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WIND MITIGATION
HOW WELL IS YOUR PROPERTY
PROTECTED AGAINST HIGH WINDS?
Your Guide to Wind Mitigation Inspections
$ave Money and Protect Your Property!
Ever wonder how well your property can stand up to a storm? A wind mitigation inspection is a simple way to find out! It checks how strong your property - especially your roof system and structure - is against powerful winds. Plus, it can save you some serious cash on your homeowners insurance. Let’s break it down in a friendly, easy-to-understand way!
What’s a Wind Mitigation Inspection all About?
Think of a wind mitigation inspection as a checkup for your property's storm-fighting powers.It allows your insurance company to assess how well your property can resist high winds. While the roof is the primary focus, other features can be pre-existing or added to enhance protection against strong winds.
What does the inspection and report evaluate?
There are 7 key parts of your property:
When Was Your Property Built?
The year your property was constructed shows what building codes were in place. Newer properties often have tougher standards.
Roof Covering
What’s your roof made of (shingles, tiles, etc.), and how old is it? Newer materials and systems usually hold up better to high winds.
Roof Deck Attachment
This is the surface under your roof covering. Through attic access, the decking is inspected to determine its material, the type of nails securing it, and the spacing between the nails.
Roof-to-Wall Connection
How is your roof attached to your walls? There 4 types of connections; toe-nails, clips, straps and double straps. Strong connections keep your roof from lifting off in a storm.
Roof Shape
The shape and slope of your roof matter. Some designs, like hipped roofs, are better at deflecting wind.
Secondary Water Barrier
Is there a protective layer between your roof covering and the roof deck to stop water from seeping through if the covering is blown off?
Opening Protection
Are your windows, doors, garage doors, or skylights protected with storm panels, shutters, or impacted rated?
Who can do it?
Only licensed-pros can perform a wind mitigation inspection. They include:
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General contractors
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Building contractors
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Architects
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Engineers
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Building Inspectors
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Certified Home Inspectors
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​How much does it Cost?
​Well, that depends... the industry standard ranges between $100 to $250 and its varies depending on which licensed-pro you choose to hire, size and location of your property.
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What Happens During the Inspection?​
No need to stress - it’s a simple and easy process. During the inspection, the inspector will: ​
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Walk the perimeter of the property and snap photos to document everything
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Look at your roof’s condition and the covering material
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Pop into your attic to see the underside of the roof and confirm attached using specialty tools
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Check all openings - windows & doors - to verify if and how they are protected against high winds (storm-panels, shutters, impact-rating)
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Snap photos to document everything. ​
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How Long does it Take?​
​The whole thing usually takes less than an hour.
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Why Should You Get One?​
​A wind mitigation inspection does two awesome things:
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Keeps Your Property Safe: It confirms your roof and all other components are ready to stand up to storms, giving you peace of mind.
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Saves You Money: Insurance companies have to give you discounts if your property has wind-resistant features. The more storm-proof your property, the bigger the savings!
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Here are some features that can score you extra discounts:
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A newer roof
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Longer nails spaced closer together (usually done once the roof is replaced or if it is older than 1995)
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A hipped roof (one that slopes on all sides)
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Strong, storm-rated windows, doors, or shutters
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Strap or double strap on your roof-to-wall connections
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How Much Can You Save?​​
Okay, here’s the tricky part: there’s no one-size-fits-all answer. Every insurance company has its own way of calculating discounts, and they don’t always agree on which roof features are the most storm-proof. For example, one company might give you a 5% discount for using clips instead of nails to secure your roof, while another might offer just 1% or no discount at all.
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But here’s the good news: wind mitigation inspections almost always pay off. Some homeowners might save hundreds or thousands over time! It’s super rare for an inspection to find no wind-resistant features. Without an inspection, your insurer assumes your property is as weak as it gets, so even a few strong features can unlock discounts.
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Wrapping It Up​​
A wind mitigation inspection is a quick, affordable way to make sure your property is storm-ready and cut your insurance bills. We recommend you contact your agent and ask if your property is receiving all the possible discounts available or what steps can you take to get any discounts you might be missing out on.
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SEND US A MESSAGE OR CALL/TEXT IF YOU HAVE ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS.
WE ARE HERE TO HELP!
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