Lealman, FL isn’t a city, even though plenty of its mail says St. Petersburg. It’s an unincorporated community of about 21,000 people, wedged between Pinellas Park to the north, Kenneth City to the west, and St. Petersburg to the south and east, with I-275 along its eastern edge.
Most of its houses went up in a hurry. Pinellas County’s redevelopment plan for the area found that almost half of Lealman’s homes were built between 1950 and 1970, and most of the rest by 1989. Many of those roofs are on their third or fourth replacement, and every one of them left something behind on the decking.
Mitchell Roofing Company’s office on Tyrone Blvd is a short drive west of Lealman, straight through Kenneth City. Looking at a leak off 54th Avenue or a tired roof near 49th Street is a quick trip for us, not a special project. That also means we can come back easily for the follow-up visits a bigger job needs.
Who Issues Your Permit in Unincorporated Lealman
Because Lealman has no city government, re-roof permits come from Pinellas County Building and Development Review Services, the same office that covers the rest of unincorporated Pinellas. The St. Petersburg building department doesn’t handle Lealman homes, whatever the envelope says.
We pull the county permit, schedule the inspections and keep the records with your job file. Getting the jurisdiction right on day one keeps a replacement from stalling before the first shingle comes off.
What Seventy-Year-Old Decking Tells Us
A roof from the 1950s or 1960s has been through a lot of weather and a lot of crews. Layers get added, vents get moved, and soft spots get covered instead of fixed. None of that shows from the street.
That’s why our residential roof replacements start with a full tear-off. Once the old material is gone, we can see rotted boards along the eaves, old patches around pipes, and sheathing that no longer holds a nail. Damaged sections get replaced before new underlayment goes down.
If you’re not sure whether yours is at that point, our list of signs it’s time to replace a roof is a good place to start. We’re also happy to come look.
Porch Rooms, Carports and Flat Tie-Ins
Older Lealman houses have picked up a lot of additions over the decades. The county’s own review of the area noted additions built without permits, and many enclosed porches and carports sit under roofs that are nearly flat.
Shingles aren’t made for that kind of pitch. A low-slope section needs a membrane such as modified bitumen, and the joint where it meets the main roof needs real flashing, not a bead of sealant. That seam is where a lot of ceiling stains in back rooms begin.
When we replace your main roof, we look at those low sections too. Doing both at once means one permit, one tear-off and one clean tie-in.
Wind Damage You Can’t See From the Yard
When Hurricane Milton came through in October 2024, its winds tore open the fabric roof of Tropicana Field a few miles south of Lealman. Houses that looked fine the next morning weren’t always fine.
Wind can break the seal on a shingle tab, loosen ridge caps and pull flashing away from a wall without leaving anything in the yard. Our storm and wind damage inspections check those spots by hand. If a storm leaves your roof open, we provide same-day dry-in to keep the rain out while the repair is planned.
Joe’s Creek, Ditches and Where Your Roof Water Goes
Joe’s Creek runs east to west through Lealman, and the county’s redevelopment plan describes open drainage ditches on residential streets, some as deep as six feet. Yards here can be slow to shed a hard afternoon rain.
A roof without gutters drops all of its water right at the foundation. Seamless gutters and downspouts sized for the roof, with the outlets pointed where the lot actually drains, take that load away from your slab and your walls. Guards help too if oaks or palms drop debris onto the roof.
Paying for a New Roof in Lealman
Lealman has its own Community Redevelopment Area, the first one created in unincorporated Pinellas. Its residential improvement grant covers street-facing work like paint, stucco, windows and fencing, but roofs aren’t on its list of eligible items.
Pinellas County’s Housing and Community Development department has also run a Home Repair Loan Program that includes roofs, with higher income limits inside the Lealman CRA. Check the county’s current terms before you plan around it. We also offer roof financing for homeowners who want to spread out the cost.
Rentals, Shops and the Joe’s Creek Industrial Area
Lealman isn’t only houses. There are duplexes and small apartment buildings, mobile home parks, and a working industrial district along Joe’s Creek near 34th Street. Commercial frontage lines 34th Street, 49th Street, 54th Avenue and Haines Road.
If you own a rental or a small commercial building, a roof that leaks between tenants costs you twice. We handle shingle, metal and low-slope systems on these buildings and can phase the work so your tenants or customers stay put. For a manufactured home, what can go on top depends on the home and the park’s rules, so call and we’ll tell you honestly whether it’s a job for us.
Talk to a Roofer a Short Drive Away
Whether it’s a 1950s block house, a duplex you rent out or a shop on Haines Road, we’ll give you a straight answer on what the roof needs. Call Mitchell Roofing Company at (727) 288-4650 to set up an inspection. We also work next door in Kenneth City and Pinellas Park.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does my Lealman roof need a county permit or a St. Petersburg permit?
A county permit. Lealman is unincorporated, so Pinellas County Building and Development Review Services issues re-roof permits there, even when your mailing address says St. Petersburg. We file it for you.
Will the Lealman CRA grant pay for a new roof?
The residential improvement grant doesn’t list roofs as eligible work. The county’s Home Repair Loan Program has covered roofs, so check its current terms with Pinellas County Housing and Community Development.
Can you redo the flat roof over my enclosed porch at the same time?
Yes, and it’s usually the smart move. We replace the low-slope section with a proper membrane and rebuild the flashing where it meets the main roof, all under the same permit.
What do you check after a storm like Milton?
We look for unsealed or creased shingle tabs, loose ridge caps, lifted flashing at walls and chimneys, and damaged vents. We photograph what we find so you have a record for your insurer.
Do you work on commercial buildings along 34th Street and Haines Road?
Yes. We repair and replace roofs on shops, offices and small industrial buildings, and we schedule the work around your business hours whenever we can.