Most Florida homeowners know their insurance is expensive. Fewer know that specific, verifiable features of their roof and building envelope can earn real credits on the premium. That is what a wind mitigation inspection is for.
What a wind mitigation inspection is
It is a standardized inspection where a qualified inspector documents how your home is built to resist wind. The report goes to your insurer, and qualifying features can translate into discounts. It typically costs relatively little compared to what it can save.
Features that commonly earn credit
- ▸Roof covering that meets current building code standards.
- ▸Roof deck attachment, meaning how the plywood is fastened to the trusses.
- ▸Roof-to-wall connections, such as clips or straps rather than just nails.
- ▸Roof shape, since hip roofs generally perform better in wind than gable roofs.
- ▸A secondary water resistance barrier under the roof covering.
- ▸Impact-rated windows, doors, and shutters protecting the openings.
Why this matters when you replace a roof
A replacement is your one clean opportunity to upgrade several of these at once. Improved deck attachment and a secondary water barrier are far cheaper to add while the roof is already open than to retrofit later. Ask your contractor specifically which mitigation features your new roof will qualify for, and get it documented.
The sequence that saves money
- Replace or upgrade the roof with mitigation features included in the scope.
- Keep the permit documentation and photos from the install.
- Schedule a wind mitigation inspection after the work passes final inspection.
- Send the report to your insurer and confirm the credits were applied.
- Re-check at renewal, because credits do occasionally get dropped in error.
Savings vary widely by carrier, home, and location, so nobody can promise you a specific dollar amount. What is reliable is that documenting these features is the only way to get any credit at all.
Planning a roof replacement? We build wind mitigation features into the scope and document them, so you can take the report straight to your insurer.