Still, many homeowners are wary and assume that they probably won’t qualify for any savings. To clear up some misconceptions we’re going to walk you through each step of this inspection. Hopefully, it will give you a clearer picture of how it differs from other types of inspections and what kind of features will end up saving you money.
Step 1: The Building Code
The first step is to note the age of the house (and the roof, if it has been replaced or renovated). This is in order to determine whether it complies with more recent, and more strict, Florida building codes.
Step 2: The Roof Covering
The type of shingles you have on your roof as well as their overall condition are important in determining how well it will hold up against wind. Typically, metal roofing is considered the least vulnerable to wind. This is not an area where you’re likely to see huge savings, but it’s still a consideration!
Step 3: The Roof-Deck Attachment
The roof-deck attachment refers to how the roof sheathing is attached to the trusses. This takes into account how long the nails used are as well as how they are spaced. Only the weakest form of attachment is considered when it comes to wind mitigation credits, so if parts of the roof-deck attachment are older then you won’t save as much.
Step 4: The Roof To Wall Attachment
This step determines whether the roof is attached to the wall with toe nails, clips, single wraps, or double wraps with toe nails being the weakest and double wraps the strongest.
Step 5: The Roof Geometry
The shape of your roof has a huge impact on its ability to withstand high winds. In fact, having the right roof geometry is what could potentially save you the most. So, what is the right roof geometry? That would be a “hip roof” — one that slopes down on all sides.
Step 6: Secondary Water Resistance
A secondary water resistance barrier provides an additional layer of protection in the event that your roof is damaged. Most houses built before a certain point don’t have these and they are expensive and time-consuming to install.
Step 7: Opening Protection
Finally, it’s time to check if all of the openings (windows, doors, cellar entrances, etc.) have some form of protection against wind and rain. This is another section where it’s all or nothing. You won’t get anything for having partial protection.
We can’t tell you for sure whether you’ll end up saving money, but many people do. In addition, the reports are valid for up to 5 years, so even minimal savings will add up to cover the cost of the inspection over time.
It’s important to take action to secure your home well before storm season rolls around. Getting a wind mitigation inspection is one of the first steps towards doing that. Please, contact us at Super Inspection Pros. today to learn more or to schedule an inspection of your home.
