On the First Coast, salt air and 53-inch rain years retire roofs faster than the calendar does. When it's time to replace, we take the roof down to the deck, spec coastal-rated materials near the water, and bring it up to current Florida code. Free inspection, honest answer, a written price that holds.
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We purchased a house in Jax Beach that needed a full roof replacement prior to closing, and David and his team made the entire process seamless. They replaced the roof within 48 hours of us reaching out — incredibly impressive given the tight timeline. Fair pricing, great communication, and quality that exceeded our expectations.
When I needed a replacement roof, Universal was the only company I called. Karson remembered me and put me in touch with David, who was personable and thorough. My project manager Jarrod kept me informed at each step and phoned me to explain an issue that arose. David even sent aerial pictures of the completed roof. Professional, honest and kind.
We are so happy we went with Universal to replace our roof. Daniel guided us through picking the color, shingle and options; Marissa handled scheduling; and our supervisor Justin oversaw the replacement and left the site immaculate. We interviewed multiple companies and Universal was the best decision we could have made.
Universal did an incredible job on my new roof. Michael and his team did everything I asked and the roof exceeded my expectations. I would definitely recommend this company.
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Near the water, salt corrosion is a major concern for coastal homes — it works hardest on the metal parts of a roof, and it's one reason First Coast roofs often reach their replacement window ahead of schedule. Add roughly 53 inches of rain a year and humidity that never lets a roof fully dry, and Jacksonville roofs work hard.
That changes how a replacement should be done here. Near the beaches we spec coastal-rated materials and corrosion-resistant fasteners and flashing, because standard metal parts don't last the same twenty years by salt water that they would inland. It's the kind of detail that separates a roof that lasts from one you're replacing again too soon.
Jacksonville is also full of older homes, and older homes are where replacement experience earns its keep — aged decking, layers of past work, and materials no longer made all complicate the job. Our First Coast crews work through those problems rather than around them.
Beach-side replacements get materials chosen for salt air — corrosion-resistant fasteners, flashing, and drip edge — not whatever's on the truck. Aluminum and zinc-alloy details resist salt corrosion where plain steel would wear fast.
A replacement is the one time you get to change what's over your head — and on the coast, material choice is half the battle. Here's every system a First Coast home can wear, side by side on lifespan, wind rating, and real installed cost.
Popular choiceA common re-roof on the First Coast — affordable, fast, and available in any color. Owens Corning shingles through us can carry the Platinum Protection limited lifetime warranty: full coverage on materials for the first 50 years, and workmanship coverage that reduces after 25 years.
How it holds up here: Ocean wind, salt, and 53-inch rain years age a coastal shingle roof faster; how long a replacement lasts comes down to ventilation and a clean install.
Longest-livedConcrete and clay stand up to First Coast wind, rain, and salt while staying cool — a tile re-roof set right is a multi-generational roof.
How it holds up here: Tile can last 50 years or more; the underlayment beneath ages first, so a Jax tile replacement is often a tear-off-and-relay over fresh underlayment.
Storm armorNear the water, metal is a popular coastal replacement — but material spec is everything: aluminum and coated steel resist salt corrosion where plain steel wears fast.
How it holds up here: A properly specified coastal metal roof brushes off First Coast salt air and is built to last for decades.
We make it ourselvesWhen we couldn't find a system that survived Florida the way we wanted, we built one. Metlok is our own pressed-steel roof — researched, engineered, and made in our own factory over 30-plus years of replacements. If you want it on your home, we're the only ones who can put it there.
How it holds up here: Metal-class strength in a pressed-steel panel, designed for the exact heat, wind, and rain Florida throws at a roof.
CommercialReplacing a flat or low-slope roof is its own discipline, and it's one of ours. A white TPO membrane is a cool roof: its reflective surface cuts the heat the roof passes into the building, which the EPA says can reduce peak cooling demand by 11–27% in air-conditioned buildings. It also takes Florida's UV and storm beating — on homes with flat sections and on commercial buildings alike.
How it holds up here: The reflective skin fights the heat gain that punishes flat roofs, and the heat-welded seams keep out UV, chemicals, and standing water long after a rolled-asphalt roof would have failed.
| System | Typical lifespan | Wind rating |
|---|---|---|
| Asphalt Shingle | ~20 yrs | Up to 160 mph (OC Duration) |
| Tile | 50+ yrs | Varies by system |
| Metal | Decades | Varies by system |
| Metlok | 50-yr warranty | 180+ mph |
| Low-Slope / Flat | System-dependent | Uplift-rated (psf) |
Wind ratings are product- and installation-specific — a rating is earned by a particular system installed to spec, not by a material in general. For example, Owens Corning's Duration shingle carries a wind warranty of up to 160 mph when installed with the required Owens Corning components, and Metlok is rated 180+ mph. Ask us for the rating of the exact system we quote. For context, the Florida Building Code sets a minimum design wind speed for every address, and your permit lists the one that applies to your home. Sources: Owens Corning (TruDefinition Duration shingle) · Metlok.
Because a real replacement takes the old roof off down to the deck, you're not locked into what you had. This is the moment to upgrade — or simplify. Two common moves:
A popular replacement upgrade in Jacksonville is asphalt shingle to metal or tile. You trade a roof commonly expected to last around 20 years for one built to last for decades (metal) or 50 years or more (tile), and it lifts the home's whole look. We confirm your home can carry tile's weight before we quote it; metal and shingle go on almost any home.
Some homeowners go the other way — off tile and onto metal or shingle — usually to cut the weight, lower the cost, or simplify future repairs. There's no wrong answer; the right material fits your budget, your home, and how long you plan to stay. We lay out the trade-offs at the inspection.
Want a metal roof that wears the look of slate or tile? Meet Metlok — the pressed-steel system we engineer ourselves.
A roof replacement is a real number — and many homeowners don't pay it in one check. Most projects are paid with some mix of cash, financing, insurance or a grant. Here are the ways it gets paid:
Some homeowners pay outright; most don't. We offer multiple financing options sized to the job, so a replacement becomes a manageable monthly payment instead of a lump sum. Your Project Manager lays out cash vs. financing side by side at the free inspection — no pressure either way.
The state's My Safe Florida Home program offers free wind-mitigation inspections and grants up to $10,000 for approved hurricane-strengthening upgrades — roof-to-deck attachment, roof-to-wall connections, and secondary water resistance. Grant work requires a licensed contractor (we're CCC057165).
Status per mysafeflhome.com, October 2026: inspections and grants available.
After a storm, the equation can flip: damage that is widespread rather than isolated moves the honest answer from repair to replacement — and age compounds it, because an aging Jacksonville roof gets progressively more expensive to keep patching while the next season lines up.
Every free inspection produces photos and a written report of exactly what the storm did, made before repairs change the roof — and it's yours to keep whatever you decide. See how we handle storm damage.
A dated inspection with photos of the actual damage
A written, itemized report of exactly what we found
The line between storm damage and normal wear, documented
A licensed contractor (CCC057165) on record for the work
A real replacement isn't a new surface over old problems. Here's what's in your Jacksonville quote, every time:
The old roof comes off down to the deck — layers included — and leaves with it. We protect your landscaping and magnet-sweep the yard for nails.
With the roof off, we find and replace soft or rotted decking — the part a recover-over job hides. Florida law also requires strengthened deck attachment (re-nailing) on a site-built home's roof replacement.
A secondary water barrier over the deck — the layer that keeps wind-driven rain out if the roof surface is ever breached. Newer code; older roofs never had it.
Your chosen material installed to manufacturer spec, then the city's final inspection and your registered manufacturer warranty. Cleanup before we leave, every time.
A replacement is a 20-, 30-, sometimes 50-year decision — and a warranty is only worth as much as the company still around to honor it. We've held BBB accreditation and an A+ rating since 2007, and we're still here, still family-run, still answering for what we install across Northeast Florida.
That matters most on the jobs where fly-by-night crews vanish — paid, gone, unreachable the day a warranty question comes up. Our crews are ours rather than day-labor subs, and the estimate you sign is the scope we build. If tear-off uncovers concealed damage no one could see, we document it and you approve any change first. Comparing quotes? Our roof buyer's checklist lists five questions to ask any roofer before you sign.
The Mellick family
Ken, Jade & Jared · Family-owned since 1993
A roof replacement is exactly where anonymous contractors disappear. Universal is the opposite: founder Ken Mellick started the company in Orlando in 1993, his son Jared took it over in 2015, and his daughter Jade runs it today. Three generations of one family, one address on Carder Road, and every roof they've ever installed still traceable to a name that answers the phone — including when a Jacksonville homeowner calls.
5655 Carder Road, Orlando, FL 32810
Meet the family
Developed & made by UniversalAfter 30-plus years of watching Florida punish every other material, we engineered our own pressed-steel roof — Metlok — and manufacture it in our own factory. It's rated 180+ mph, carries a 50-year limited lifetime warranty, and you can only get it through us. If your Jacksonville replacement is the last roof you want to think about, it's worth a look.
See the Metlok systemOn a roof meant to last decades, who installs it matters more than the material. More than half of new construction businesses close within ten years, per the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — a warranty that leans on your contractor alone is worth less than one the manufacturer stands behind. Here's what stands behind ours:
Top tier — under 1% of roofing contractors, per Owens Corning. It's what lets us offer the limited lifetime, transferable Platinum warranty.
A+ rating and accreditation with the Better Business Bureau.
Awarded annually to home-improvement companies with top ratings and real value.
Members statewide (FRSA, the Florida roofing trade association) and in Central Florida (CFRSA).
Licensed & insured — CCC057165 & CBC1258484 · family-owned in Florida since 1993 · see all our certifications.
The same streamlined process on every roof — from an accurate quote to an impeccable installation.
Book online or call — we arrive on time, ready to listen.
Your goals, your budget, and the right materials for you.
Photos, a written report, and a transparent quote that holds.
The install lands on your calendar, not ours. No surprises.
A trained crew, a clean yard, and a roof installation done right.
The questions Northeast Florida homeowners ask before a replacement. Want the full breakdown of cost, Florida roof law, and financing? Read the statewide replacement guide.
It depends on the roof. Size, pitch, material, and what the tear-off finds on older First Coast homes all move the number. We quote from a written, itemized figure after a free inspection, and financing is available.
Near the water, yes — salt corrosion is a major concern for coastal homes and works hardest on a roof's metal parts. It's one reason First Coast roofs often reach the replacement window ahead of inland ones, and why beach-side replacements get coastal-rated fasteners, flashing, and drip edge.
Yes — older homes are exactly where replacement experience earns its keep. Aged decking, past layers, and discontinued materials all complicate a re-roof, and our First Coast crews work through those problems rather than around them.
Get it documented while it's still legible — permanent work erases the evidence of what the storm did. Our free inspection photographs everything, separates storm damage from normal wear in a written report, and hands you an itemized scope, made before anything changes on the roof. The report is yours to keep whatever you decide.
Most homes are re-roofed in one to three days, weather permitting. One Jax Beach customer needed a full replacement before a closing, and we completed it within 48 hours of the first call — timelines depend on material availability and the inspection.
Start with a free inspection — photos, a written report, and an honest recommendation, whether that's a repair or a full replacement.
