On this episode of Deep Dive, we walk through a real 750 kW DC ballasted rooftop project in New York City that went sideways the moment boots hit the roof.
A surprise air-handling unit appears where the solar drawings showed clear space, triggering a high‑stakes clash between the solar crew and the mechanical team.
Using field notes from Alexis Lewis of Wadadli Solar, a senior construction project manager, level one thermographer, and NABCEP certified solar inspector, we unpack how a professional handles this kind of trade interference without blowing the budget or compromising safety.
You’ll learn why “just move the panels” is a structural and wind‐load nightmare on ballasted systems, how to separate execution from dispute to keep a high‑cost crew productive, and how to turn a painful derate into a documented scope adjustment instead of a commercial disaster.
We also dig into the real soft costs on commercial solar—labor, permitting, coordination failures and why better project management is just as important as better panel efficiency for the future of rooftop solar.
