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
Orlando · Tampa · JacksonvilleSoffit & Fascia Repair in Florida
The roof edge is where Florida water damage starts. We repair and replace rotted fascia, failed soffit and the drip edge behind them — and fix whatever was letting the water in. Universal Roof & Contracting is a family-owned Florida roofing contractor founded in 1993, with offices in Orlando, Tampa and Jacksonville.
$0 Inspectionfree
Rot-proof aluminium
Licensed since 1994
Free Roof Inspection
What does your roof need? Pick one to start.
Get a Free Roof InspectionSchedule Free InspectionGet My Free InspectionBook Free InspectionNo obligation. We'll tell you if your roof doesn't need work.
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
1 of 1
Soffit and fascia are the two parts of the roof edge that fail first in Florida, and they fail for the same reason: water that should have left the roof stayed on it. Fascia is the board along the roof edge that carries your gutter; soffit is the vented panel underneath the overhang that lets your attic breathe. Both are repairable long before the damage reaches the roof deck — which is what makes catching them early worth so much.
The roof edge system
Three parts, one job
Fascia, soffit and drip edge work as a system. When one fails the other two usually follow, which is why replacing a board without fixing the cause just resets the clock.
Fascia — the board behind the gutter
The horizontal board running along the roof edge. It closes off the rafter ends, carries the gutter, and takes the direct hit from every drop of water the roof sheds.
Soffit — the underside of the overhang
The panel tucked under the eave. It seals the roof cavity from birds and pests, and its vents are how the attic breathes — which in Florida is most of what keeps a roof deck dry.
Drip edge — the metal in between
The flashing that directs water off the deck and into the gutter rather than back behind the fascia. When it's missing or wrong, the fascia rots no matter how good the board was.
What we find
Six ways the roof edge fails in Florida
Every one of these is fixable. Most of them are cheap to fix early and expensive to fix late, because what starts at the edge ends up in the deck.
01
Rot from a failed gutter
One of the most common causes we find. A gutter that overflows, backs up or pulls loose pours water directly down the fascia board it's bolted to. The gutter looks like the problem; the fascia is what needs replacing.
02
Attic humidity from blocked soffit vents
Painted-over, insulation-blocked or crushed soffit vents stop the attic breathing. In Florida humidity, that moisture condenses on the underside of the deck and rots it from inside — a roof problem caused entirely by the soffit.
03
Wind loss at the overhang
The eave is where storm wind gets its first purchase on a roof. Soffit panels blow out, and once the cavity is open the wind is working directly on the deck and insulation.
04
Pest and wasp entry
Any gap in the soffit is an invitation. Squirrels, rats, birds and wasps all get into attics through failed soffit panels, and the damage they do costs more than the panel did.
05
Peeling paint and staining
Usually the first visible sign, and usually already too late to be cosmetic. Paint fails because the board underneath is holding moisture.
06
Sagging or wavy fascia line
A fascia line that isn't straight means the board has softened or the fasteners have lost their grip in rotten wood. Gutters hung on it will follow.
The part nobody thinks about
Your soffit is why your attic is dry
Attic ventilation works as a loop: air enters low through the soffit vents at the eaves and leaves high at the ridge. The soffit is the intake. Block it — with paint, with insulation pushed too far into the eave, or with a crushed panel — and the loop stops.
In Florida humidity that matters enormously. Moist air with nowhere to go condenses on the underside of the roof deck and stays there. A meaningful share of the rotten decking we uncover on tear-offs was never caused by a leak at all — it was caused by a soffit that stopped breathing years earlier.
It is also the cheapest roof problem on this page to fix, and the one most likely to be quietly shortening the life of a roof that looks perfectly fine from outside.
Materials we install
Aluminium
A common Florida choice. It doesn't rot, doesn't feed pests and doesn't need repainting — which matters far more here than the modest premium over wood costs.
Vinyl / uPVC
Cost-effective and rot-proof, with vented soffit panels in a range of profiles. Colour is through-body rather than painted, so it doesn't flake.
Wood
Original on older Florida homes and often what we're replacing. It can be matched where a historic look matters, but it will need paint maintenance in this climate.
What it connects to
Soffit and fascia rarely fail alone
Gutters
One of the most common causes of fascia rot we find. A gutter that overflows or pulls loose pours water down the board it's bolted to.
Learn moreFree roof inspection
We check the roof edge on every inspection — photographed and written up, whether or not you hire us.
Learn moreRoof repair
If edge rot has reached the deck or the rafter tails, it stops being an edge job and becomes a roof one.
Learn moreThe 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.
From the field
Florida soffit and fascia guides
Gutters, Soffit & Fascia
Excellent Siding, Soffit & Gutter Services | Cocoa Beach, FL
Read the guide
Gutters, Soffit & Fascia
Exploring Soffit, Fascia & Gutter Services In St.Petersburg, FL: A Complete Exterior Guide
Read the guide
Gutters, Soffit & Fascia
Effective Clearwater, FL Soffit, Fascia And Gutter Solutions – When To Repair Or Replace On Your Home
Read the guideSoffit & fascia questions, answered
What's the difference between soffit and fascia?
Fascia is the vertical board running along the roof edge, closing off the rafter ends and carrying the gutter. Soffit is the horizontal panel underneath the overhang, sealing the roof cavity and — critically in Florida — venting the attic. They fail together often enough that they're usually quoted together, but they do completely different jobs.
How much does soffit and fascia repair cost in Florida?
It depends on how much of the run is affected, how high it is, and whether the damage has reached the rafter tails behind the board. Isolated sections are a small job; a full perimeter is a much bigger one. We inspect and quote in writing before any work, and the inspection is free — including an honest answer about how much of the run genuinely needs replacing.
Can you replace fascia without replacing the roof?
Yes, in most cases. Fascia sits at the roof edge and can usually be replaced with the roof covering left intact, though the drip edge and the first course sometimes have to be lifted to do it properly. If the rot has travelled into the deck or the rafter tails, that changes the job — which is why we look before quoting.
Why does my soffit keep rotting?
Almost always because water is getting to it that shouldn't be. The usual culprits are an overflowing or detached gutter, a missing or incorrectly installed drip edge, or attic moisture condensing behind the panel because the vents are blocked. Replacing the board without fixing the cause just resets the clock.
Do soffit vents actually matter in Florida?
Yes. Soffit vents are the intake side of attic ventilation — air enters low at the eaves and exits high at the ridge. Block that intake and Florida humidity has nowhere to go, so it condenses on the underside of the roof deck. A surprising share of the rotten decking we find on tear-offs was caused by blocked soffit vents rather than by anything that happened on top of the roof.
What material do you recommend?
Aluminium for most Florida homes — it doesn't rot, doesn't feed pests, doesn't need repainting, and the price difference over wood is small against the maintenance it saves. Vinyl is a solid cost-effective alternative. We'll match wood where a historic look matters, but we'll also tell you what it will ask of you in this climate.
Do you find soffit and fascia problems during a roof inspection?
Constantly — it's one of the things we specifically check. A lot of water damage starts at the roof edge, and a fascia problem spotted during a free roof inspection is far cheaper than the same problem found when it has reached the deck.
Which areas do you cover?
The Orlando metro, Tampa Bay and the Jacksonville area — 22 counties, with crews based in all three markets.
Rot at the roof edge? Find out how far it goes
A free inspection with photos and a written report — including an honest answer about how much of the run actually needs replacing.
Get a Free Roof InspectionSchedule Free InspectionGet My Free InspectionBook Free Inspection(407) 214-4872
Universal Roof & Contracting · Florida licences CCC057165 and CBC1258484 · family-owned and operating since 1993
Sources (5)
- Universal Roofing Group, Inc., corporate record P93000013124 · Florida Division of Corporations (Sunbiz)
- 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