George B.
Had a minor issue and Johnathan Gil corrected quickly.
Nov 17, 2025Verified customer
Tampa Bay · Polk County
Roofing Company in Lakeland, FL
Storm bands, humidity, and relentless Central Florida sun — roofs in Lakeland earn their keep. Universal has been roofing Florida homes since 1993.
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OC Platinum Preferred
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Kathy G.
We recently had our roof and gutters replaced by Universal Roof and Contracting and are very happy with the results. The crew that worked at our house was excellent. A big thank you to Richard Adamson, Thomas McVicker and Marissa for always being available and informative and doing an excellent job managing everything from start to finish!
Feb 21, 2025Verified customer
Kathleen S.
Would like to commend project manager Jordanian Segura cannot say enough about the exceptional service from the moment we met professional courteous as well as meticulous . He didn’t make excuses he got it done. He should be valued in the company and known as one to be depended on. He came into this job after completion and rectified the issue without question a true professional Thank you Jordanis Sincerely Mr and Mrs Schneider Port Richey, Fl
Mar 17, 2026Verified customer
Jenniene J.
Me and my got husband got a new roof/gutter on our house. When contact Universal Roof & Contracting Tampa regarding replaced our roof. When David Roman came out to look at the roof he were very pleasant in all the detail regarding the roof he made a video showing us how the color were going to look on the house. I recommend this company and ask for David Roman he the best!!
May 9, 2024Verified customer
Christopher M.
My wife and I were in need of a new roof for insurance reasons. There was nothing wrong with our roof except that we live in Florida. We had estimates from 4-5 other companies who would open the estimate process at twice the actual price they would ultimately end up at before leaving our home. My wife was very upset with the process until we had Richard Adamson from Universal Roof and Contracting to the house to give us yet another estimate. He was refreshingly genuine and straight forward about his product and company and what they could do for us. He gave us a fair estimate and put my wife at ease over the whole process. We agreed to have the job done. There were some bumps along the way that were handled professionally and promptly. The finished product is beautiful. We couldn’t be happier with how nicely everything came out. Thank you not only to Richard but also the whole crew for a job well done. Hopefully I’ll never need another roof in my lifetime but I have already passed on their info to several people in need of a reputable roofing company. They are hard to come by. Thanks again.
Jan 13, 2024Verified customer
Angel P.
PM Jhonatan Gil followed his word and my roof looks amazing . I would recommend this company and him. The communication was on point definitely no complaints loved the experience.
Dec 4, 2025Verified customer
Brian B.
great company, family veteran owned. Richard and David were extremely knowledgeable and helped through the entire process. highly recommend!
Oct 28, 2024Verified customer
Steven C.
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.
Jun 16, 2025Verified customer
Roxanna C.
Brian Blake was very professional to work with. I truly appreciate him . He went above and beyond! The new roof is beautiful. Thank you for a job well done!
Feb 26, 2025Verified customer
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Universal Roof & Contracting serves Lakeland 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.
Roofing across the I-4 corridor
What Lakeland Does to a Roof
Three forces set the terms for every roof in Lakeland. Understand them and every material and maintenance decision on this page makes sense.
Sun
Strong sun breaks down shingle asphalt and fades finishes over time, so Florida roofs need regular checks.
Humidity
Inland Florida trades salt for humidity: algae grows on shaded slopes, and poor attic ventilation traps heat and moisture under the roof.
Storms
Summer squall lines and the occasional named storm bring hard, wind-driven rain that finds every weak detail.
46.65"
annual rainfall at the St Petersburg Ap station
63%
of it falls June through September
8.39"
in August alone — the peak month
NOAA NCEI 1991–2020 normals (USW00092806)
Fix it early
Roof Repair in Lakeland
Roof damage in Lakeland often starts small and moves fast once water finds a path. Catching it early is the whole game.
Lakeland sits inside our Polk County repair territory. Every repair visit ends the same way: the problem you called about fixed, the surrounding field and flashings checked, and photos of both in your inbox.
Active leak? We tarp or seal first and schedule the permanent repair behind it — documented, so you have the record.
Lifted or missing shingles
The classic after a squall line. Caught early it's a focused, inexpensive repair.
Granules in the gutters
Shingle surfaces shedding — the field is aging, and it's time to watch it.
Ceiling stains
By the time water shows inside, it's been traveling the deck for a while. Call now, not next month.
Flashing and fastener wear
A common leak point, and one Florida weather works on early.
The big project
Roof Replacement
What actually drives a replacement quote — and how concealed damage is handled if tear-off uncovers it.
A completed Universal replacement — one to three days on most homes.
We install to manufacturer specification with the underlayment and ventilation the warranty actually requires — as an Owens Corning Platinum Preferred contractor (a tier held by fewer than 1% of roofing contractors), we offer warranty protection most roofers can't. The estimate is line-by-line, and the price you approve is the scope we build; change orders only happen when opened decking reveals something no one could see, and you approve those too.
Two planning notes from thousands of projects across the I-4 corridor: replace end-of-life soffit, fascia, and gutters with the roof — one mobilization, every connected component sealed at once — and if you have flexibility, fall timing puts a fresh roof over you before storm season instead of after it. Most residential replacements in Lakeland finish in one to three days.
Size, pitch & complexity
Cut-up roofs with dormers and valleys take longer than simple gables — and price accordingly.
Tear-off & decking
How many layers come up, and what the decking looks like once exposed. You approve anything it reveals.
The material system
Shingle, metal, tile, or slate — specified for Florida exposure, not upsold.
Flashing & ventilation
The details that separate a code-minimum job from one that reaches its rated life.
Every Lakeland replacement starts with the free inspection.
Free & documented
Roof Inspections
A Lakeland roof should be checked twice a year, in spring and fall, and after every named storm. Our inspection costs nothing and ends with a written, photographed report either way.
Field & fasteners
Wear, granule loss, and fastener condition across the whole covering.
Flashing & penetrations
Common leak points, so we check every boot, valley, and transition.
The roof edge
Soffit, fascia, and gutters for rot, separation, and pest entry.
The attic side
Moisture staining, ventilation problems, and daylight where there shouldn't be any.
Findings come back as photographs and a written condition report — not a verbal opinion from the driveway. Many inspections end with "you're fine, here's what to watch," and the report is yours whether or not you ever hire us. If you're buying or selling in Polk County, the same visit produces the roof documentation the transaction needs, from a licensed contractor rather than a checklist service.
When the weather turns
Storm Damage in Lakeland
Being inland doesn't excuse a roof in Lakeland. Irma crossed the middle of the state as a hurricane, and Milton brought hurricane-force gusts to Central Florida. After it passes, a five-minute ground check tells you whether to call.
01 Ground scan first
Never climb after a storm. Missing tabs, sagging ridge lines, and displaced flashing all show from the yard.
02 Read the downspouts
A pile of granules at the splash block is the roof reporting damage.
03 Circle the property
Shingle pieces and drip-edge sections in the grass map where the wind got in.
04 Check ceilings that night
And again in a week — storm water can take days to show inside.
05 Document and call
Photos with dates from the ground; our written assessment fills in the rest.
Irma
crossed Central Florida as a hurricane; minor to moderate damage to many structures, widespread tree damage (NOAA/NHC TCR AL112017)
Milton
hurricane-force gusts in Central Florida near the track; 14.83" of rain recorded near Orlando (NOAA/NHC TCR AL142024)
Storm response here works in two speeds: immediate protection (tarps and temporary seals, same visit where access allows) and documented assessment (photographs, findings, and repair scope in writing). No scare tactics, no inflated damage lists. We have been roofing in Florida since 1993.
Your home
Residential Roofing
The right roof for a Lakeland home follows the house, the owner's horizon, and the budget across thirty years — not the material a salesman happens to carry.
We install every mainstream system — shingle, metal, tile, and flat — so the recommendation follows your house and budget, not whichever material a contractor happens to sell. The full comparison is below.
The house & neighborhood
Age, style, and what the street is built around — a roof has to belong where it lives.
Your ownership horizon
Selling in five years and staying thirty produce different right answers.
Budget, now vs. 30 years
Upfront cost against lifetime cost — repairs, energy, and how many more roofs you'll buy.
Installation quality
The same materials last longer or fail early depending on underlayment, ventilation, and flashing work.
Not sure which of these your roof needs?
The free inspection answers it with photos and a written report.
Your business
Commercial Roofing
A commercial roof in Lakeland protects inventory, equipment, and people, and it is built under the Florida Building Code, rated among the strongest of the hurricane-coast states by IBHS.
Commercial decisions in Lakeland come down to decades-math: purchase price against energy costs, storm resilience, and maintenance across the building's life. We'll show the comparison for your specific building rather than defaulting to whichever membrane is on the truck.
Then maintenance decides everything: annual and post-storm inspections, drains kept clear, membrane and flashing repairs done promptly. Our plans put all of it on a documented schedule so the roof's history is always current and provable.
The 25% rule
If more than 25% of a roof section is repaired or replaced within 12 months, the whole section must meet current code, unless the roof was built to the 2007 Florida Building Code or later.
Licensing & permits
Commercial roof repairs and installations require a Florida-licensed contractor, and most need a permit from the local building department.
System choice
TPO for energy efficiency; metal for hurricane resistance and lifespan; modified bitumen where the deck calls for it.
Maintenance cadence
Annual and post-storm inspections, clear drains, prompt membrane repairs — where commercial roofs are won or lost.
The roof edge
Gutters, Soffit & Fascia
The roof edge is a common starting point for water damage in Lakeland, and it can fail quietly for years before it shows.
Fix the contained stuff, replace the far-gone stuff, and bundle edge work with any roof replacement — one mobilization instead of two. Seamless aluminum gutters carry our rainfall with the fewest joints to fail; vinyl soffit and aluminum fascia resist what the air here does to lesser materials.
Soft or spongy fascia
The material underneath is already compromised — past the repair window.
Stains on exterior walls
Water escaping the drainage path and running where it shouldn't.
Sagging, overflowing gutters
Chronic overflow usually means repairs are no longer keeping up.
Rust at the seams
Sectional gutters fail at their joints — seamless aluminum has far fewer of them.
Compare the systems
Roof Types We Install in Lakeland
Four systems, four honest trade-offs, installed by factory-trained crews to the manufacturer's specification.
Long service lifeMetal
- Wind rating set by the tested product and fastening
- White metal cut cooling energy 23% in Florida Solar Energy Center tests
- Can count toward wind-mitigation credits when installed to current code
About 20 yrsAsphalt Shingle
- Architectural over three-tab, always
- Algae-blocking granules for humidity
- Usually the least expensive to repair after storms
50+ yrsTile
- Clay, concrete, or composite
- Permanence and the Florida look
- Heavy — specialist crews only
Exclusive to UniversalMetlok
- Backed by a 50-year limited lifetime warranty
- Four-way interlocking panel system
- Shake, shingle, slate & barrel profiles
| System | Realistic Florida life | Wind rating (installed right) | Cost tier | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Metal (standing seam) | Varies by product; ask for the warranty term | Product-specific; we show you the rating | $$$ | Longevity, storms, energy bills |
| Architectural shingle | About 20 years | Class H shingles: rated for design wind speeds up to 194 mph | $ | Value, fast storm repairs |
| Tile (clay/concrete) | Over 50 years | High, code-driven | $$$ | Permanence, the Florida look |
| Metlok (only at Universal) | 50-year limited lifetime warranty | 180+ mph tested wind rating | $$$ | Longevity, high-wind exposure |
What moves every quote regardless of material: pitch and complexity, the product tier within the material, specialist labor where tile demands it, and structural reinforcement when weight requires it. Florida law also requires insurers to offer premium credits for wind-resistant construction features — a wind mitigation inspection documents what your roof qualifies for.
Want eyes on your roof this week?
Free inspection, honest findings, zero pressure — most end with "you're fine."
No surprises
How a Project Runs
Every Lakeland project follows the same four steps, whether it's a gutter repair or a full replacement.
01
Free inspection
We walk the roof and attic line, photograph everything, and put findings in writing — yours to keep either way.
02
Line-by-line estimate
Exactly what's being done, with what materials, for what price — before you sign anything.
03
The build
Factory-trained crews, manufacturer-spec installation, and a jobsite that gets protected and cleaned.
04
Final walkthrough
You inspect the finished work with us, get your warranty documentation, and keep every record from the job.
Budget
See financing options Paying for It
Storm damage doesn't wait for a convenient budget year — and a necessary roof shouldn't have to either.
We offer financing options for qualified homeowners, and every estimate is free and line-by-line transparent. Ask during your free inspection — no obligation either way.
Trusted & verified
Why Lakeland Chooses Universal
Family-owned since 1993 — thousands of completed projects, and a reputation built one roof at a time.
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. Factory-trained installers, transparent pricing, free estimates. We also give away a free roof replacement to a local veteran every year — it's who this company has been for thirty years.
Straight answers
Lakeland Roofing Questions
How long do roofs last in Lakeland?
Shingle: about 20 years. Tile: more than 50 with care, per a National Association of Home Builders study. Metal depends on the product, so ask for its warranty term. Installation quality decides which end of the range your roof lands on.
Repair or replace — how do you decide?
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.
What should I do right after storm damage?
Three things: stay off the roof, photograph what's visible from the ground with the date, and get professional eyes up there quickly, because even small openings let water reach the decking. We run storm assessments across Polk County with tarping available the same visit where roofs need immediate protection.
Can a handyman repair a roof in Florida?
Not legally. Florida's licensing agency says roof repairs and roof installations require a state license. Ask for the license number before hiring anyone; ours are CCC057165 & CBC1258484.
What does a roof replacement cost in Lakeland?
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.
Is the inspection really free?
Free, full stop — the visit, the photographs, and the written condition report all cost nothing and commit you to nothing. We'd rather earn the roof job years from now than charge for a look today.
How long does a roof installation take?
Typically one to three days for a residential replacement. Complexity adds time — tile systems, steep pitches, multiple layers coming off — and commercial jobs scale with the building. Either way you'll know the expected window up front.
What time of year is best for roof work here?
Any month works — this is Florida, and roofs can't wait on weather windows anyway. Given the choice, fall wins: easier on crews and materials, and the new roof is in place ahead of storm season rather than behind it.
What is the 25% roof rule in Florida?
Under the Florida Building Code, repairing or replacing more than 25% of a roof section within 12 months generally means the whole section must be brought up to current code. Roofs built to the 2007 code or later are exempt: only the repaired part must meet current code.
What is the 25% rule for roofing?
Under the Florida Building Code, repairing or replacing more than 25% of a roof section within 12 months generally means the whole section must be brought up to current code. Roofs built to the 2007 code or later are exempt: only the repaired part must meet current code.
From the field
Roofing guides for Lakeland homeowners
Commercial Roofing
What You Need To Know About Commercial Roofing In Wesley Chapel, Florida
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 guideNearby areas we serve
Get Your Free Lakeland Roof Inspection
Photos, honest findings, and a written condition report — free, and yours to keep either way.
Sources (22)
- Universal Roofing Group, Inc., corporate record P93000013124 · Florida Division of Corporations (Sunbiz)
- Tropical Cyclone Report: Hurricane Milton (AL142024) · NOAA National Hurricane Center
- Tropical Cyclone Report: Hurricane Irma (AL112017) · NOAA National Hurricane Center
- 2023 Florida Building Code, Existing Building, section 706.1.1 · Florida Building Commission
- DBPR reminds Florida consumers to verify state licenses this hurricane season · Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation
- Section 627.0629, Florida Statutes (mitigation discounts) · The Florida Legislature
- License CCC057165, Certified Roofing Contractor · Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation
- License CBC1258484, Certified Building Contractor · Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation
- U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, St. Petersburg Albert Whitted Airport (USW00092806) · NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information
- Algae discoloration of roofs · Asphalt Roofing Manufacturers Association
- Maintaining residential roof systems · National Roofing Contractors Association
- Rating the States: hurricane coast building codes · Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety
- Comparative Evaluation of the Impact of Roofing Systems on Residential Cooling Energy Demand in Florida · Florida Solar Energy Center (UCF)
- Using ASTM D7158 where standard conditions do not apply · Asphalt Roofing Manufacturers Association
- Study of Life Expectancy of Home Components (2007) · National Association of Home Builders
- Universal Roof & Contracting contractor profile · Owens Corning
- Owens Corning Launches National Roof Deployment Project (2016) · Owens Corning
- Metlok 50-Year Limited Lifetime Warranty · Metlok
- Metlok disclaimer and specifications · Metlok
- Universal Roof & Contracting reviews · GuildQuality
- Universal Roof & Contracting, Orlando (Google Business Profile) · Google
- Universal Roof & Contracting business profile · Better Business Bureau