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.
Roofing Company in Sarasota, FL
Gulf weather, salt air, and strong Florida sun: roofs in Sarasota earn their keep. Universal has been roofing Florida homes since 1993.
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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.
From the beginning to the end of my experience with Universal roofing it was nothing but a great experience. They are a great company that was upfront about everything and did a stress free job. The salesman Richard Adamson was so knowledgeable and honest about everything unlike other companies. He helped us every step of the way and was a wealth of information about the process. The project manager Thomas McVicker was also great! He was here to make sure everything ran smoothly. The crew of approximately 9 showed up early and finished my roof in 2days. They put tarps all around my house and did an incredible job cleaning up. We had a few minor things that needed to be fixed and when I called Thomas he sent someone out immediately. He is easy to reach and did a great job of overseeing everything and made sure everything ran smoothly. I highly recommend this company and I rarely get to say this. Do not hesitate to use this company. I will recommend them to everyone needing a new roof
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.
Had a minor issue and Johnathan Gil corrected quickly.
I would like to take this opportunity to to praise the job Universal Roofing & Contracting Company did on the installation of my new roof the crew arrived on time and completed the job the same day my roof is approximately 4600sf and it was pitch dark when the crew finished and not one piece of old tile was left on the ground Kudos to the estimator David who kept me informed from start to finish and provided me with all documents in a timely manner and also Kudos to the on site supervisor Jonothan who was truly on the job I would truly recommend this company to anyone seeking to get a roof replacement and lastly this company also gives a Veterans discount
If you're looking for a quality roofing company in Tampa, I highly recommend Universal Roof & Contracting. They recently repaired my roof, and the entire process was seamless. Richard Adamson was really helpful, he took the time to explain everything and made sure the job was done right. The team was professional, timely, and the quality of their work is top-notch. I couldn't be happier with the results!
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
We had Universal come out for a quote, and David was great. They responded next day and had everything scheduled quickly. Our PM Tom was awesome too. He was quick to communicate and rectify and questions that popped up through the build.
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Universal Roof & Contracting serves Sarasota 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 Sarasota Does to a Roof
Roofs across the Suncoast answer to three things, all year, every year. Here's what each one does — with the numbers behind it.
Sun
Strong sun breaks down shingle asphalt and fades finishes over time, so Florida roofs need regular checks.
Salt
Gulf salt air corrodes exposed metal fasteners, flashing, and gutter seams. Corrosion-resistant materials matter this close to the coast.
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 Sarasota
Roof trouble in Sarasota 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.
Sarasota sits inside our Sarasota 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.
Wind-lifted tabs
One good gust finds every marginal fastener. Small patch now, or decking work later.
Granules in the gutters
Shingle surfaces shedding — the field is aging, and it's time to watch it.
Water marks inside
The drip point is almost never below the entry point. Finding the real path is the job.
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.
The quote you get is an itemized scope, not a number on a business card — and it's built from what your roof actually needs: tear-off depth, decking condition, the material system, and the flashing and ventilation details that decide whether a roof reaches its rated life. As an Owens Corning Platinum Preferred contractor, our warranty options go beyond what the standard tiers allow.
Around the Suncoast, we schedule replacements ahead of storm season where the calendar allows, bundle roof-edge work when it makes financial sense, and finish most homes in one to three days — protected landscaping and a magnet-swept yard included.
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 Sarasota replacement starts with the free inspection.
Roof Inspections
A Sarasota 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.
Coastal corrosion
Salt-air wear on fasteners and flashing gets extra attention on every coastal roof.
Every inspection ends in writing: photographs of what we found, where it is, and what it means — no driveway verdicts, no pressure. The honest outcome of most Sarasota inspections is "you're fine, here's what to watch." When something does need attention, you get it documented with photos, so the decision is yours to make on evidence.
Storm Damage in Sarasota
Sarasota sits on the Gulf side of the storm ledger — and 2024 wrote two entries in two weeks. After it passes, a five-minute ground check tells you whether to call.
01 Stay off the roof
Post-storm decks hide soft spots. Everything below can be checked from the ground.
02 Field, ridge, edges
Scan all three from the yard — wind works the perimeter and peaks hardest.
03 Gutters tell the truth
Granules, torn shingle pieces, detached sections — the evidence collects there.
04 Inside, look up
Ceiling corners and closets show water first, sometimes days later.
05 Date, photograph, call
Your ground photos plus our documented assessment make the complete record.
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)
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.
Residential Roofing
Asphalt shingle is the default on many Sarasota homes, but the default isn't automatically the right answer for your house.
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 Sarasota 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.
The right system follows the building — deck construction, equipment loads, drainage, and how long you're holding it. White TPO reflects heat and helps with cooling costs; properly fastened metal performs well in high winds; modified bitumen remains a proven choice on the right deck.
What keeps any of them performing is cadence: inspections every year and after every storm, clear drains, prompt small repairs. We run that cadence on a maintenance plan with documentation you keep.
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
Gutters, soffit, and fascia do unglamorous work — and in Sarasota they take the weather's first hit, every single day.
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.
Roof Types We Install in Sarasota
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 Sarasota 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 Sarasota 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.
Sarasota Roofing Questions
How long do roofs last in Sarasota?
In Sarasota 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?
The test is scope and remaining life: contained damage on a healthy roof gets repaired; spreading wear, leaks that keep finding new paths, or a roof in its final stretch gets a replacement conversation, because repeated patching on a failing roof adds up. Our recommendation always arrives in writing, with photos.
What should I do right after storm damage?
Photograph what you can see safely from the ground, note the date, and get a professional inspection before small openings become interior leaks. We handle emergency work across Sarasota County and put findings in writing with photos.
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 Sarasota?
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?
Yes — photos, honest findings, and a written condition report, free, whether or not you hire us for anything. Many inspections end with 'you're fine, here's what to watch.'
How long does a roof installation take?
Day one is usually tear-off and dry-in; most homes are shingled and swept by day two or three. Tile, steep pitches, and extra layers stretch the schedule, and weather gets a veto — but you'll have the realistic window before we start, and updates if it moves.
What time of year is best for roof work here?
Exterior work runs year-round in Florida, but fall is the sweet spot for big projects — easier on crews and materials, and it puts a sound roof over you before the next storm season instead of after 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.
Roofing guides for Sarasota homeowners
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 guide
What You Need To Know About Commercial Roofing In Wesley Chapel, Florida
Read the guideNearby areas we serve
Get Your Free Sarasota Roof Inspection
Photos, honest findings, and a written condition report — free, and yours to keep either way.
Sources (24)
- Universal Roofing Group, Inc., corporate record P93000013124 · Florida Division of Corporations (Sunbiz)
- NFIP Technical Bulletin 8: Corrosion Protection for Metal Connectors and Fasteners in Coastal Areas · FEMA
- Tropical Cyclone Report: Hurricane Helene (AL092024) · NOAA National Hurricane Center
- Tropical Cyclone Report: Hurricane Milton (AL142024) · 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
- 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)
- Algae discoloration of roofs · Asphalt Roofing Manufacturers Association
- 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
- Metlok 50-Year Limited Lifetime Warranty · Metlok
- Metlok disclaimer and specifications · Metlok
- Owens Corning Launches National Roof Deployment Project (2016) · Owens Corning
- Universal Roof & Contracting reviews · GuildQuality
- Universal Roof & Contracting, Orlando (Google Business Profile) · Google
- Universal Roof & Contracting business profile · Better Business Bureau