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ARS Roofing & Gutters vs Sterling Roofing Co

Sonoma Roofing Contractors Comparison · Updated March 2026

Quick Verdict

ARS Roofing has substantial customer feedback documenting performance across diverse projects, while Sterling operates with minimal public track record despite similar credentials.

ARS Roofing & Gutters: Santa Rosa-based veteran contractor with 22 years licensing, documented customer feedback showing responsive communication and reliable project completion across residential and commercial work.
Sterling Roofing Co: Glen Ellen veteran contractor with 21 years licensing and proper insurance, but limited review history makes it difficult to assess actual performance patterns.
Note: Sterling Roofing Co's limited review history provides little insight into communication style, crew performance, or how they handle complications.
ARS Roofing & Gutters Sterling Roofing Co
Rating 4.7 4.0
Years Licensed 22 years 21 years
License # 837618 846392
Workers' Comp ✓ Yes ✓ Yes
Bond Amount $25,000 $25,000
Location Santa Rosa, CA Glen Ellen, CA
Website www.arsroofing.com sterlingroofingco.com

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Key Differences

The most significant difference between these contractors is the transparency of their operational track record. ARS Roofing demonstrates consistent patterns across customer feedback: responsive communication throughout projects, detailed estimates that include guidance on whether full replacement is actually needed, punctual crews with strong cleanup practices, and experience handling complex situations like insurance inspections, older roof systems, and coordination with solar installations. Their project range spans residential and commercial roof replacements, leak diagnosis, inspections, gutter work, and maintenance—showing versatility beyond just installation. Sterling Roofing, despite 21 years in business, has minimal public feedback documenting how they communicate, manage timelines, or handle the inevitable complications that arise during roofing work. Both contractors carry the same insurance and bonding, so your financial protection is equivalent. The practical question is whether you're comfortable hiring based primarily on credentials and initial conversation, or whether you value documented evidence of how a contractor performs under real-world conditions.

What Customers Say

ARS Roofing & Gutters

Customers consistently describe ARS as responsive and communicative throughout projects, with crews noted for punctuality, property respect, thorough cleanup, and completing work on or ahead of schedule.

Key Takeaway: ARS has substantial documented feedback showing performance patterns across diverse project types, while Sterling's limited review history provides minimal insight into how they actually operate on customer properties.

Customer Reviews

ARS Roofing & Gutters

Dec 2025

ARS spoke with me on Christmas morning and had a crew out to us the following morning to inspect a roof leak. They discovered that a recent gutter cleaning we had done by another company did not do a ...

Oct 2025

We had such an amazing experience with Letitia and the ARS Roofing & Gutters team! Our roof needed repairs prior to a solar installation-and they made what could be a super stressful situation seem se...

Oct 2025

ARS replaced our 30-year-old roof. The quote and estimate process was clear and detailed and thorough. When the start date arrived, the entire team was cheerful and communcative and ernest. The forema...

Sterling Roofing Co

Jan 2023

Found some leaking into the house . Callled another place , had to leave a message .Everybody was busy as a lot of rain was happening . Decided I couldn't sit and wait . Tried Sterling .He answered . ...

Consider ARS Roofing & Gutters if...

  • You want verifiable evidence of how a contractor communicates and performs, with multiple customers documenting responsive scheduling, thorough estimates, and on-time completion
  • Your project involves complexity beyond basic replacement—older homes, insurance coordination, solar installation preparation, or determining whether repair is sufficient instead of full replacement
  • You value a crew's reputation for respecting property and cleanup, with specific patterns documented rather than promised
  • You need gutter-related services alongside roofing, as ARS has demonstrated experience with gutter guards, screening, and cleaning integrated with roof work
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Consider Sterling Roofing Co if...

  • You're located specifically in Glen Ellen and prefer a contractor based in your immediate area rather than Santa Rosa
  • You're comfortable making hiring decisions based primarily on licensing credentials, insurance verification, and your own assessment during the initial consultation
  • Your project is straightforward leak repair where Sterling's documented experience applies directly
  • You've obtained strong references directly from Sterling that address your specific concerns about communication and project management
View full profile →

Questions to Ask Before Hiring

  • Ask Sterling for at least three recent references from projects similar to yours, and specifically inquire about communication responsiveness, timeline accuracy, and how they handled any complications
  • Ask both contractors how they determine whether repair is sufficient versus full replacement, and request they document their assessment process in writing
  • Ask Sterling how long their current crew has worked together and what their typical project timeline looks like for your scope of work
  • Ask both contractors about their scheduling availability and how weather delays are communicated, given Sonoma County's seasonal considerations

The Bottom Line

If you need to hire this week and want confidence based on demonstrated performance, ARS Roofing provides that evidence—22 years licensed with documented patterns of responsive communication, reliable completion, and versatility across project types including the complications that arise with older homes and insurance coordination. Sterling Roofing has equivalent credentials on paper, but limited public feedback means you're relying primarily on your gut assessment during consultation and whatever references they provide directly. For straightforward projects where Sterling provides strong recent references addressing your specific concerns, their Glen Ellen location might offer convenience. For most homeowners, especially those with complex needs or older properties, ARS's transparent track record reduces guesswork during a decision you need to make quickly.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Not meaningfully—both are veteran contractors with over two decades navigating California regulations and Sonoma County conditions. The difference in documented customer feedback showing actual performance patterns matters far more than a single year of licensing.

It's a gap worth addressing directly, not necessarily a disqualifier. Some established contractors simply don't prioritize online presence. Ask Sterling for direct references and verify those conversations address the specifics you care about—communication style, timeline reliability, and problem-solving when issues arise. If they can't provide multiple recent references, that's a stronger concern.

Customer feedback volume doesn't directly correlate with pricing. Get detailed written estimates from both contractors for identical scope to compare. ARS's documented pattern of recommending repair over replacement when appropriate actually suggests they're not pushing unnecessary work.

The $25,000 bond provides the same statutory protection with either contractor if work isn't completed as agreed. However, ARS's documented track record of finishing on time and honoring commitments reduces the likelihood you'll ever need to make a bond claim. Protection on paper matters less than patterns of actual performance.

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How We Compare Contractors

License Verification

All license data is sourced from official California CSLB records and verified regularly.

Review Analysis

Customer reviews are aggregated from Google and analyzed to identify patterns in service quality.

Detailed Comparison

We analyze credentials, insurance, experience, and feedback to highlight meaningful differences.

Not all licensed contractors are created equal. While a valid license is the baseline requirement in California, contractors can vary significantly in experience, insurance coverage, and customer satisfaction.

  • Experience matters: A contractor with 15+ years of experience has likely encountered and solved problems that newer contractors haven't faced yet.
  • Workers' compensation protects you: If a contractor without workers' comp insurance has an employee injured on your property, you could be held liable.
  • Reviews reveal patterns: Individual reviews can be misleading, but patterns across many reviews often reveal a contractor's true strengths and weaknesses.
  • Bond amounts vary: A contractor's bond provides financial protection if they fail to complete work as agreed. Higher bonds offer more protection.

Taking time to compare contractors on these factors can save you from costly mistakes and help ensure your project is completed by a qualified professional.

Data Sources: License information from California CSLB. Ratings and reviews from Google. Last verified March 13, 2026.

This comparison is based on publicly available information. We recommend getting multiple quotes and verifying all credentials directly before hiring.

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