Florida is known as the Sunshine State, but could have easily been named the Hurricane State instead. Floridians see more hurricanes, tropical storms, tornadoes, and high-wind events than most other U.S. states.
That’s why wind mitigation inspections are essential for Florida homeowners. Protecting homes from wind damage is so crucial that our state law requires homeowners insurance carriers to offer wind mitigation credits (premium discounts) by proving they have adequate wind mitigation features.
5 Ways Winds do Serious Damage to Florida Homes
There are a handful of ways strong winds can damage a home:
1. Shearing Protective Features Off the Home’s Exterior
When winds come in strong enough, they can rip things off your house, such as shingles or siding. Certain angles or extended duration compound the problem, allowing wind access under siding seams or shingle tabs to push up on their edges with blunt force.
2. Flying Projectiles
The second significant cause of wind damage to Volusia County homes occurs when it carries loose objects over a distance. Sometimes, it’s tree limbs or branches, but it can also be as significant as patio furniture, whole trees, or signposts.
These flying projectiles, called “wind missiles,” can cause severe damage to a building. They can punch holes in the wall or roof, shatter windows and outdoor light fixtures, and crush parts of porches and decks.
3. “Teaming Up” With Water
Water damage can devastate a home, and wind is almost always a player in serious water damage after a storm. When wind and water “team up” during a significant storm event, the results can be hundreds or thousands of dollars in repairs.
Wind drives water along your roof, walls, windows, and doors, helping it to find any openings into which it can pour. Like wind, when water is driven to your home with enough force, length of time, and the right angle, it dramatically increases the odds of a leak and severe water damage to the home’s interior.
If storm-related water damage isn’t professionally addressed, it can compromise your home’s structural integrity and lead to mold and mildew growth.
4. Taking Advantage of Weak Points
Another factor to remember when it comes to how wind damages homes is that it can take advantage of existing weak points. This is why routine home maintenance is so essential.
For example, if your shingles are old and weak, the siding was poorly installed, or parts of your home are not structurally sound, they become the most vulnerable parts during storms. Even a moderate storm can cause significant damage if your home doesn’t have proper wind and water mitigation in place.
5. Lifting Things Apart
Finally, the most extreme kind of wind damage involves the wind actually lifting up your home and taking it apart. During a hurricane or tornado, wind can separate the roof from the rest of the building or lift the entire building off its foundation.
Installing hurricane and foundation clips to help hold things together – and tighter – is important protection. This wind mitigation upgrade improves safety, protects your investment in your home, and earns you significant wind mitigation credits – all of which could help lower your monthly homeowner’s insurance premium or give you more leverage when shopping around for more competitive rates.
SIP’s Professional Home Inspections Optimize Wind Mitigation
There is no law requiring a professional home inspection. However, depending on the age of your home, the homeowner’s insurer and mortgage lender may require one. Plus, the information you receive from a full home or wind mitigation inspection yields valuable information for you as the homeowner to ensure your home can weather the storm season.
A wind-mitigation inspector will examine key points of your building to ascertain how well they are likely to stand up against strong Florida winds. We focus largely on the roof and roofing materials, but it is not limited to that.
Recommended wind mitigation features also include:
- A solid foundation, including building-foundation connections
- Shingles-roof deck connection
- Roof deck-wall connection
- Strong structural supports
- Properly installed siding
Once you have the inspection report, you’ll know exactly how your house rates regarding wind mitigation features. If you “pass” with flying colors, the report is exactly what you need to gain cost-saving insurance credits or shop for better home insurance deals. If there are a few red flags, you can use our information to guide your next round of home improvements.
Schedule a Wind Mitigation Inspection
Are you ready to learn more about lowering the risk of wind and water damage during the next Florida storm season? Contact Super Inspector Pros today.
