WIND MITIGATION INSPECTIONS


Have your insurance costs gone through the roof?

Protect your home while saving money on your homeowners insurance

Insurance companies are required by Florida Statues to lower rates if a home is built or has features that reduce damage in hurricane-force winds.

ABOUT OUR WIND MITIGATION INSPECTIONS

A Wind Mitigation Inspection is a review to identify features in your home that can qualify you for discounts on the wind component of your insurance policy. By identifying these mitigating features, homeowners in Florida can potentially benefit from reduced insurance rates.

  • One significant factor contributing to these discounts is the presence of Hurricane Straps/Clips. The requirement specifies that these clips should be present on every truss or rafter around the entire perimeter of the house. Each clip needs three fasteners securing it to the truss/rafter and the top plate. During inspections, these are typically located by accessing the attic.

  • Assessment of the roof deck attachment is performed inside the attic, examining how the roof decking was attached and the size of the fasteners used.

  • For the Roof Covering aspect, having a finalized roofing permit is essential for potential discounts. Simply stating that the roof was installed a decade ago might not meet the requirements. It’s important to note that permits older than ten years might not be accessible.

  • Opening Protections can be challenging to grasp. The rule stipulates that ALL glazed openings (including windows, entry doors, and garage doors with windows) must be protected. Installing impact windows requires documentation beyond claiming they are impact-rated. In instances where clients added hurricane shutters after installing new windows, they sometimes discovered during an inspection that other glass openings like doors or garage windows were unprotected, leading to potential issues.

Inspection photos are required, showing each angle of the home as well as photos from the rooftop.

Why Opt for Wind Mitigation Inspections?

  1. Insurance Premium Reductions: Many insurance providers offer discounts for homes with verified wind-resistant features.

  2. Enhanced Safety: Strengthening your home’s ability to withstand high winds contributes to the safety of your family and possessions.

  3. Peace of Mind: Knowing that your home is fortified against wind-related risks brings a sense of security, especially during storm seasons.

Key Features of Our Wind Mitigation Inspections:

  1. Comprehensive Evaluation: Our licensed inspectors conduct a thorough assessment of your home’s construction elements that contribute to its ability to withstand high winds. From the roof to the foundation, we leave no aspect untouched, ensuring a comprehensive understanding of your home’s wind-resistant features.

  2. Roof-to-Wall Connections: The connection between the roof and walls is a crucial point of vulnerability during severe weather. We meticulously inspect and evaluate the strength of these connections, identifying areas for improvement to enhance the overall stability of your home.

  3. Storm Shutters and Impact-Resistant Windows: Protection starts at the windows. Our inspection includes a detailed examination of storm shutters and impact-resistant windows, assessing their effectiveness in safeguarding your home against wind-borne debris and maintaining structural integrity.

Among the things we look at are: 

  • ​Roof Covering

  • Roof Deck Construction

  • Roof Deck

  • Clips/Straps

  • Hurricane Shutters

  • Impact Resistant Glass and Openings to Home 

  • Reinforced Doors

  • Window Protection 

Checklist For Wind Mitigation Techniques

  • GARAGE DOORS

    These commonly fail during windstorms due to inadequate door-track strength and mounting systems and flimsy metal panels.

    The following features can protect a garage door from wind damage:

    • no windows;

    • the tracks for the door that have six to nine mounting brackets, or continuous mounting;

    • track brackets that are securely attached to the wall; and

    • horizontal and/or vertical reinforcement on all panels.

  • WINDOWS & DOORS

    Glass doors and windows should be replaced with impact-resistant glass. They should be structurally attached to the building to prevent the entire window from popping out of its frame. Sliding glass doors are especially vulnerable to flying debris due to their large expanse. Once an opening is created during a windstorm, the pressure within the house can rise high enough to cause the roof to fail in areas of low pressure.

  • ROOF COVERING

    There are many kinds of roof covering materials, and some resist wind damage better than others. The most common roof covering materials in Florida are composition shingles and tiles. A key factor in roof covering performance is the method of attachment of the roof covering material to the roof deck. Nails, not staples, should be used to fasten these materials.

  • ROOF SHAPE

    “Roof shape” refers to the geometry of the roof, rather than the type of roof covering. The end-walls of gable roofs extend vertically to the sloping roofline. These gable end-walls, if not properly built or braced, have been known to fail outward due to the negative suctions on the wall. Additionally, field testing has shown that hip roofs receive up to 40% less pressure from wind than gable roofs.

  • ROOF DECK ATTACHMENT

    According to insurance claim data, a house becomes a major loss once the roof deck fails, even partially. The most common roof deck types are plywood and OSB. The most important feature of the roof deck by far is the attachment to the framing compared to the deck’s thickness. The following building techniques can help prevent wind damage:

    • roof decks that have been installed with large nails and close spacing;

    • hurricane clips/straps that hold the roof structure to the walls; and protection of windows and glass doors with impact-resistant glazing or other protection systems.

  • ROOF-TO-WALL CONNECTIONS

    This connection is a critical safeguard that keeps the roof attached to the building and acts to transfer the uplift loads into the vertical walls. This connection is crucial to the performance of the building due to the large negative pressures acting on the roof. Proper installation is essential to connector performance.

  • SECONDARY WATER RESISTANCE

    This is a layer of protection that shields the home in the event that the roof covering fails. It will reduce leakage if the shingles are blown off. A secondary water barrier is relatively rare in homes. The two most common types are:

    • self-adhering modified bitumen underlayment, which is applied to the exterior of all joints; and

    • foam seal, which is sprayed onto the underside of the decking.

How to prepare for your wind mitigation inspection?

  • Allow approximately one hour for your wind mitigation inspection. Someone who is at least 18 years of age must be present at the home to meet with the inspector and grant access.

  • Gather any paper work or documentation you may have regarding shutters, impact rated windows and/or sky lights and the roof.

  • We need to document all credits by taking photos, verifying building permits and proving the make and model as well as the testing standards for all opening protections.

  • Attic access is very important. Please remove any obstructions or personal items from beneath and around the attic opening. Please note, some debris such as insulation may fall from the attic opening. The inspector will have a ladder for access if needed.

  • Sunny Palms Home Inspections is fully licensed, insured, and certified so that you know your inspection is being done professionally and accurately.