Wind Mitigation Inspections
Living in areas prone to hurricanes or severe storms means taking steps to protect your home from high winds and storm damage. One important way to do this is through a Wind Mitigation Inspection. This inspection evaluates your home’s ability to withstand the forces of wind, identifying key structural elements that can either help or hinder its resilience during a storm. At SWF Home Inspections, we offer thorough wind mitigation inspections that not only help safeguard your home but can also lead to potential insurance discounts by highlighting your home’s wind-resistant features.
The Purpose of Wind Mitigation Inspections
A Wind Mitigation inspection is designed to assess the structural integrity of a home in the face of high winds, which can lead to significant damage if the property isn’t properly reinforced. This inspection evaluates various aspects of the home, including the roof structure, doors, windows, and wall connections. By identifying these key features and weaknesses, homeowners can take proactive steps to reinforce their property and reduce the risk of costly storm damage.
Potential for Insurance Discounts
One of the most significant benefits of a Wind Mitigation inspection is that it may help homeowners qualify for insurance discounts. Insurance companies are required by Florida Statues to lower rates if a home is built or has features that reduce damage in hurricane-force winds. By showcasing the results of a Wind Mitigation inspection, which highlights the wind-resistant features of your property, you may be able to lower your homeowner’s insurance rates while ensuring that your home is better prepared for the next storm.
Professional Wind Mitigation Services
You could save on your home insurance bill with a wind mitigation inspection report from SWF Home Inspections! We will examine the property and provide you with the paperwork needed to negotiate that new rate. Wind mitigation inspection reports are typically good for the property as long as clients have the same insurance company. They do not transfer to new owners, though, so when purchasing a new home, you will need to have a new inspection done.
Items Our Inspections Cover
Roof Shape and Design Assessment
Roofs with steep slopes are generally better at shedding wind and rain, while flat or low-pitched roofs may be more susceptible to wind damage. Our inspectors will evaluate the roof design to determine if it’s built to handle high winds, helping homeowners understand if their roof needs any reinforcements or upgrades.
Roof-to-Wall Connections
The connection between the roof and walls is critical to the overall stability of the home during a storm. Proper roof-to-wall connections, such as hurricane straps or clips, can significantly reduce the chances of the roof being uplifted by high winds. Our team will carefully inspect these connections to ensure they are functioning as intended. If any weaknesses are identified, recommendations for improvements will be provided to help better secure your home.
Impact-Resistant Doors and Windows
Doors and windows are often the weakest points in a home’s defense against high winds. During a Wind Mitigation inspection, we assess the strength and resilience of your doors and windows, including their materials and how they are anchored into the structure. Impact-resistant windows and doors can greatly reduce the risk of wind and debris entering your home. Our experts will identify whether your current doors and windows are storm-ready or if upgrades are necessary to protect your home from severe weather.
FAQs
How much money will I save on my home insurance?
How long does an inspection take?
The wind mitigation inspection can take about 30 minutes to an hour. A home inspector will need to walk around your property, go into the attic, and look at all your openings.
What Does A Wind Mitigation Inspection Cover?
Before ordering a wind mitigation inspection, you should get acquainted with the basics of what will be on the report. So, what exactly are the inspectors looking for? Here are the main factors they focus on when assessing the wind resistance strength of your home:
- The condition of the roofing. The first line of defense against strong winds from the top is the roof covering (roofing shingles or other roofing material). It is important to know when it was installed, what is the wind resistance rating of the material, and how it was attached to the roof decking.
- Roof deck-roof structure attachment. Next, it is crucial to know what type of roof deck is used (usually plywood of some kind), whether it is attached to the roof structure with nails or staples, and how long the nails are and how far apart they are.
- Roof-wall connection. How the roof trusses and rafters are attached to the building below is also a major factor. Hurricane winds or tornadoes have been known to lift roofs off the house below them. Installing hurricane clips and having double instead of single wraps is a plus as to wind mitigation scores.
- Roof shape. The height, pitch, and contours of your roof matter, especially in relation to the prevailing wind patterns where you live. Hip versus gabled roofs score differently. If you have gable ends, it’s best if they are braced or otherwise reinforced.
- Wall construction. The way walls are framed, the materials they are built from, and how they are reinforced (steel or concrete reinforcement) all matter on the report.
- Opening protections. Closing shutters, impact-resistant glass, steel doors, hurricane-rated doors and windows, and other features that strengthen your building’s openings can improve your wind mitigation inspection results.
- Secondary water barriers. Newer homes these days often have a secondary water barrier that can protect the interior against wind-driven rain that may get through the primary water barrier.
These are only a few of the most important points that will be looked at by your wind mitigation inspector. There are literally hundreds of items to be inspected and checked off. Many of these have to do with the roofing system, but other parts of the home also have an impact on a building’s overall wind mitigation rating.
When will I receive the home inspection report?
The primary inspection report and reports for any added services (excluding environmental testing) will be completed and sent to you on the same day as the inspection. Reports for indoor air quality tests and radon tests take 48-72 hours to receive from the lab that the tests are sent to for analysis.
Why did I lose insurance credits?
In rare instances, homeowners may lose insurance discounts. This happens because a previous wind mitigation inspection was filled out improperly, meaning a previous inspector marked certain home attributes that were not there. Fortunately, these cases are rare and most homeowners end up saving every year on their insurance premiums.
Who Should Get a Wind Mitigation Inspection Done?
There are several reasons to get a wind mitigation inspection. Here are the most common situations where one would be advisable:
- You are considering buying a new home and want to make sure it will stand up against strong winds and major storms.
- You are getting homeowner’s insurance soon and want to get as low a premium as possible OR you have home insurance and want to see if you can lower your current monthly payment amount.
- You just had new roofing and some other improvements done on your home and believe you would now qualify for wind mitigation discounts that you wouldn’t have earned before.
- You are selling your home or thinking about listing it soon. Being able to say that you have had a wind mitigation inspection done could be a key selling point.
WHY CHOOSE SWF?
Whether you’re buying or selling a home or examining one you already own, the certified home inspectors of SWF Home Inspections have the expertise and tools to get the information you need. All of our inspectors utilize the latest technologies like thermal cameras, and as a company, we offer guarantees for Same or Next-Day Inspections, Same-Day Reports, and 200% Satisfaction.
Tens of thousands of home inspections completed each year
We provide unparalleled communication and service before, during, and after the inspection
All Inspection Reports come with a detailed analysis of the home and digital photos of areas of concern
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