As a Fort Myers homeowner, you know that our coastal location results in an increased risk of wind damage during hurricane season, and high homeowner’s insurance premiums. Wind mitigation offers a way for you to get some relief from both of these issues.
Wind Mitigation Basics
Wind mitigation is simply the inclusion or addition of specific building features that help limit wind damage to your home. While some features are integral to a home’s construction, there are several that you can incorporate at any time to give you a two-fold benefit: a safer, more secure living environment that’s better able to withstand the destructive power of seasonal storms, and the potential for significant savings on your homeowner’s insurance premiums.
What Wind Mitigation Covers
Wind-mitigating features to insist on when you’re buying or building a home include reinforced concrete block wall construction and a hip roof design. Other features that you can upgrade to when renovating your existing home include:
- Opening protection. Add hurricane-rated coverings to protect each of your windows and exterior doors and reduce the risk of internal pressurization if one fails.
- Gable end bracing. If your home has a gable roof where the gable ends are higher than 48 inches, they should be braced for extra reinforcement.
- Roof-to-wall attachments. For the highest level of wind uplift resistance at your roof truss and wall plate connections, opt for double metal connector wraps secured with three nails per side.
- Roof deck material and attachment. When getting your roof replaced, have your contractor install 5/8-inch plywood decking panels secured with 10-d nails every 6 inches on-center over intermediate framing, and every 4 inches around the roof perimeter.
- Secondary water barrier. Ask your contractor to use either a foam adhesive SWR product or a self-adhering membrane on your new roof decking to provide an extra layer of protection against water intrusions.
- Roofing material. When you’re choosing a material for a new roof, opt for a product that meets ASTM D3161 Class F testing for 110 mph wind resistance, and UL 2218 for impact resistance.
Although you’ll gain an immediate advantage security-wise by adding the above features, there won’t be an automatic reduction in your insurance premiums. You’ll need to have a wind mitigation inspection completed and verify that your insurance company applies the discounts.
If you need roof-related wind mitigation improvements made to your Fort Myers-area home, contact us at Kelly Roofing. We’ve seen dozens of hurricanes and have been in business since 1972.
