Wind-Mitigation Inspection
In 1992, Hurricane Andrew hit the United States and caused major damage, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hurricane_Andrew. It was the third and last most powerful of three Category 5 hurricanes to hit the United States during the 20th century. Andrew hit the Bahamas, southern Florida (south of Miami), and Louisiana. It caused $26.5 billion in damage, with most of the damage located in south Florida. Andrew also caused 65 deaths and left thousands of people homeless.
No matter how carefully houses are located, designed and built in Florida, there are still hundreds of thousands of existing homes that cannot survive intense hurricanes. Residential buildings can be effectively classified according to their degree of wind vulnerability. That classification recognizes the fact that buildings with wind-resistant features are expected to experience significant reductions in hurricane damage and loss.
The reduced risk and associated loss result from both basic house characteristics and features (roof shape, frame vs. masonry, garage, etc.), as well as structural features of the building envelope (roof, deck connection, hurricane straps, shutters, etc.). While the existing house characteristics are what they are and cannot be easily modified, the key building envelope features can often be cost-effectively strengthened to provide notable reductions in vulnerability.
In 2006, Florida state lawmakers took action and appropriated $250 million to create the "My Safe Florida Home" Program. The program was created to help Floridians identify and make improvements to strengthen their homes against hurricanes through free wind inspections and grant funds. This program, free inspections and grants have expired.
However, an inspection form has been developed by Florida's Office of Insurance Regulation, Florida's Uniform Mitigation Inspection Form. The property inspector shall use this particular checklist to verify the presence of windstorm mitigation features on a policyholder’s property so the insurer can calculate appropriate discounts. The discount the property owner is entitled to receive largely depends on the mitigation features and components are incorporated in the structure.
Wind mitigation inspections involve investigating your roof shape, roof coverings, roof-to-wall connections, wall materials, roof sheathing, opening protection, and many others. It usually lasts for an hour and a half, after which we will fill out a state-mandated form that will report whether your home meets the requirements to qualify for a homeowner's insurance discounts.
We will inspect the house location, surroundings (landscape), the roof geometry and shape, and the following features such as:
Wind mitigation features set up in your home can save you on homeowner's insurance premiums between 15 to 20% discounts, sometimes more depending on the features incorporated in your home. Wind mitigation home inspections can only be performed by a certified inspector to operate in the state of Florida.
In 1992, Hurricane Andrew hit the United States and caused major damage, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hurricane_Andrew. It was the third and last most powerful of three Category 5 hurricanes to hit the United States during the 20th century. Andrew hit the Bahamas, southern Florida (south of Miami), and Louisiana. It caused $26.5 billion in damage, with most of the damage located in south Florida. Andrew also caused 65 deaths and left thousands of people homeless.
No matter how carefully houses are located, designed and built in Florida, there are still hundreds of thousands of existing homes that cannot survive intense hurricanes. Residential buildings can be effectively classified according to their degree of wind vulnerability. That classification recognizes the fact that buildings with wind-resistant features are expected to experience significant reductions in hurricane damage and loss.
The reduced risk and associated loss result from both basic house characteristics and features (roof shape, frame vs. masonry, garage, etc.), as well as structural features of the building envelope (roof, deck connection, hurricane straps, shutters, etc.). While the existing house characteristics are what they are and cannot be easily modified, the key building envelope features can often be cost-effectively strengthened to provide notable reductions in vulnerability.
In 2006, Florida state lawmakers took action and appropriated $250 million to create the "My Safe Florida Home" Program. The program was created to help Floridians identify and make improvements to strengthen their homes against hurricanes through free wind inspections and grant funds. This program, free inspections and grants have expired.
However, an inspection form has been developed by Florida's Office of Insurance Regulation, Florida's Uniform Mitigation Inspection Form. The property inspector shall use this particular checklist to verify the presence of windstorm mitigation features on a policyholder’s property so the insurer can calculate appropriate discounts. The discount the property owner is entitled to receive largely depends on the mitigation features and components are incorporated in the structure.
Wind mitigation inspections involve investigating your roof shape, roof coverings, roof-to-wall connections, wall materials, roof sheathing, opening protection, and many others. It usually lasts for an hour and a half, after which we will fill out a state-mandated form that will report whether your home meets the requirements to qualify for a homeowner's insurance discounts.
We will inspect the house location, surroundings (landscape), the roof geometry and shape, and the following features such as:
- Constructed under a Florida Building Code (FBC) 2001 or later
- Roof Covering material
- Roof shingle attachment method which meets FBC requirements
- Secondary water resistant structures or system to prevent roof leaks even if the roof cover gets blown off due to strong winds
- Reinforced roof decking with close spacing and large nails
- Hurricane straps and/or clips to hold the roof structure to the walls
- Roof geometry and shape
- Shutter protection installed over the windows
- Full or partial impact-resistant glazing on windows and other protection systems
Wind mitigation features set up in your home can save you on homeowner's insurance premiums between 15 to 20% discounts, sometimes more depending on the features incorporated in your home. Wind mitigation home inspections can only be performed by a certified inspector to operate in the state of Florida.
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Cities and Towns I proudly serve;
- Duval County Florida Cities/Towns - Atlantic Beach, Jacksonville, Jacksonville Beach, Mayport, Neptune Beach
- St Johns County Florida Cities/Towns - Palm Valley, Ponte Vedra, Ponte Vedra Beach, St. Augustine, St. Augustine Beach, St. Augustine Shores, Switzerland, Vilano Beach
- Nassau County Florida Cities/Towns: - Amelia Island, Fernandina Beach. Yulee, Callahan
