Wind Mitigation Inspections

Save Money on Your Home Insurance Premiums

Living in a wind-prone area means high insurance premiums, but you shouldn't pay more than you have to. A Wind Mitigation Inspection is a specialized survey of your home's construction features that verify its ability to withstand high winds and hurricanes.

Unlike a standard inspection that looks for what is wrong with a home, a Wind Mitigation inspection looks for what is right. Documenting these strong construction features on the official state form is the key to unlocking significant discounts on your windstorm insurance policy.

How It Works: The 7 Key Factors

Insurance companies offer "credits" (discounts) based on how secure your home is. We inspect and document seven specific areas of your home's construction. The more "wind-resistant" features you have, the lower your premium may be.

1. Building Code (Construction Year)

Homes built after modern building codes were implemented (typically March 2002 in many coastal states) automatically qualify for certain credits because they were built to higher standards.

2. Roof Covering

We verify the age of your roof and whether the shingles or tiles meet current building code standards for wind resistance.

3. Roof Deck Attachment

This checks how well the plywood beneath your shingles is nailed to the trusses.

• What we look for: We enter the attic to measure the length of the nails and the spacing between them (e.g., 6 inches apart vs. 12 inches apart). Closer nail spacing means a stronger roof.

4. Roof-to-Wall Attachment

This is often the most critical factor for discounts. We inspect how the roof trusses are connected to the concrete or wood walls of the house.

• Toe Nails: (Weakest) No metal connectors, just nails.

• Clips: Metal plates that connect the truss to the wall.

• Straps: (Strongest) Metal straps that wrap over the truss and anchor into the wall.

5. Roof Geometry (Shape)

The shape of your roof impacts how wind moves over it.

• Hip Roof: Slopes down on all four sides (like a pyramid). This is the most aerodynamic shape and typically receives the highest discount.

• Gable Roof: Has flat ends (A-frame shape). These are more prone to wind uplift and receive lower credits.

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6. Secondary Water Resistance (SWR)

This refers to a self-adhering polymer layer (like "peel-and-stick" tape) applied to the plywood gaps under the shingles. If your shingles blow off during a hurricane, the SWR prevents water from leaking into the house.

7. Opening Protection

We check all windows, doors, garage doors, and skylights to see if they are impact-rated or have hurricane shutters.

• Note: To get the "Opening Protection" credit, every opening (glazed and non-glazed) usually needs to be protected.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Can I "fail" a Wind Mitigation inspection? A: No. A Wind Mitigation inspection is not a pass/fail exam. It is simply a report on the current features of the home. If your home lacks features (like hurricane straps), you simply won't get the discount for that specific category—you don't "fail" the inspection.

Q: Is this inspection required? A: It is generally not mandatory to close on a home, but it is highly recommended. Without it, insurance companies assume your home has the weakest ratings and will charge you the maximum premium.

Q: How much money can I save? A: Savings vary by insurer and property, but the discounts can be substantial—often ranging from hundreds to over a thousand dollars per year. The inspection often pays for itself in the first few months of the policy.

Start Saving on Your Insurance Today

Don't leave money on the table. If you have installed a new roof recently, or if you have never had a Wind Mitigation inspection, you are likely overpaying for insurance.