Three Generations. One Family. Same Name Since 1993.
Universal Roof & Contracting was founded in Orlando in 1993 by veteran Ken Mellick — and it has been family-owned and operated every day since. That's more than 30 years of operational excellence in an industry where more than half of new construction businesses close within ten years, per the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
A roofing company that never changed hands
We might have been founded in 1993, but our industry experience goes back to 1972 — and every step since has stayed inside the same family.
It starts with home building
Ken Mellick starts his own custom home-building company. The roofing expertise that Universal is built on begins two decades before the company itself.
Universal Roof & Contracting is founded
Ken founds Universal in Orlando as a veteran-founded, family-owned company — the same brand it still operates under today. More than half of new construction businesses close within ten years (Bureau of Labor Statistics) — Universal is past thirty.
The second generation takes over
Ken's son Jared takes charge, making Universal a multi-generational operation without changing hands outside the family.
The third generation leads
Ken's daughter Jade leads the team, still working out of the Carder Road headquarters in Orlando — 30+ years under the same family, same name.
The Veteran's Roof Giveaway
Every year we give a deserving veteran a brand-new roof, free. As a veteran-founded business, we appreciate the sacrifices made for us and try to honor them in the most useful way we know how — by putting a roof over someone's head and keeping it there.
Nominations come from the community. You can nominate a veteran you know — a neighbor, a family member, a fellow service member — or nominate yourself.
Official rules, eligibility requirements, and entry deadlines are published with each year's giveaway. Nominating does not obligate you to anything, and it is not a condition of purchase.
We wouldn't be here without this community
Thirty years of Florida homeowners built this company. Here's how we try to give some of it back.
Veteran's Roof Giveaway
Our annual giveaway puts a free roof on a deserving veteran's home. Ken and Jade hand over the keys personally.
Partner of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
An official partnership with the Bay Area's NFL franchise — one of the ways we show up in the Tampa market beyond the job site.
Partner of the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp
A partnership with Jacksonville's ballclub, in the market our Philips Highway office has served for 25+ years.
Participants in the Cure Bowl
We take part in the Cure Bowl, which raises money for breast cancer research right here in Orlando.
A big company that still feels small
We might be a bigger company now, but we work to keep the small-company feel. Team members aren't just employees — they're family. We come together for seasonal gatherings, parties, and events, right down to our pre-Thanksgiving BBQ. Sometimes a single department holds its own; sometimes the whole company shows up. It's what keeps us close-knit at our size.
See open positionsYou can hear us on the radio
Our own Justin and Corey bring humor and roofing news to the region on In The House, alongside Orlando's leading home improvement advisors on WDBO. They're a local source for home improvement tips, and any pressing question you have can get answered right on air — or you can skip the queue and ask us directly.
Get a Free Roof InspectionSchedule Free InspectionGet My Free InspectionBook Free InspectionQuick answers
Who owns Universal Roof & Contracting?
We're family-owned and operated. Founder Ken Mellick — a veteran who started in construction in 1972 — established the company in 1993. His son Jared took charge in 2015, and today his daughter Jade leads the team.
Is Universal Roof & Contracting licensed and insured?
Yes — we're a licensed and insured Florida roofing contractor, state licenses CCC057165 and CBC1258484, operating since 1993.
What areas does your roofing company serve?
Three Florida metro regions from three offices: Orlando and Central Florida, Tampa Bay, and the Jacksonville metro — residential and commercial roofing services for 180+ communities.
Thirty years of Florida roofs. Yours could be next.
Free inspection, photos, a written report, and an honest answer — even when that answer is "your roof is fine."
Sources (4)
- Universal Roofing Group, Inc., corporate record P93000013124 · Florida Division of Corporations (Sunbiz)
- Survival of private sector establishments by opening year, construction · U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
- License CCC057165, Certified Roofing Contractor · Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation
- License CBC1258484, Certified Building Contractor · Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation