Storm bands, humidity, and relentless Central Florida sun — roofs in Lake Wales earn their keep. Universal has been roofing Florida homes since 1993.
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We’re very pleased with our new roof that Universal installed. They made the process easy and simple. From our salesman, Ben, to the Project Manager, Jonathan, the back office, and of course, the Crew who installed the roof. The whole Team were very professional and made the experience worthwhile. Ben even stopped by at the end of the installation to make sure we were pleased with the workmanship. Thank you, Ben!
Bob and I would like to share our experience with Universal Roof and Contracting/Tampa. We recently determined we needed a new roof and reached out to five companies to get estimates. Of the five David Labaze stood out with his product knowledge and patience to answer any all all questions regarding our selection of Owens Corning Shingles, and Universal Roofing. He even went so far as to bring out a product board for us to bring to our HOA for approval. Once that determination was made we were assigned Yordanis Segura as our Project Manger who immediately gave us peace of mind as he was our contact through the entire roofing project. He was on top of every step of our roofing project including inspecting the work of the professionals installing various aspects of our project. In conclusion, David and Yordanis are two standout employees of Universal, which is giving us the confidence and security of our new roof covering our home. Both of us would not hesitate to give our recommendation for your new roofing experience. Bob and Kathy Hemann
Universal Roofing and Contracting provided outstanding support in the roofing, new gutters and new skylights for the 10 buildings consisting of 42 units and a pool house. Their professionalism and technical expertise started during the contracting process with Mike and Marty; and continued through shingle and gutter removal to new shingles, gutters and skylights with Thomas’s Team. Thomas’s Team are a well oiled machine in action. There was no wasted energy. The team knew the mission and completed all tasks at the highest level. Thomas worked closely with the Association’s leads to ensure everyone (the team and unit owners) were in sync. Thomas, Alonso and the team were outstanding in every respect. The new roofs are evident of the Teams hard work.
We are very pleased with our experience with Universal Roof and Contracting. Estimator Daniel guided us through the process and the production team covered every step in detail. Project Manager Thomas provided great communication on the schedule, progress, and was in constant contact. The on-site crew was professional, respectful of us and our property and worked from dawn to dark for two days, ending with a thorough cleanup. We highly recommend Universal Roof. They work all over the State.
This company has been amazing to work with as extremely detail oriented and really takes the time to educate their customer on options. Our Project Manager, Thomas McVicker, was an outstanding communicator and responded promptly to any inquiry. Top notch customer service!
On January 2024 I had wind damage, after contact my insurance, I called Mr David Roman, and I explained my situation. Universal roof & contracting it’s has been very professional with un excellent customer service easy to communicate. Mr. David came to my house and explained to me all the details for the roof replacement, he always answered my calls, he’s a very smart and knowledgeable person as well the rest of the great team at Universal roof & contracting seem around my street many houses getting theirs roof replaced, but you can see the difference and quality of the job in my house, It was done professionally. I’m being very blessed to have my roof replaced for a professional and great company like Universal roof & contracting, thanks and thanks to Mr David Roman!
Jonathan Gil and the crew were very professional. Finished the project in a timely manner. Highly recommend the company for any roofing project!
Yordanis took great care of us from start to finish & patiently answered my way to many questions. Crew was courteous, respectful of our property, did a nice clean up & a great job. Above & beyond is still out there.
They did a very good job and I was very pleased with the overall project.Yordanis The project manager stayed in touch with me throughout the project and after the project was done thank you very much for all your help and assistance. Also want to say Alonso who was onsite was very good and detailed oriented in making sure project was completed according to the specifications. Thank you. Would recommend them.
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Universal Roof & Contracting serves Lake Wales with every major roofing service — repair, replacement, inspections, storm response, gutters, and all four mainstream roof systems — from our Tampa Bay office. Family-owned since 1993, BBB-accredited with an A+ rating, and Owens Corning Platinum Preferred. This page is the whole picture in one place; every section links to the full service behind it.
Lake Wales is an incorporated city in Polk County. It was founded in 1911 by the Lake Wales Land Company, a group of businessmen who bought 5,000 acres of hilly land around Lake Wailes, a lake named for Sydney Wailes, a land agent who worked for the State of Florida after the Civil War. The town was incorporated in 1917 and received its municipal charter as a city in 1921.
Citrus has been part of the local economy since the town's earliest days, and the clear lakes in the surrounding valleys offer recreation year-round. The 2020 Census counted 16,361 residents.
The weather those roofs answer to is measurable. NOAA's 1991–2020 normals for the St Petersburg Ap station put annual rainfall at 46.65 inches, with 63% of it falling June through September and 8.39 inches in August alone. Most of that rain arrives in summer storms, often wind-driven, and it finds any weak flashing detail on Lake Wales rooflines quickly.
Humidity, sun, and that rainfall all work on Lake Wales roofs, and edges, penetrations and fasteners are where we start every inspection.
Lake Wales sits in the inland storm region, and the record is specific: Irma (2017) — crossed Central Florida as a hurricane; minor to moderate damage to many structures, widespread tree damage (NOAA/NHC TCR AL112017). Milton (2024) — hurricane-force gusts in Central Florida near the track; 14.83" of rain recorded near Orlando (NOAA/NHC TCR AL142024).
After any of those, the useful thing a homeowner can do is document from the ground: photograph what is visible, note the date, check ceilings that night and again a week later. Then get a professional assessment before small openings become interior damage. We run storm routes across Polk County and put findings in writing with photographs — no scare tactics, no inflated damage lists.
Not sure which of these your roof needs?
The free inspection answers it with photos and a written report.
Everything the Tampa Bay crews do runs through Lake Wales: roof repair, full replacement installed to manufacturer specification, free documented inspections, storm response, commercial systems, and the roof edge — soffit, fascia and seamless gutters. Materials: metal, architectural shingle, tile, and our exclusive Metlok system.
Universal Roof & Contracting has been family-owned since 1993 — state-licensed (CCC057165 & CBC1258484), fully insured, BBB-accredited with an A+ rating, and an Owens Corning Platinum Preferred Contractor, a tier held by fewer than 1% of roofing contractors. Estimates are free and itemized; the inspection comes back as photographs and a written report you keep either way.
One to three days for most Lake Wales homes, start to magnet-swept yard. Tile, steep, and cut-up roofs run longer; commercial ranges from days to weeks by size. You get a realistic window before work starts — and a heads-up if weather moves it.
Two questions decide it: how contained is the damage, and how much life does the field have left? Contained plus years remaining equals repair; spreading wear or a roof in its last stretch equals a replacement conversation, since patch money on a dying roof rarely buys much time. Either way, our recommendation comes documented.
Five inputs set it: size and pitch, how many layers come off, what the decking looks like underneath, which system goes on, and the detail work at flashings and ventilation. That's why quotes-by-phone are guesses. Ours start with a free inspection and arrive itemized, line by line.
Nearby areas we serve
Photos, honest findings, and a written condition report — free, and yours to keep either way.
