Getting a wind mitigation inspection before the summer storm season begins is one of the best ways to protect your home’s roof, structures, and interior possessions from wind and water damage.
This affordable specialty inspection is invaluable because it:
- Highlights any weaknesses in your home’s structural integrity, particularly systems designed to protect the house from strong winds.
- Includes a detailed inspection report, itemizing red flag issues in order of their importance.
- Provides recommendations for improvements or recommendations to further protect your home and property from storm damage.
- Can be used to save you money on homeowner’s insurance premiums – adding up to hundreds of dollars per year.
Every year strong winds and storm conditions cause millions of dollars worth of damage in the United States, and experts estimate that $7 out of every $10 of that damage occurs in Florida. Ensuring your home is adequately protected could prevent you from spending a single dollar on your own home.
What Is a Wind Mitigation Inspection?
The first step is to hire an experienced, certified home inspector who offers wind mitigation inspections in your area.
During the inspection, they’ll:
Carefully Review the Roofing System
The roof is a crucial component of a home’s wind protection plan. It must be installed correctly, using high-quality roofing materials, without accidental penetrations through waterproofing systems by nails, screws, or staples.
If you have a mobile or manufactured home, the roof must be adequately secured using specific tie-downs, for which there is a separate inspection.
We also ensure the roof has the following:
- The proper shape
- Secure roof deck attachments
- Been well-maintained – including the gutters and downspouts.
- All of its shingles, without any that are missing, cracked, or broken
- Adequate waterproofing and drainage systems – including secondary water resistance
- Adequately sealed and flashed penetrations (chimney, vents, skylights, etc.) and roof valleys
If your roof falls short, our inspection report is precisely what the roofing contractor needs to make any repairs or replacements.
Verify Exterior Wall Composition and Framing
The home’s exterior walls must be securely fastened to the roof (roof-to-wall connections). We’ll also ensure the walls are secured vertically and horizontally to withstand high winds from multiple directions.
In addition, inspectors look at foundation-to-wall and floor-to-wall connections. Altogether, we call these a “continuous load path” because all of the systems of timber, metal connectors, screws, nails, and any other fasteners or connections work together to share the impact (load) of the storm.
Window and Door Openings
All doors and windows, including the garage door, must be made using hurricane-resistant materials, including the type of glass used in windows. In addition, hurricane shutters provide a second layer of protection over windows.
Hurricane-rated garage doors are recommended. Regardless, wind mitigation inspectors verify that door frames and garage door panels are reinforced and strong enough to withstand strong winds. Additionally, they’ll ensure the garage door has an adequate number of securely installed mounting brackets.
The Report May Suggest Other Recommendations
Depending on what the inspector notices while conducting the wind mitigation inspection, they may provide additional recommendations.
For example:
Slope and Drainage Improvements
The inspector might notice the home lacks adequate slope or water drainage for significant rain events. Proper adjustments protect your home from standing water damage and flooding.
Landscape Tips
Sometimes the most expensive damage isn’t done solely by the wind or rain. Flying debris is a primary culprit when it comes to broken windows that allow further wind and water damage. So, the fewer loose or wind-vulnerable items around, the better for your home.
We’ll suggest landscape improvements such as:
- Repairing and securing fencing materials
- Professional trimming, pruning, or removal of trees or shrubs likely to break, fall, or uproot in a high wind scenario
- Taking proper safety precautions around outdoor electrical wiring or lighting systems
- Tying down or storing decorative landscape objects during storm season
Scheduling Wind Mitigation Inspections Provides Peace of Mind
Why worry or wonder whether or not your house can withstand the next summer season? Super Inspection Pros guarantees a one-day turnaround on inspections and a finalized report. That means in just one day, you will know what – if anything – needs to be done to bolster your home and protect your loved ones the next time strong winds come our way.
Contact Super Inspection Pros to schedule your wind mitigation inspection and enjoy the peace of mind that hundreds of clients experience when they know their house is structurally sound.
