Ranked #1 because of its Google rating and review volume: 4.8★ from 309 Google reviews, the most Google reviews on this list (309).
Based in Birmingham, 17 mi away
Ranked #2 because of its Google rating and review volume: 4.9★ from 127 Google reviews, 127 Google reviews.
Based in Decatur, 37 mi away
Ranked #3 because of its Google rating and availability: 4.8★ from 6 Google reviews, open 24/7.
Based in Olive Branch, 22 mi away
Ranked #4 because of its Google rating and trade focus: 5.0★ from 4 Google reviews, listed on Google as “Solar energy company”.
Based in Birmingham, 27 mi away
Ranked #5 because of its Google rating and review volume: 4.6★ from 169 Google reviews, 169 Google reviews.
Based in Birmingham, 30 mi away
Ranked #6 because of its Google rating and availability: 3.0★ from 69 Google reviews, open 7 days a week.
Based in Hoover, 22 mi away
Ranked #7 because of its Google rating and trade focus: 3.3★ from 28 Google reviews, listed on Google as “Solar energy system service”.
Based in Birmingham, 28 mi away
Ranked #8 because of its Google rating and trade focus: 4.0★ from 5 Google reviews, listed on Google as “Solar energy company”.
Based in Birmingham, 35 mi away
Ranked #9 because of its Google rating and trade focus: 1.5★ from 11 Google reviews, listed on Google as “Solar energy company”.
Based in Birmingham, 29 mi away
Ranked #10 because of its Google rating and trade focus: 4.8★ from 17 Google reviews, listed on Google as “Window tinting service”.
Based in Birmingham, 20 mi away
Ranked #11 because of its Google rating and trade focus: 5.0★ from 4 Google reviews, listed on Google as “Solar energy equipment supplier”.
Based in Birmingham, 30 mi away
Ranked #12 because of its Google rating and review volume: 4.4★ from 41 Google reviews, 41 Google reviews.
Based in Birmingham, 28 mi away
Ranked #13 because of its Google rating and trade focus: 5.0★ from 6 Google reviews, listed on Google as “Local government office”.
Based in Fultondale, 33 mi away
Ranked #14 because of its Google rating and trade focus: 5.0★ from 6 Google reviews, listed on Google as “Electrician”.
Typical prices in USD, adjusted for Alabama with a published regional index. Each row names its basis and month.
| Job | Low | Typical | High | Basis | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Solar panel installation | $23,510 | $26,600 | $28,930 | Per system: about 12 kW at about $2.60 per watt, before incentives. US national range × 0.85 East South Central factor (2025 Cost vs. Value Report) | October 2026 |
We scored 14 Calera solar installers on 8 factors, weighted as shown. A business is ranked when its trade is confirmed and it has 3 or more Google reviews or a claimed profile. Unknown factors are left out of the score, not counted as zero. Scores last refreshed October 22, 2026.
Paid placement never changes a rank or score. Featured businesses are paid, labelled, limited to 3 and shown above the ranking, outside it.
| Factor | Weight | Computed from | In Calera data |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reputation | 35% | Bayesian-adjusted Google star rating | Measured |
| Credentials | 15% | Active state license 0.6, bond 0.2, workers’ comp 0.2 | Not yet collected |
| Review volume | 10% | log10(reviews + 1) against the list maximum | Measured |
| Recency | 10% | Share of reviews from the last 12 months | Not yet collected |
| Availability | 10% | Weekly open hours, Saturday, Sunday, 24/7 or same-day | Measured |
| Trade focus | 10% | Google main category 1.0, business name 0.7, additional category 0.5 | Measured |
| Proximity | 5% | 1.0 when based in the city, falling to 0 at the trade’s radius | Measured |
| Completeness | 5% | Website, photos, description, hours, claimed profile (0.2 each) | Measured |