Your inspector will first note the age of the home. This is mostly to determine whether it was constructed to comply with the latest Florida building codes. Homes built after 2001 are required to meet stricter standards — especially in regards to wind mitigation.
The Age Of The Roof
Your inspector will determine the age of the roof. The age of the roof is important for the same reason that the age of the home is important. A home could have been built before 2001 but if a new roof was installed after it’s subject to the more stringent building code.
The Roof-Deck Attachment
Your inspector will make note of how the roof is attached to the deck. Some homes make use of multiple different roof-deck attachments. In those cases, the weakest of the attachments is used.
The Roof-Wall Connection
Your inspector will need to determine how the roof is connected to the walls of your home. There are a number of options here, the most common being toenails, clips, single wraps, and double wraps. These are roughly in order of least secure to most secure. Double wraps will save you the most money while nails won’t get you much in the way of savings.
Just like the roof-deck attachment, this goes by the weakest form of connection present. So if you have a combination of wraps and nails only the inferior nails will count towards the wind mitigation credits.
The Roof Shape
The shape of the roof is actually one of the most important aspects of a home when it comes to wind mitigation. During the inspection your inspector will classify your roof as one of the following:
- Hip Roof – A roof where all sides slope down towards the walls.
- Flat Roof – A roof where the slope is less than 2/12 for 90% or more of the roof.
- Other Roof – A roof that doesn’t qualify as one of the above.
A hip roof will save you the most money. Many other types of roofs are viewed less favorably, as they can actually exacerbate the damage caused during a windstorm.
The Presence Of Secondary Water Barriers
Your inspector will check your roof for a secondary water barrier. These are uncommon in older homes with older roofs, but if your home was constructed recently this will definitely save you some money.
Protection For Doors And Windows
Your inspector will make note of any opening protection. This takes into account windows, entry doors, skylights, garage doors, and glass blocks. This is also another category where only the weakest item counts, so if you’re considering installing opening protection for wind mitigation credit purposes you’ll need to install it for everything.
The more wind-mitigating features your home has, the more you’ll save on your homeowner’s insurance. But don’t worry, you won’t be penalized if your home doesn’t meet all of these standards. A wind mitigation inspection can only save you money. In fact, in many cases, the inspection will end up paying for itself and then some.
Looking for a qualified home inspector in Central Florida? Please, contact us today at Super Inspection Pros for more information about our home inspection process or to schedule an inspection for your home.
