A Universal roof inspection is free and comes back to you as photographs and a written condition report — not a verbal opinion from the driveway. We also perform the two inspections Florida insurers ask for: wind mitigation and 4-point. Universal Roof & Contracting is a family-owned Florida roofing contractor founded in 1993, with offices in Orlando, Tampa and Jacksonville.
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
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
Cynthia B.
From beginning to end, Universal Roof & Contracting did a marvelous job. Interestingly, they offered a wind mitigation evaluation. We had an outside person complete it because we wanted to get it done through our insurance. An outsider completed the inspection per USAA's recommendation, and he stated Universal Roof & Contracting did a great job. We were very pleased with the company, from the salesperson on. They kept us apprised of everything and were very, very good.
May 24, 2023Verified 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
Ryan T.
Universal roofing did an amazing job. Everyone I worked with was very professional and polite. They professionally helped me out throughout the entire process. In the middle of summer it only took them a day and a half and I have a wonderful roof.
Aug 4, 2017Verified customer
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A roof inspection in Florida is a documented assessment of what shape your roof is in — the covering, the flashing, the edges and, where we can reach it, the attic side. Universal performs them free across Orlando, Tampa and Jacksonville, and you keep the photographs and the written report whether or not you hire us. Separately, Florida homeowners often need one of two insurance inspections: a wind mitigation inspection to document features that may qualify the home for premium discounts, or a 4-point inspection covering roof, electrical, plumbing and HVAC. We perform all three.
What we actually check
What a Universal roof inspection covers
Most roof problems in Florida do not start in the middle of the roof. They start at the edges and the joins — which is where an inspection either earns its keep or misses everything.
The roof covering itself
Shingles, tile, metal panels or membrane — lifted, cracked, slipped, punctured or missing. Granule loss on shingles, corrosion at metal fasteners, ponding on flat sections.
Flashing and penetrations
Where the roof meets everything else: valleys, chimneys, skylights, vent boots, pipe collars and wall junctions. This is where a lot of leaks start.
Edges, decking and structure
Drip edge, fascia, soffit and visible decking condition — plus any sag or soft spot that suggests the problem is under the covering rather than on it.
The attic side, where we can reach it
Daylight through the deck, damp or stained sheathing, mildew and insulation that's been wet. A roof problem is usually visible inside before it's obvious outside.
What failure actually looks like
The things we photograph and put in the report
None of these are visible from the ground, and none of them are obvious to a homeowner standing in the driveway. All of them shorten a Florida roof's life.
Granule loss
The protective layer washing off. Once the mat is exposed, Florida UV takes the shingle apart quickly.
Lifted and missing shingles
Wind breaks the seal strip. The shingle can look fine from the ground and still be letting water underneath.
Interior staining
By the time it shows on a ceiling, water has usually been moving through the assembly for a while.
Ponding on low slope
Standing water on flat sections and Florida rooms — the seams and the drainage are what we check first.
Wind mitigation
The inspection that can lower what you pay every year
A wind mitigation inspection documents the wind-resistant features your home already hason the state's uniform mitigation verification form. Florida insurers use that form to apply premium discounts. You are not buying an upgrade — you are proving what is already up there.
The completed form is valid for up to five years, as long as the house hasn't materially changed. Whether it saves you money depends on your home and your insurer — that part is between you and them — but most homeowners find out quickly whether it pays for itself.
What gets documented
Roof covering type and code compliance
Roof deck attachment
Roof-to-wall connections
Roof geometry (hip, gable, flat)
Secondary water resistance barrier
Opening protection (impact glazing, shutters)
Not every roofer can sign the form
Florida law names exactly who may sign a uniform mitigation verification form. Under Fla. Stat. § 627.711(2)(a), an insurer must accept one signed by a licensed home inspector, a certified building code inspector, a general, building or residential contractor licensed under § 489.111, a professional engineer, or a registered architect.
Universal holds a Certified Building Contractor licence — CBC1258484 — alongside its roofing licence, so we qualify. A roofing-only CCC licence does not appear on that list at all.
Insurers commonly request a 4-point before writing or renewing a policy on an older Florida home. It is not a full home inspection, and it is not a grade on your house — it records the age and condition of four systems so the insurer can make its own call.
01
Roof
Covering type, age, condition, and remaining service life.
02
HVAC
Age, type, condition, and whether it's still operational.
03
Electrical
Panel, wiring type, capacity, and any known hazards.
04
Plumbing
Supply and drain material, water heater age, visible leaks.
The roof section is the one we can speak to directly — covering type, age, condition and remaining service life. Questions about what your policy covers or what your insurer will do with the report belong with your insurance agent, not your roofer.
What you walk away with
A written report, not a sales pitch
The point of a free inspection is that you end up knowing something you did not know before — in writing, so you can act on it whenever you choose, with us or with anyone else. If you are comparing quotes, our roof buyer's checklist lists five questions to ask any roofer.
Photographs of every problem area we find, roof and property
A written condition summary in plain language, not roofer shorthand
An itemised, fixed-scope quote if work is genuinely needed
An honest read on storm damage versus normal Florida wear
A straight answer when the roof is fine and needs nothing
When to book one
Once a year — Florida sun and rain age a roof faster than the brochure says
After any named storm or severe thunderstorm passes over your area
Before buying or selling a home in Florida
When your insurer asks for a wind mitigation or 4-point inspection
When you see a stain on a ceiling, however small
When the roof is somewhere past 10 years old and you've never had it looked at
Found something already? A leak or active damage goes to roof repair, and a roof at the end of its life goes to roof replacement.
What we look for depends on what you have
Every roof covering fails in its own way, so an inspection is only as good as the inspector's familiarity with the material. Here is what we're checking on each, and what a replacement in that material costs if it comes to that.
A free inspection that always finds work is not an inspection, it is a sales call. If your roof has years left in it, that is what the report will say, and we will tell you roughly how long you have before it needs attention. Customers mention that honesty in their reviews, and it is the reason they call us back years later.
A Universal roof condition inspection is free, across all three of our Florida markets — you get photos and a written report whether or not the roof needs anything. Wind mitigation and 4-point inspections for your insurer are separate services.
What is a wind mitigation inspection, and is it worth it?+
It documents the wind-resistant features your home already has — roof covering type, roof deck attachment, roof-to-wall connections, roof geometry, secondary water barrier and opening protection — on the state's uniform mitigation verification form. Florida insurers use that form to apply premium discounts. Whether it saves you money depends on your home and your insurer, but the form stays valid for up to five years, and the state's My Safe Florida Home program offers the inspection free when it is funded.
Can a roofing contractor do a wind mitigation inspection?+
Only certain licence types can. Florida Statute 627.711(2)(a) requires insurers to accept the uniform mitigation verification form when it is signed by a licensed home inspector, a certified building code inspector, a general, building or residential contractor licensed under Statute 489.111, a professional engineer, or a registered architect. Universal holds a Certified Building Contractor licence (CBC1258484) in addition to its roofing licence, so we qualify. Roofing-only (CCC) contractors are not on that list.
What is a 4-point inspection?+
It covers four systems — roof, electrical, plumbing and HVAC — and insurers commonly ask for one before writing or renewing a policy on an older home. It is not a full home inspection and it is not a pass/fail grade on your house; it is a snapshot of the age and condition of those four systems so the insurer can make its own decision.
How often should a Florida roof be inspected?+
Once a year is the sensible baseline, plus a look after any named storm or severe thunderstorm that crosses your area. Florida roofs work hard: about 50 inches of rain a year or more, strong sun, humidity, and summer thunderstorms on most days.
Do you charge for the inspection if I don't hire you?+
No. The condition inspection is free with no obligation, and you keep the photos and the written report either way. If the roof doesn't need work, we will tell you that. Customers mention our honesty in their reviews.
How long does a roof inspection take?+
A typical residential condition inspection takes about 45 minutes to an hour on site, depending on the size and pitch of the roof and whether we can safely access the attic. You get the written report after, not a verbal summary at the truck.
Which areas do you inspect?+
All three of our Florida markets — the Orlando metro, Tampa Bay and the Jacksonville area, plus the surrounding cities in each. Our crews are based in the metros they serve rather than dispatched across the state.
Find out what your roof actually needs — free
Photos, a written condition report, and an honest answer. If your roof is fine, we'll tell you that too.
