License HI7932 & Insured

Why do you need a wind mitigation inspection?

Wind Mitigation Inspection To Save Money On Insurance Premiums

The question is a good one, and the answer is simple: to save money. If you live in the in an area that requires windstorm insurance, you are all too aware of the outrageous insurance premiums we must all pay just to live in our own homes. With the hurricanes that have battered the southern United States over the past few years, insurers have raised their prices to unbearable levels.

In order to mitigate this expense, you as a home owner have several options available to you. The most effective tactic for reducing your premium is to have a wind mitigation inspection. What that is exactly, is a close inspection of your home that may reduce your premiums. Obviously, this is a very useful service, and one that will pay for itself in a very short amount of time. The savings from reduced wind insurance payments can go towards paying off the home sooner, eliminating credit card or installment debt, or into your bank account, which is something, everyone likes. The simple fact of the matter is that we could all use more money, and saving some is like making more. Cutting cost on your wind insurance is a smart play during these trying times.

Windstorms are so damaging to a home for several reasons. The incredible strong winds assault your home using a number of forces. They simultaneously create uplifting, shearing and lateral forces that cause massive destruction to a home. Often times they will also destroy windows and doors, allowing water in which will cause severe damage to the interior of a home. The high winds can also blow debris onto and into the home, further destroying the property. Worst of all, in the event of a breach of the homes outer shell, the high powered winds can cause the roof to come up or even off as the combination of forces at play wreak havoc on an unprotected structure.

During a wind mitigation inspection, a certified expert inspector will come to your property and look for key features of your home. Features such as concrete block construction, the presence of gable end bracing, a hip roof, the presence of a single or double roof straps, the presence of a secondary water resistance barrier, or shutter and opening protection will all qualify a home for wind mitigation certification. This allows us to give your home a certificate stating that it is better equipped to endure such an event than a home lacking these features and, therefore, should not have to pay as much for insurance coverage. Since these types of structures suffer less wind damage, the insurers are willing to lower their fees. If that were not enough, the state of Florida mandates that insurance companies reduce their rates for homes with certain wind mitigation features. So, with a wind mitigation certificate in hand, you are guaranteed to pay less money per month than a home owner who does not. You may even qualify for a refund check from your insurer once you have had your home inspected. That is money on the table, just waiting for you to take it.

Most existing houses already have features in place that will qualify them for wind loss mitigation certification. In Florida, homes built after 1994 in Broward or Miami-Dade counties and homes built after 2002 in the rest of Florida, typically have many wind mitigation features already built in. This means that the majority of homes that fall under this category will qualify for some discounts in their windstorm insurance payments.

Florida Insurance Carriers looks at 9 Key Categories With a Wind Mitigation Inspection

* Verification of the FL building code that the structure was designed and built to (1994 South FL Building Code or the 2001 Florida Building Code or better will benefit)

* Verification of the predominant roof covering installed (1994 FL Building Code or the 2001 Florida Building Code or better will benefit)

* The inspection and verification of the roof deck attachment including the size & spacing of nails/screws/adhesives that can certify an uplift a) 55 psf b) 103 psf c) 182 psf or better (103 psf, 182 psf or stronger will benefit)

* Verification of the roof to wall connection on every rafter/truss a) toe nails b) clips c) single wraps d) double wraps or e) structural connection (anything better than toe nails will benefit)

* Determination of the roof geometry a) Hip Roof, b) Non-Hip Roof, or c) Flat Roof (a Hip Roof with less than 10% of any other roof shape and less than 100 sq ft of flat area will benefit).

* On a gable roof, the inspection of any gable end bracing that meets the 2001 FL building code or stronger will benefit (currently this credit is not being given by many insurance companies).

* Verification of the wall construction type: a) wood frame, b) un-reinforced masonry, c) reinforced masonry, or d) poured concrete (reinforced masonry or poured concrete equaling 70% or more of the wall construction will benefit although each company views this differently)

* The inspection and verification of any Secondary Water Resistance applied to protect the dwelling from water intrusion (currently only a self-adhering polymer modified bitumen “peel and stick” or a foam adhesive barrier applied to every seam on the roof deck and applied to each side of every rafter or truss will benefit).

* Verification and inspection of wind borne debris protection on every exterior opening – including the windows, doors, garage doors, & skylights (Impact Resistant coverings that meet the FL Building Code or Miami-Dade approval will benefit the most. Non Miami-Dade or Non FL Building Code shutters along with plywood or OSB coverings depending on how strong and how it is installed may receive a discount).

* In the end, investing in a wind mitigation inspection is at your own discretion. The potential cost-savings per year could easily outweigh the cost.

So You’re Wondering – Do I just get an inspection and save on insurance? And how much could a person stand to save?

Well, that all depends on the features of your property. An inspector will evaluate the wind-mitigating characteristics of your home or business. Post-inspection, that inspector will make recommendations for any improvements or repairs the property owner could make on their home to enhance its sustainability against windstorm damage. He or she then submits a state-standard inspection report to your insurance agency. The report is viewed as a benchmark of your home’s ability to withstand storm damage, and an appropriate discount is then applied – in Florida, an average discount of 30% is typical, saving a few hundred to over $1000 annually on your insurance premium.