Universal Roof and Contracting was recommended to us by a friend, and we couldn’t be more satisfied with their work. Richard is very knowledgeable and he handled everything for us. He was very informative with the whole process and how it would go start to end. The roof replacement took less than 2 days and the crew did an excellent job. We really appreciate their work and everything they did for us. Update: Wanted to do a quick update on my review 2 months after the install. I had a concern on my roof, and after sending an email, I got reached out by Yordanis who came to inspect the roof on the same day. I was really impressed by the post installation service. I really appreciate their prompt response and for Yordanis to quickly reach out and come by to do an inspection.
Roofing Company in Lithia, FL
Storm bands, humidity, and relentless Florida sun — roofs in Lithia earn their keep. Universal has been roofing Florida homes since 1993.
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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.
Estimator Brian Blake was there throughout the whole process. Happy with the Results from recent roof upgrade. Selected premium materials. Job was staged two days before, and the work was completed in one day. Was an upgrade from existing roof. Was Worth the money for me and my family. With the increased Hurricane activity wanted a quality roof upgrade.
I was very pleased and completely satisfied with the work and professionalism of the service I received from the representative (Dave, the onsite supervisor Yordanis, the actual roof laborers, and Marrisa, the final paperwork agent!! They all were GREAT!! Dave was honest up front and delivered everything he’d promised me. He was very knowledgeable on all aspects of my roofing project. Made sure I understood everything that would take place from beginning to end. And answered all my questions and simplified the whole process!! Yordanis really impressed me with his eagerness to get the job done quickly and professionally!! They finished the job in one day!! Outstanding work, and my roof looks great. Received soooo many compliments on their work as pass-byers walked by!! Any concerns I brought to Danis attention, he wasted no time to take care of the situation!! And made sure I was completely satisfied!! The roof laborers were courteous and very respectful. Took precise precautions, not to damage anything in my flower bed. They did an outstanding job of cleaning up!! Even in the dark! I was very impressed by their work ethic!! A superb crew!! And Marrisa handled the final stage like a champ!! She was precise and worked in a timely manner to quickly finish the paperwork so I could close out and quickly move to my next phase with the finance company!! Every phase of my project was superb!! I’ll definitely use them again and recommend them to everyone!! Sorry for a lengthy review, but was needed!!!!
Gene was the first and only estimator to respond back to us getting a quote for a new roof. He was up front and gave us 3 different plans we could go with, and the benefits of each. Once we were ready, the financing process was super easy. And our roof was done before we went out of state the following week. Overall it was a good experience and I'd recommend them if you want top notch communication during the process, a pm on site during the roof process, and everything done in a timely manner when you need it.
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!
Everything went as planned and described. Quality was great, and the people on site were very friendly. Would definitely recommend this company!
Universal Roofing repaired my roof and cleaned the roof tile. The roof was leaking at the point where it meets the chimney and came through the ceiling and caused damage to the ceiling and floor. Universal repaired it. 3 months later water came through the same area. Yordanis Segura and his crew came out and did a water test on the area they repaired and ruled out water coming in where the roof repairs were made. I asked them to put more silicone in the area just to make sure we didn’t miss a crack. Yordanis was very pleasant to deal with and very professional. Even though we couldn’t isolate the leak, Universal did everything I expected of them to solve the problem and agreed to come back out if it was determined to be a roof issue. Great company. I highly recommend them.
Jonathan Gil, the project manager was wonderful to work with. He was and still is always available when we had questions. Highly recommended.
I recently hired Universal roof & contracting Roofing for a complete roof replacement, and I'm highly impressed with their service. From the initial consultation to the final inspection, their team displayed exceptional professionalism and courtesy. The quality of work was top-notch, using durable materials that transformed the appearance and strength of my roof. They completed the project ahead of schedule without compromising quality, and their communication was outstanding, they kept me informed at every stage of the process. Overall, I highly recommend Universal & contracting Roofing for their expertise, reliability, and excellent customer service.
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Universal Roof & Contracting serves Lithia 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.
What Lithia Does to a Roof
Every roofing decision in Lithia traces back to three forces, and the numbers behind them show why installation quality matters here.
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)
Roof Repair in Lithia
Roof trouble in Lithia rarely announces itself. It starts as one lifted shingle or a slow drip at a flashing joint — and the difference between a cheap fix and a big one is how soon someone looks.
Our repair crews cover Hillsborough County year-round. We fix what you called about, then check the surrounding field, flashing, and penetrations so a second surprise isn't waiting. If a repair is all your roof needs, that's what we'll tell you.
For active leaks we handle emergency calls: tarp or temporary seal first, then a documented permanent repair once weather clears — with photos of what we found and what we did.
Shingles gone after a blow
Wind takes the weakest tabs first. A same-month repair keeps the deck dry underneath.
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.
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.
A replacement here isn't a shingle swap — it's a system: decking inspected once opened, underlayment and ventilation installed to the manufacturer's actual specification, flashing detailed at every transition. That's what lets an Owens Corning Platinum Preferred contractor (fewer than 1% of roofing contractors hold the tier) back the work with warranties most roofers can't offer.
You see the whole scope line by line before signing, and the approved price is the built price unless tear-off uncovers concealed damage no one could see — which you approve before we fix it. Most Lithia homes are finished in one to three days. If the roof edge is also near end-of-life, we'll tell you, and doing soffit, fascia, and gutters with the roof saves a second mobilization.
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 Lithia replacement starts with the free inspection.
Roof Inspections
Check your roof twice a year, in spring and fall, plus after any major blow. Our inspection is free, documented, and pressure-free.
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.
What you get is a documented condition file: photos, findings, remaining-life assessment, in writing, free. We built the process for homeowners across the Tampa Bay area who want evidence instead of sales pressure — many inspections end with a clean bill and a watch list, and the report belongs to you either way.
Storm Damage in Lithia
Being inland doesn't excuse a roof in Lithia. 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 Scan from the ground
Lifted or missing shingles across the field, sagging lines at ridge and edges.
02 Check the gutters
Granule wash-out after a storm means the surface took a beating.
03 Walk the yard
Blown-off material in the grass is the roof telling you where to look.
04 Look up inside
Ceilings and closet corners: small openings let water reach the decking.
05 Note the date and call
Photograph what you can see safely; we put findings in writing with photos.
Helene
dangerous storm surge into the Gulf coast, including coastal Pinellas (NOAA/NHC TCR AL092024)
Milton
landfall on Siesta Key; 20.40" of rain near St. Petersburg; record crests on the Hillsborough River (NOAA/NHC TCR AL142024)
Ian
one of the costliest hurricanes in Florida history; severe wind and flooding across the southwest coast (NOAA/NHC TCR AL092022)
We bring same-week assessments across Hillsborough County, emergency tarping when the roof needs immediate protection, and a written, photographed damage report — what happened and what fixing it involves, no scare tactics. Material choice is storm strategy too: every system carries its own tested wind rating, so we show you the rating for the exact product before you choose.
Residential Roofing
Drive Lithia and you'll see many shingle roofs. Sometimes that's the right call; sometimes it's just the default. Four things decide which.
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.
Commercial Roofing
A commercial roof in Lithia 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.
Think in decades, not years: compare lifetime cost, not just this quarter's price. TPO's energy efficiency, metal's wind performance, and modified bitumen's proven simplicity each earn their place depending on the deck, the budget, and how long you plan to hold the building.
Our maintenance plans put inspections, drain clearing, and membrane repairs on a schedule for Hillsborough County buildings — with the documentation trail kept current, which matters at sale time and any time the roof's history gets examined.
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.
Gutters, Soffit & Fascia
In Lithia, the roof edge is a common place for water damage to start: soffit, fascia, and gutters can fail quietly before anyone notices.
Contained damage is a focused repair; widespread rot or end-of-life materials are a replacement call — and the smart timing is with a roof replacement or in the fall, ahead of storm season. Material picks for this climate: vinyl soffit for moisture, aluminum fascia for corrosion, seamless aluminum gutters for Florida rainfall.
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.
Roof Types We Install in Lithia
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."
How a Project Runs
Every Lithia project follows the same four steps, whether it's a gutter repair or a full replacement.
Free inspection
We walk the roof and attic line, photograph everything, and put findings in writing — yours to keep either way.
Line-by-line estimate
Exactly what's being done, with what materials, for what price — before you sign anything.
The build
Factory-trained crews, manufacturer-spec installation, and a jobsite that gets protected and cleaned.
Final walkthrough
You inspect the finished work with us, get your warranty documentation, and keep every record from the job.
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.
Why Lithia 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.
Lithia Roofing Questions
How long do roofs last in Lithia?
In Lithia plan on about 20 years from architectural shingle and more than 50 from clay or concrete tile with proper care, based on a National Association of Home Builders study. Metal life depends on the product, so ask for its warranty term. The installer's discipline matters more to those numbers than the brand on the wrapper.
Repair or replace — how do you decide?
Repair when the damage is local and the roof has life left. Replace when wear is systemic — repeating leaks, widespread granule loss, a field past its span. We photograph what we find and put the recommendation on paper, so you're deciding on evidence rather than a pitch.
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 Hillsborough County with tarping available the same visit where roofs need immediate protection.
Can a handyman repair a roof in Florida?
No. Florida's licensing agency says roof repairs and roof installations require a state license. Verify the license and insurance before hiring anyone. Universal Roof & Contracting is state-licensed (CCC057165 & CBC1258484) and fully insured.
What does a roof replacement cost in Lithia?
No honest number exists without seeing the roof — size, pitch, tear-off depth, decking condition, and the material system move the total more than any average can capture. What we promise Lithia homeowners instead: a free inspection first, then a line-by-line estimate where the approved price is the built price.
Is the inspection really free?
Yes, genuinely: no fee, no obligation, and you keep the written report and photos either way. It's how we've introduced ourselves to Florida homeowners since 1993 — many inspections end with good news and a watch list.
How long does a roof installation take?
One to three days for most Lithia 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.
What time of year is best for roof work here?
Roofing runs twelve months a year across the Tampa Bay area, but if you can choose, choose fall: cooler working conditions, better material handling, and a finished roof standing before the next storm season opens.
Roofing guides for Lithia homeowners
Is A Wesley Chapel, FL Metal Roof The Right Choice For Your Home?
Read the guide
Exploring Soffit, Fascia & Gutter Services In St.Petersburg, FL: A Complete Exterior Guide
Read the guide
Metal Roofs in St. Petersburg, FL Pros, Cons & Cost Breakdown
Read the guideNearby areas we serve
Get Your Free Lithia Roof Inspection
Photos, honest findings, and a written condition report — free, and yours to keep either way.
Sources (25)
- 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
- Tropical Cyclone Report: Hurricane Helene (AL092024) · 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
- Tropical Cyclone Report: Hurricane Ian (AL092022) · NOAA National Hurricane Center
- U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, St. Petersburg Albert Whitted Airport (USW00092806) · NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information
- QuickFacts (no Lithia CDP table; page falls back to United States) · U.S. Census Bureau
- 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
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