You’ve been thinking about solar for months. Maybe years.
You’ve run the numbers, checked your electric bills, and you’re finally ready to pull the trigger. Then someone tells you it takes “months” to go solar, and suddenly that momentum dies.
Here’s the truth: the actual installation on your home takes 24-48 hours. That’s it. One to two days of work before your panels are up and running.
But there’s more to the story, and you deserve to know exactly what “going solar” really looks like from start to finish.
The 24-48 Hour Reality: What Actually Happens
When we say 24-48 hours, we’re talking about the physical installation work at your home. This is the part where our crew shows up, gets on your roof, and transforms your house into a solar-generating machine.
Here’s what happens during those one to two days:
Day One: Our installation team arrives early (we’re talking 7 to 9 AM). They’ll set up staging, prep your roof, and start mounting the racking system. If you’ve got a standard residential roof, the panel installation itself takes about 4-5 hours. The electrical work, inverter installation, and final connections happen next.
Day Two (if needed): Larger systems, systems with batteries or more complex roof layouts might require a second day. We’re connecting everything to your electrical panel, setting up your monitoring system, and making sure every wire is exactly where it should be.
That’s the disruption to your life.
Two days max. You don’t need to take a week off work. You don’t need to move out. You just need to be patient while we work our magic on your roof.
So Why Does Everyone Say It Takes Months?
Because they’re talking about the entire process, not just the installation. And honestly? They’re not wrong.
Going solar typically takes 4 to 16 weeks from the moment you sign on the dotted line to the moment your system flips on. But here’s what most companies won’t tell you: you’re not waiting around doing nothing for those weeks.
The timeline breaks down like this:
- Site Assessment and Design & Engineering: 1-2 weeks
- Permitting and utility approvals: 3-11 weeks
- Physical installation: 1-2 days
- City Final inspection: Usually within a week or two of installation
- Utility Inspection: Dependent upon the utility
That permitting phase? That’s the bottleneck. Not because anyone’s lazy: it’s just how local governments and utility companies work. They’ve got processes, timelines, and paperwork requirements that we all have to follow.
The Gulf Coast Advantage (and Challenge)
The Good News: Texas has incredibly strong solar potential. You get more sun than most of the country, which means your system produces more power. Your electric bills are high (thanks, AC units running eight months a year), so your savings potential is massive. And after hurricane season reminds us that the grid isn’t invincible, more Gulf Coast residents are pairing solar with battery storage.
The Challenge: Coastal permitting can be stricter because of wind load requirements. Your roof needs to handle not just solar panels, but also potential hurricane-force winds. This adds a bit more scrutiny to the approval process: but it also means your installation is built to last through whatever the Gulf throws at it.
What Slows Down the Process (and What Doesn’t)
Let’s clear up some misconceptions. These things do NOT significantly delay your installation:
- Your roof type (asphalt shingle, metal, tile: we handle them all)
- System size (bigger systems take marginally longer, but we’re talking days, not weeks)
- Your schedule (we work around you, not the other way around)
These things DO affect your timeline:
- Local permitting offices: Some Texas cities process permits in two weeks. Others take two months. It’s wildly inconsistent.
- Utility interconnection agreements: Your electric company needs to approve your system connecting to the grid. This can add 3 to 6 weeks depending on the utility.
- HOA approvals: If you live in a neighborhood with a homeowners association, you might need their blessing. Texas law protects your right to install solar, but the paperwork still takes time.
- Inspection scheduling: After installation, a city inspector needs to sign off. Their availability varies.
Notice what’s missing from that list? The installation itself. Because when it’s time for boots on roofs, we move fast.
How Fastrac Does It Differently
Here’s where most solar companies lose people: they hand off parts of the process. One company designs your system. Another handles permitting. A third does the installation. A fourth manages inspections.
That’s a recipe for delays, miscommunication, and finger-pointing when something goes wrong.
At Fastrac Energy Services, we handle everything from design to install under one roof. When you work with us, you get:
- A single point of contact who knows your project inside and out
- Streamlined permitting
- Our own certified installation crews
- Real-time updates throughout the process
- That genuinely fast 24-48 hour installation window when it’s go-time
We can’t control how fast your city processes permits.
But we can control everything else, and we do it better than anyone in Texas.
What to Expect During Your 24-48 Hour Installation
You’ve waited weeks for permits. The day has finally arrived. Here’s what actually happens:
Before we arrive: We’ll confirm your installation date a few days in advance. We’ll tell you where we need to park, where we’ll stage equipment, and what (if anything) you need to do to prep.
Installation day: Our crew shows up with everything: panels, inverters, racking, electrical components, safety gear. You’ll hear some noise (drills, hammers, occasional conversation). You might see people on your roof. That’s about it.
During the work: You can stay home or leave. Totally up to you. We don’t need access to your house except for electrical panel work, and we’ll coordinate that in advance.
After installation: We clean up completely. Your yard won’t look like a construction zone. Your roof won’t have debris. We take pride in leaving your property better than we found it.
Then comes the final inspection, and once that’s approved, your utility company gives the green light to flip the switch.
The Bottom Line on Speed
Can you go from “I want solar” to “I have solar” in 24-48 hours? No. That’s not realistic, and anyone who promises that is lying.
Can your actual installation: the part that disrupts your life: happen in 24-48 hours? Absolutely. And that’s what matters for most Texas homeowners.
The rest of the timeline is paperwork, approvals, and bureaucracy. It’s frustrating, but it’s also universal. Every solar company deals with it. The difference is how they manage it.
Some companies leave you in the dark for weeks, wondering what’s happening.
Others (like us) keep you informed every step of the way, so you know exactly where your project stands and when to expect the next milestone.
Your Fastrac to Solar Starts Here
Stop waiting for the “perfect time” to go solar. The best time was five years ago when electricity was cheaper. The second-best time is right now.
Discover how Fastrac Energy Services can get your Texas home solar-ready with minimal disruption and maximum efficiency. Schedule a consultation to get started, or reach out today to schedule your free consultation. Your 24-48 hour installation is closer than you think.
Link to schedule: https://form.jotform.com/253222665049154
