Wind Mitigation Inspections: Demystifying the Discounts

If you own a home in Florida, you’ve likely heard of Wind Mitigation Inspections.  Most realtors, mortgage brokers, title agents and insurance agents are aware that Homeowners Insurance rates are very much determined by the Wind Mitigation features that do or do not exist on a particular home.  Insurance companies charge less to insure any home that is less of a hurricane risk.

The Wind Mitigation Inspection is not a Pass/Fail Inspection. Its sole purpose is verifying discounts, and there are six major discounts that might apply. Even one out of the six will be a savings on your policy. Here's a breakdown of the discounts:

FBC (Florida Building Code) Credit:  If your home was built in 2002 or later OR your roof was installed in 2002 or later AND you can prove it, you get this discount.  

Roof Deck Attachment Credit: This credit has to do with the size and spacing of the nails that attach the roof deck to the roof trusses.  The bigger the nails and the closer they are together, the larger the discount.

Roof Wall Attachment Credit: This credit is given for the type of connection that affixes the roof system to the walls.  If nails are used, there is no discount.  Discount is given for either Clips, Single Wraps or Double Wraps.

Roof Shape Credit: Roofs comes in different shapes.  The most common is gable, the ‘upside-down V’ roof that children draw in pictures of houses.  Picturesque, but easily lifted off by strong hurricane winds.  The only Roof Shape Credit given is for a hip-shaped roof, a roof that comes all the way down on all sides of the house, like a pyramid.  

SWR (Secondary Water Resistance) Credit: Sometimes an adhesive, water-resistant layer is applied to the roof deck under the shingles.  Here’s an SWR being installed:

Opening Protection Credit: This one’s commonly known as the ‘shutter credit’ and is one of the most difficult to get.  Simply put, every opening in the home (windows, doors, skylights, sliders and garage door) must be hurricane-impact rated or fitted with a hurricane-impact rated covering in order to get the discount.