Kim T.
Fantastic customer service. Kenneth was great. Very professional. Found problem within minutes and fixed. Would recommend for repairs and full roof replacement.
Aug 10, 2022Verified customer
4.6/5 on Google · 1,200+ reviews online
Northeast FloridaStorm Damage Roof Repair in Jacksonville
Northeast Florida's storm season peaks in September — the same month that is already one of the region's two wettest. Add salt off the Atlantic and a coastline running from Fernandina to St. Augustine, and the damage here behaves differently from the rest of the state.
Same-day tarping
Jacksonville office
$0 Inspectionfree
Free Roof Inspection
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Brian G.
Jim and Tracy and their whole crew are exceptional. Roofing is one of those jobs that 99% of all consumers have no clue. One must trust what they are told. So many of the roofers are full of you know what and sell you more than you need. Universal is the opposite. They tell you what you need and even suggest options that save money. They tell you the pros and cons of each alternative. I could go on and on however suffice it to say that Universal is the best.
Jun 8, 2024Verified customer
Constance O.
Having a re-roof is a stressful time but I knew to call Universal Roofing Inc from my previous experience with them from my old address. It's a step-by-step process (weather permitting) which Tracy (V.P.) walked me through. From customer service, explanation of roof products, to permits and completion was less stressful having an experienced company... and roof looks great! Thank you Universal Roofing Inc.
Aug 8, 2024Verified customer
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Local conditions
Why Northeast Florida storms damage roofs differently
Jacksonville sits on the Atlantic side, and that changes both the storm and what it leaves behind.
September is the peak of the Atlantic hurricane season and one of Northeast Florida's two wettest months of the year. A roof that was merely tired through a 90-plus-degree summer is the one that fails in September, and it almost always fails at a detail — a boot, a valley, a chimney — rather than out in the open field of the roof.
The coastal strip changes the failure order entirely. From Atlantic Beach through Ponte Vedra to Fernandina, salt reaches fasteners and flashing long before it touches the roofing material. Storm wind drives that salt further inland and into places it does not normally reach, so hardware corrodes years ahead of the panels above it.
The result is that a coastal Jacksonville roof can pass a surface inspection while actively failing underneath. That is why our storm assessments here start at the hardware rather than the covering.
Sources: NOAA station data · National Weather Service Jacksonville
When it can't wait
Northeast Florida storm response
We have worked Northeast Florida roofs for more than 25 years, from the office on Philips Highway, running metal, stone-coated steel, Spanish tile, shingle and flat. That range matters after a storm, because the Beaches and St. Augustine have a very different roof mix from inland Duval.
When water is getting in we tarp the same day and return for the permanent repair once conditions allow. On coastal properties the assessment starts with fasteners and flashing rather than the covering — the failure order here is reversed, and inspecting it the usual way passes roofs that are already leaking.
On Jacksonville roofs specifically
The damage pattern we actually find here
Four things our crews write up most often after a storm in this metro — and how each one hides from a look from the driveway.
Failed vent boots after September rain
The rubber collar around plumbing vents is one of the most common sources of the storm leaks we get called to in Duval County. UV destroys it while the shingles around it still look new.
The tell: First ceiling stain of the autumn, usually near a bathroom or kitchen vent.
Salt-accelerated fastener corrosion
Storm-driven salt reaches screws, flashing and drip edge across the Beaches and up to Fernandina. Caught early it is a hardware swap; ignored it becomes a leak at every penetration.
The tell: Rust weeping at screw heads; staining running downhill from a fastener line.
Wind damage at the coastal elevations
Ocean-facing slopes take a beating that sheltered elevations never see. Damage is often confined to one plane of the roof, which is exactly why a partial inspection misses it.
The tell: Damage on one side of the house only; leaks that appear in onshore weather.
Damp sheathing under sound-looking shingles
Humidity plus one small storm-opened entry point rots decking while the surface still looks fine. It is the reason the attic side matters as much as the roof side here.
The tell: Sheathing that looks darker in patches; musty attic air after rain.
Is this an emergency?
What counts as an emergency roof repair in Jacksonville
Not every Jacksonville storm call is an emergency, and treating a non-urgent problem as one costs you money. The dividing line is simple: is water getting into the building right now, or is it going to before the roof can be repaired properly?
Call for emergency roof repair now
- Water is actively dripping into a room, or a ceiling is bulging
- You can see sky, decking or underlayment from inside the attic
- A tree, limb or debris is sitting on the roof
- A section of covering has blown off and more weather is forecast
- The roof is visibly sagging anywhere
Urgent, but not an emergency
- A few shingles are missing and the forecast is clear
- There's an old stain on the ceiling that isn't growing
- You found granules in the gutters after the storm
- A neighbour's roof was damaged and you want yours checked
- Dents in gutters or vent caps that suggest hail
These still want looking at — quietly, properly, and soon. A free inspection tells you what the storm did without an emergency callout, and the written report is worth having while the storm date is recent.
Get a Free Roof InspectionSchedule Free InspectionGet My Free InspectionBook Free InspectionNot sure which side of that line you are on? Call and describe what you can see. We would rather talk you out of an emergency visit you do not need than sell you one — that conversation costs nothing either way.
In the first hour
What to do, and what not to do
Roof advice only — what protects the house and preserves the evidence. Anything about your policy belongs with your insurer.
Do this
- Get everyone away from any sagging ceiling or standing water near electrics
- Photograph what you can see safely from the ground, and date it
- Move furniture and valuables out from under any active drip
- Put a bucket down and cut a small relief hole in a bulging ceiling — it drains instead of collapsing
- Call a licensed roofer to stabilise the roof before the next band of rain
Not this
- Don't climb onto a wet or storm-damaged roof — that is how people get hurt
- Don't let anyone start permanent repairs before the damage is documented
- Don't sign anything with a door-knocker who shows up unsolicited after a storm
- Don't throw away damaged material until it has been photographed
- Don't wait for the ceiling to dry on its own — trapped moisture rots decking
The record
Everything documented, in writing
After a storm the useful thing a roofer produces is a clear record of what the roof looks like now — dated, photographed and described. What you do with that record is entirely your call.
- Photographs of every damaged area on the property, dated
- A written report describing what we found and where
- An itemised, fixed-scope quote for what the roof needs
- An honest read on storm damage versus existing wear
- A copy for your records, whether or not you hire us
On the insurance side:we document the roof, and that is where a roofer's role properly ends. We can't file a claim for you. Questions about what your policy covers belong with your insurer or agent, and anyone representing you on the policy itself should be a licensed public adjuster.
The process
Five steps. Zero surprises.
The same streamlined process on every roof — from an accurate quote to an impeccable installation.
- 1
Schedule Your Visit
Book online or call — we arrive on time, ready to listen.
- 2
Personal Consultation
Your goals, your budget, and the right materials for you.
- 3
Inspection & Quote
Photos, a written report, and a transparent quote that holds.
- 4
Convenient Scheduling
The install lands on your calendar, not ours. No surprises.
- 5
Expert Installation
A trained crew, a clean yard, and a roof installation done right.
Storm response area
Where our Jacksonville crews respond
Across Duval, St. Johns, Clay, Nassau and Flagler counties, from our office at 9446 Philips Hwy Ste 7, Jacksonville, FL 32256.
Orange Park Ponte Vedra Beach Jacksonville Beach Palm Coast St. Augustine Atlantic Beach Fernandina Beach
Outside Northeast Florida? See storm damage repair across Florida.
Jacksonville storm damage questions
How fast can you respond to a storm call in Jacksonville?
We've worked Northeast Florida for more than 25 years from the office on Philips Highway, and the crews are based here. We triage active water first, tarp the same day where a permanent repair isn't safe yet, and return for the lasting fix once conditions allow.
What's different about storm damage on a coastal roof?
The failure order is reversed. Inland, the roofing material usually goes first. On the coast — Atlantic Beach through Ponte Vedra to Fernandina — storm-driven salt attacks the hardware first, so screws, fasteners, flashing and drip edge corrode while the panels or shingles above still look perfectly sound. An assessment that only looks at the surface will pass a roof that is actively failing.
Why does my roof always seem to leak in September?
September is both the peak of the Atlantic hurricane season and one of Northeast Florida's two wettest months (about 7.6 inches, nearly tied with June). A roof that got through a 90-plus-degree summer with a small weakness at a boot, valley or chimney is exactly the roof that starts leaking when that much rain arrives at once.
Do you cover the Beaches and St. Augustine?
Yes — Atlantic Beach, Jacksonville Beach, Ponte Vedra, Fernandina, St. Augustine, Orange Park and Palm Coast, across Duval, St. Johns, Clay, Nassau and Flagler counties.
A crew came through the neighbourhood after the storm offering inspections. Are they legitimate?
Some are; many follow weather into Florida and leave when the work dries up, which is a problem when a warranty question surfaces later. Check for a Florida state licence, a local address you can visit, and a history in Northeast Florida that predates the storm. Universal has been here 25+ years — licences CCC057165 and CBC1258484.
How much does emergency roof tarping cost in Jacksonville?
It depends on how much roof needs covering and how safely it can be accessed. We quote before we start, and the inspection that determines what's needed is free. Tarping is a temporary measure to stop water entering — the permanent repair is scoped and quoted separately once the full extent is visible.
Water coming in? Call now.
Same-day tarping to stop it, a free inspection to find the cause, and a written report either way.
Call (904) 274-6858Get a Free Roof InspectionSchedule Free InspectionGet My Free InspectionBook Free Inspection
Universal Roof & Contracting · 9446 Philips Hwy Ste 7, Jacksonville, FL 32256 · Florida licences CCC057165 and CBC1258484
Sources (7)
- Tropical cyclone climatology · NOAA National Hurricane Center
- Section 626.854, Florida Statutes (public adjusters) · The Florida Legislature
- U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, Jacksonville International Airport (USW00013889) · NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information
- License CCC057165, Certified Roofing Contractor · Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation
- License CBC1258484, Certified Building Contractor · Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation
- Universal Roof & Contracting reviews · GuildQuality
- Universal Roof & Contracting, Orlando (Google Business Profile) · Google