Wind Mitigation Report
Homeowners can receive substantial credits for outfitting their homes with windstorm mitigation features that withstand or are more resistant to high winds. A wind mitigation report documents the wind mitigation features that exist in the home you are purchasing. Your insurance company will need this report in order to receive any wind mitigation credits the home may qualify for.
What is Wind Mitigation
Wind mitigation is the process of adding features to your home that help withstand or increase resistance to high winds caused by a major storm or hurricane.
Savings
According to the Florida Division of Emergency Management, 15% – 70% of home insurance premiums in Florida can be attributed to wind-damage risk. While there is an upfront cost involved, outfitting your home with wind mitigation features can result in significant long-term savings.
Safety
In addition to saving you money, mitigating your home against severe weather can also protect your family in the event of a major storm. Installing hurricane shutters on your windows or hurricane straps on your roof reduces the risk of flying debris penetrating your home and putting your family in danger.
Water Barriers
Seal your roof deck, or the layer in between the primary structure and the insulating layer of your roof, to prevent water intrusion that may otherwise occur if roof shingles blow away in extreme wind or from flying debris. This also provides an extra layer of insulation, making your home more energy efficient.
Roof to Foundation Anchoring
Reinforce your home’s walls to the roof and foundation to establish a continuous load path. This enables the outer structure of your home to resist strong winds.
Window and Door Coverings
There are several options available to help protect windows and other openings from the impact of strong wind and flying debris. Popular options include shatterproof windows and storm shutters. Hurricane-rated doors are recommended, especially for garage doors with large openings. Additional bracing can also be installed on existing garage doors.
Conducting Wind Mitigation Inspections
Generally, a wind mitigation inspection is needed to determine which credits apply to a home. During a wind mitigation inspection, I looks for key features and add-ons that reduce the amount of damage your home may suffer in the event of a hurricane or strong windstorm.