Wind Mitigation Inspections in Coral Springs & South Florida

Get Your Wind Mitigation Report in as Little as 24-48 Hours. Call (954) 608-3366.

A Wind Mitigation Report Can Help You Save Thousands on Windstorm Insurance:

Is your insurance premium killing you? Has your premium jumped 30% or more? If so, you are not alone. There used to be over 30 carriers, and now there are fewer than half a dozen.

A Wind Mitigation inspection (Uniform Mitigation Verification Report) is a way to save big bucks on your insurance premium if your home has certain features that reduce the risk of damage or loss in a hurricane and how important it is to protect our homes from hurricane force winds. Since 2003, insurance companies in Florida have been required to give insurance discounts on a whole range of items if they are present. Savings of up to 40% are possible!

These are particularly important in South Florida, designated a High Velocity Hurricane Zone (HVHZ). Almost every home has one or more features that provide added protection against windstorms and may qualify for some insurance discounts. Moreover, suppose your house is in Broward or Miami-Dade and was built after 1994 (building application date must be after September 1st, 1994). In that case, it will usually have been built with many wind-resistant construction features that will likely qualify you for significant discounts. The rest of Florida did not update their building codes until March 1st, 2002. If you have add impact protection for your windows and doors, you may qualify for extra discounts.

To get those insurance discounts, you need to have a Wind Mitigation Inspection performed to see if your home has certain features. You may still qualify for a discount even if you don’t have impact glass or hurricane shutters. The following items make your home more resistant to windstorms and may qualify you for discounts:

If your house has had a new roof since 1994, you may qualify for a significant discount!
Also, the shape of the roof can give you a significant insurance discount – a hip roof is the best shape to withstand hurricane-force winds.
Roof decks that have been installed with 8D nails and 6-inch spacing. Most older houses qualify for this credit as roofs are re-nailed when replaced.
Material of roof deck.
Hurricane clips or straps that attach the roof structure to the walls. Again, lots of houses will get a discount for their buckles or straps.
Protection of openings (windows and doors) with shutters or impact glass.
A secondary water barrier that prevents the roof from leaking if the roof covering is damaged.
Home built after September 1994 and built to the Florida Building Code in Miami-Dade and Broward Counties or after March 2002 in Palm Beach County and the rest of Florida.

How To Save Money on Your Wind Insurance Policy AND Increase Your Protection from Hurricanes:

If not all the windows and doors are impact-rated (or not protected by impact-rated panels or shutters), then this is a great thing you can do to bring down your insurance premium – and give you more protection should you get hit by a severe hurricane. Ensure every opening is protected, as your insurance rating is based on the weakest link. To ensure that everything is installed correctly, make sure permits are pulled. I often see impact doors installed without using the proper screws. Remember that a Category 5 hurricane has winds of 157 mph and more, so the doors and windows have to withstand enormous wind pressure and windborne debris. Most manufacturers require the door frames installed with at least 16 Tapcon screws for Miami and Broward. Always check the manufacturer’s instructions for your hurricane zone.
Older homes may need proper hurricane straps. These metal straps hold the roof to the wall so it doesn’t blow off in a major hurricane. The minimum requirement is that these straps have at least three nails and that the strap is not more than half an inch from the struss where it is embedded into the wall. If your Wind Mitigation Report says that your Roof Wall connections are “toenails,” you do not have proper hurricane straps. Contact a wind mitigation retrofit company to have these retrofitted.
Insurance companies may also penalize you if you have an older roof. Each insurance company has different requirements, so check with your insurance agent.