What Is “Wind Mitigation” and Why Do I Need It?

Homeowners can receive substantial credits for outfitting their homes with windstorm mitigation features that withstand or are more resistant to high winds.

We highly recommend that Florida homeowners, especially those living in more hurricane-prone regions, consider investing in wind mitigation features.

What is Wind Mitigation and what is the inspector looking for?

• Roof Covering: inspectors want to know when the roof was installed and does if it meets building codes. In Maimi-Dade the code standard was updated in 1994 or Florida, the code standard was updated in 2001.
• Roof Deck Attachment: inspectors will determine what type of roof decking is used and how it’s attached to the underlying structure, like if it’s nailed or stapled down. If nails are used, nail length and spacing between each will also be noted.
• Roof to Wall Attachment: the roof attachments become the focus here: are trusses attached with nails or hurricane clips? Are the wraps single or double? The more secure your roof, the better impact on your wallet!
• Roof Geometry: is your roof hip or not? Nope, the inspector won’t care how cool it is, just how it’s shaped – a hip roof resembles that of a pyramid, and is a definite qualifier for a discount.
• Secondary Water Barrier: This is a newer item for roofs. If your roof was installed or upgraded before 2008, it’s fairly unlikely you’ll have this sort of barrier. As with most newer features, photo documentation, at a minimum, will be required for a discount in this area.
• Opening Protection: Here, inspectors are looking for shutters and installed-protection devices from wind-born debris for doors and windows. They will also be checking the rating of the devices, if you have them (as in- are they hurricane-rated?). 100% of all openings need to be covered with Hurricane rated protection to qualify for this discount.

Go to https://www.nachi.org/wind-mitigation.htm for more information about wind mitigation inspections.