A wind mitigation inspection documents the features that help your home stand up to a storm. Florida law requires insurers to give credit for those features, so a good report can take a real amount off the premium.
The inspection uses a standard state form. The inspector documents each of these with photos, and the carrier applies credits based on what qualifies.
Whether the roof material meets the current building code and when it was installed or permitted.
How the plywood or board decking is fastened to the trusses. Longer nails at a tighter spacing score better.
What holds the roof structure to the walls: toe nails, clips, single wraps or double wraps, from weakest to strongest.
A hip roof, which slopes on all sides, resists wind better than a gable roof and earns a larger credit.
A sealed roof deck or peel and stick membrane under the covering that keeps water out if the covering is torn off.
Whether every window, door and skylight is protected by impact rated glass or tested shutters. Partial protection counts for less.
Homes built or re-roofed under the stronger post-2002 code often qualify for several of these credits by default.
In Florida a large share of the premium is the wind and hurricane portion. Credits apply to that part, so they can add up quickly.
One inspection covers you for roughly five years or until the roof is replaced, so the cost is spread across several renewals.
On some homes the difference between a policy and a decline is a passing roof to wall connection or opening protection.
If the report comes back weak, it tells you exactly which feature to improve for the biggest premium drop.
A licensed home inspector, general contractor, roofing contractor, building code inspector, architect or engineer. Many advertise it as a flat fee service.
Usually a modest flat fee. On most homes the first year of credits covers it several times over.
Any time you replace the roof, get a fresh inspection. A new code compliant roof usually improves several line items at once.
If you already have a wind mitigation report, include it with your quote request. I will make sure every credit it supports is applied.
Send it with the address and I will quote it with the credits applied.