Compare Local Pros
Northbay Roofing & Gutters Inc vs Sterling Roofing Co
Sonoma Roofing Contractors Comparison · Updated March 2026
Both are veteran contractors with 20+ years of experience and full insurance, but Northbay has extensive verified customer feedback while Sterling has minimal review history.
| Northbay Roofing & Gutters Inc | Sterling Roofing Co | |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | ★ 4.6 | ★ 4.0 |
| Years Licensed | 22 years | 21 years |
| License # | 834387 | 846392 |
| Workers' Comp | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Bond Amount | $25,000 | $25,000 |
| Location | Santa Rosa, CA | Glen Ellen, CA |
| Website | www.northbayroofinggutters.com | sterlingroofingco.com |
Key Differences
What Customers Say
Northbay Roofing & Gutters Inc
Customers consistently praise punctuality and proactive communication, with specific mentions of arriving ahead of schedule, providing photo updates during work, and conducting thorough roof-climbing inspections rather than ground estimates.
Key Takeaway: Northbay has extensive documented customer feedback establishing predictable service patterns, while Sterling's limited review history leaves critical operational questions unanswered despite equivalent licensing credentials.
Customer Reviews
Northbay Roofing & Gutters Inc
Damien is amazing to work with! Great business and great people
Called on New Years Day when we discovered water dripping from exhaust fan. Damien helped us understand the source working from photos we sent. Then he had a repair crew there to fix it within a coupl...
I wanted to wait for a few days of steady rain before I reviewed the roof maintenance. They were professional when they came out and they did not leave a mess. And so far we do not have any leaks and ...
Sterling Roofing Co
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 Northbay Roofing & Gutters Inc if...
- ✓ You want predictable service patterns backed by documented customer experiences, particularly regarding scheduling reliability and communication during projects
- ✓ Your project involves emergency response needs, as Northbay has verified same-day and weekend service capabilities with customers reporting faster-than-estimated completion
- ✓ You value thorough initial assessments, as customers specifically note their practice of climbing roofs for inspections rather than estimating from the ground
- ✓ You need work spanning multiple roofing services (replacement plus gutters, skylight repairs alongside maintenance) where their demonstrated range provides confidence
Consider Sterling Roofing Co if...
- ✓ You're located in or near Glen Ellen and prioritize a contractor based in your immediate area for potential future service calls
- ✓ You're willing to conduct more extensive reference checking yourself to verify service quality and communication practices
- ✓ You prefer working with a long-established contractor even without substantial public feedback, trusting their 21-year licensing history as sufficient validation
Questions to Ask Before Hiring
- → Ask Sterling for references from at least three recent projects similar to yours, and actually call them to ask about scheduling, communication, and cleanup practices
- → Ask Sterling how they handle project updates—do they provide photo documentation, text updates, or require homeowners to follow up for status?
- → Ask both contractors about their current crew stability and how long key team members have been with the company
- → Ask Sterling specifically about their inspection process and whether they climb onto roofs or assess from the ground
The Bottom Line
For most homeowners needing to decide this week, Northbay Roofing & Gutters Inc is the clearer choice. Both contractors have equivalent credentials—20+ years licensed, full insurance, same bond amount—but Northbay has demonstrated consistent service patterns through extensive customer feedback covering diverse project types. You can reasonably predict they'll arrive on time, communicate with photo updates, perform thorough inspections, and clean up meticulously. Sterling may deliver identical service, but their limited review history means you're making that decision with less information. If you choose Sterling, invest time in calling their references and asking detailed questions about the service patterns Northbay has already documented. Don't let equivalent licensing history substitute for verified operational performance.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Not meaningfully. Both contractors are in the veteran tier with over two decades navigating Sonoma County roofing challenges, material changes, and building code updates. The difference comes down to verifiable customer feedback, not experience level.
Continuous licensing proves they've maintained insurance and avoided serious regulatory issues, but it doesn't tell you if they show up on time, communicate proactively, or clean up thoroughly. Customer reviews reveal operational patterns that licensing status can't. With Sterling, you'll need to verify these patterns yourself through direct reference calls.
Only if proximity matters for your specific situation. Both serve Sonoma County broadly. Glen Ellen location might offer slight advantage for ongoing maintenance relationships if you're in that area, but customer feedback suggests Northbay handles emergency calls throughout the region including same-day service.
It's a data limitation rather than proof they only do leak repairs—their 21-year history suggests broader capabilities. However, you should specifically ask Sterling about their experience with your project type and request references for similar work to confirm they regularly handle what you need.
Looking for the Best?
See our ranked list of top roofing contractors in Sonoma.
Other Sonoma Roofing Contractors Comparisons
Ridgeline Roofing Co
★ 4.8
Northbay Roofing & Gutters Inc
★ 4.6
ARS Roofing & Gutters
★ 4.7
Northbay Roofing & Gutters Inc
★ 4.6
Capstone Roofing Inc
★ 4.9
Northbay Roofing & Gutters Inc
★ 4.6
Wedge Roofing
★ 4.8
Northbay Roofing & Gutters Inc
★ 4.6
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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