A wind mitigation inspection is an inspection designed to identify windstorm mitigation features in a home so the homeowner can receive discount credits for their homeowner’s insurance. These features will allow the home to withstand or be more resistant to damages normally caused by the high winds and rain during a hurricane. All admitted insurance carriers in Florida provide a discount on wind insurance for properties that can be proven to have wind mitigation features. The wind mitigation inspection findings in Florida are reported on the Uniform Mitigation Verification Inspection Form (OIR-B1-1802) as the documentation needed to apply for these discounts.
What Does a Wind Mitigation Inspection Include?
The inspector follows a standard required by the state of Florida, that outlines what is covered in the Wind Mitigation Inspection. These items include:
- Building Code: What year was your home built? Homes built prior to 2001 were not held to the same building standards as those circa 2002 to the present.
- Roof Geometry: This is another way to say, “What shape is your roof?” The options are usually hip roof, flat roof, and other.
- Roof Covering: The material your roof is made of helps determine how resilient it is to wind and water damage. The most common materials for roofs are often asphalt/fiberglass shingle, concrete/clay tile, and metal. Insurance companies will consider what your roof is made out of and how old those materials are to determine what wind mitigation discounts your home is eligible for. Newer materials are typically built to stronger building code equivalent standards
- Roof-Deck Attachment: This measures on a scale of 1 (weakest) to 3 (strongest) how well your roof is attached to the rafters of the frame on your home. To qualify for wind mitigation credits, it’s essential to have a roof that has the proper amount of nails with the proper length and design to withstand the most wind. All homes built 2002 to present fall into Category C, which is the best option (for the overachievers out there, that means plywood/OSB roof sheathing with a minimum thickness of 7/16 inch attached to the roof truss/rafter
- Water Barriers: Seal your roof deck, or the layer in between the primary structure and the insulating layer of your roof, to prevent water intrusion that may otherwise occur if roof shingles blow away in extreme wind or from flying debris. This also provides an extra layer of insulation, making your home more energy efficient.
- Roof-to-Wall Attachment: How well is your roof attached to the walls? This is quantified by eight options: (A) toenails, (B) clips, (C) single wraps, (D) double wraps, (E) anchor bolt, (F) other, (G) unknown, and (H) no attic access. Double wraps are considered the strongest, whereas toenails provide the least protection. Companies are unable to provide discounts when there is no attic access to determine the roof-to-wall attachment.
- Opening Protection: This part of a wind mitigation inspection focuses on “glazed openings” (glass; skylights and glass blocks are included) and “non-glazed openings” (entry and garage doors). There are several options available to help protect windows and other openings from the impact of strong wind and flying debris. Popular options include shatterproof windows and storm shutters. Hurricane-rated doors are recommended, especially for garage doors with large openings. Additional bracing can also be installed on existing garage doors.
Contact me if you have any questions or would like to schedule an inspection by calling or texting
Do the homebuyers have to be there?
While inspections can be done without you present, it is a good idea to be there so the inspector can show you exactly what they look for and how it is documented on the Uniform Mitigation Verification Inspection Form (OIR-B1-1802). This will enable you to understand the findings and what improvements you could choose to do to your home to increase your discount.
Contact me if you have any questions or would like to schedule an inspection by calling or texting