Wind Mitigation

A wind mitigation inspection is an inspection of the home’s structural components that help protect the home from hurricane force winds and flying debris. Wind mitigation in Florida is popular and can often help reduce the cost of home insurance depending on which insurance company you choose.

“Certain Construction can reduce wind damage and loss”

Not just anyone can perform a wind mitigation inspection. A home inspector under S.468.8314 with the required training can and also perform a 4 point inspection.
For further information you can follow this link to https://www.myfloridacfo.com/

What is wind mitigation inspection?
A wind mitigation inspection (also called a windstorm mitigation inspection) is when a certified inspector checks your home’s wind-resistant features.  Though a wind mitigation inspection is not required to get Florida homeowners insurance, it can result in substantial savings.

What do we check on a wind mitigation inspection? Insurance companies like citizens insurance, State Farm want us to check the following. Age of roof covering, roof deck attachment, if there is a secondary water resistance barrier on the roof, roof wall connections, what kind of protections you have for Windows and doors and one of the most important is roof geometry.

Incentives for Wind Mitigation

Reduced Insurance Premiums: In some states, homeowners can benefit from reduced insurance premiums. The Gulf Coast states, which are most prone to windstorm damage from hurricanes, have each considered mandating incentives to mitigate damage due to wind. Mississippi and Texas currently do not have such legislation, although Florida has been successful. Following Hurricane Andrew, Florida passed a law requiring insurance companies to offer their customers discounts and credits for existing building features and home improvements that reduce damage and loss from wind. In order to qualify for this discount, homes must undergo a certified home wind inspection. However, many Floridians do not know of this law.

Avoid a Costly Deductible: Those with windstorm insurance can avoid a costly deductible. Deductibles for homes in hurricane-prone areas can exceed $20,000, meaning that mild to moderate wind damage might not be covered by insurance at all. If proper wind mitigation techniques have been used, these expenses can be avoided altogether.

Protect Your Home from Damage: Wind mitigation helps protect the home from damage. Even if a home is insured, it is always costly when a house is damaged, both for the homeowner and the insurer. Repairs can take months, especially during material shortages that follow massive destruction to entire communities, as was the case after Hurricane Katrina struck Louisiana.

Secure Insurance Coverage: Lenders in Florida require homeowners to carry windstorm insurance in order to be approved for a mortgage. Insurers may not provide windstorm insurance to homes that are vulnerable to wind damage.

Certain Construction can reduce wind damage and loss

Not just anyone can perform a wind mitigation inspection. A home inspector under S.468.8314 with the required training can and also perform a 4 point inspection. For further information you can follow this link to https://www.myfloridacfo.com/

What is wind mitigation inspection? A wind mitigation inspection (also called a windstorm mitigation inspection) is when a certified inspector checks your home’s wind-resistant features.  Though a wind mitigation inspection is not required to get Florida homeowners insurance, it can result in substantial savings.

A wind mitigation inspection is an inspection of the home’s structural components that help protect the home from hurricane force winds and flying debris. Wind mitigation in Florida is popular and can often help reduce the cost of home insurance depending on which insurance company you choose.

What do we check on a wind mitigation inspection? Insurance companies like citizens insurance, State Farm want us to check the following. Age of roof covering, roof deck attachment, if there is a secondary water resistance barrier on the roof, roof wall connections, what kind of protections you have for Windows and doors and one of the most important is roof geometry.

Incentives for Wind Mitigation

Reduced Insurance Premiums
In some states, homeowners can benefit from reduced insurance premiums. The Gulf Coast states, which are most prone to windstorm damage from hurricanes, have each considered mandating incentives to mitigate damage due to wind. Mississippi and Texas currently do not have such legislation, although Florida has been successful. Following Hurricane Andrew, Florida passed a law requiring insurance companies to offer their customers discounts and credits for existing building features and home improvements that reduce damage and loss from wind. In order to qualify for this discount, homes must undergo a certified home wind inspection. However, many Floridians do not know of this law.

Avoid a Costly Deductible:
Those with windstorm insurance can avoid a costly deductible. Deductibles for homes in hurricane-prone areas can exceed $20,000, meaning that mild to moderate wind damage might not be covered by insurance at all. If proper wind mitigation techniques have been used, these expenses can be avoided altogether.

Protect Your Home from Damage:
Wind mitigation helps protect the home from damage. Even if a home is insured, it is always costly when a house is damaged, both for the homeowner and the insurer. Repairs can take months, especially during material shortages that follow massive destruction to entire communities, as was the case after Hurricane Katrina struck Louisiana.

Secure Insurance Coverage:
Lenders in Florida require homeowners to carry windstorm insurance in order to be approved for a mortgage. Insurers may not provide windstorm insurance to homes that are vulnerable to wind damage.

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
Track brackets that are securely attached to the wall
Horizontal and/or vertical reinforcement on all panels.

OPENING PROTECTION
Glass doors and windows should be replaced with impact-resistant glass. They should be structurally attached to the building in order 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. The picture to the right demonstrates how these areas of low pressure can form.

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 coverings using shingles that meet the FBC requirements;

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.