Hurricanes and even the average thunderstorm in Florida bring severe winds and rain that can affect unprotected homes. Central Florida alone can see over 100 days of thunderstorms per year.
Think of how the wind can blow an umbrella inside out. If wind from the outside enters your home during a storm, the pressure inside will build until the roof potentially detaches from your house.
Without the proper safety measures, rain and wind can damage or destroy your personal belongings, furniture, or the structure of your home. Besides the pain and cost of repairs, nothing can replace the memories you’ve created in your home.
That’s partly why getting a wind mitigation inspection for your home, especially in Florida, is so beneficial.
Another benefit is that if your home meets the qualifications outlined in a Florida wind mitigation inspection, you can claim discounts on your homeowners insurance premiums.
What Is Wind Mitigation in Florida?
Before we can talk about wind mitigation inspections in detail, let’s first understand the definition of wind mitigation.
The word mitigation refers to reducing the severity, pain, or seriousness of something. Wind mitigation refers to the safety features of your home that make it more resistant to severe wind from hurricanes and other storms.
These features reduce the potential damage storms may cause to your home by withstanding wind, preventing water intrusion, or protecting against projectile impact.
Let’s look at some examples of wind mitigation features you can apply to your Florida home.
What Are Wind Mitigation Features?
Wind mitigation features can be simple additions to your roof or openings, like doors and windows, or they may be more involved.
Below are some examples of wind mitigation features that can protect your home.
- Roofing materials that meet Florida building codes (FBC)
- Roof decking, which covers the roof’s frame in plywood and meets thickness and nail spacing specifications
- Roof-to-wall connection that uses two metal straps, called double wraps
- A hip roof, which fully covers the top of your home’s outer walls
- Gable end braces for gable walls over three feet tall
- Secondary water resistant (SWR) barrier as a backup to prevent water intrusion under roof decking
- Impact-resistant coverings on glass doors and windows
- Hurricane-proof garage doors
Your house may already have some or all of these features, in which case your inspection would have a glowing review. We’ll talk about inspections next.
What Is a Wind Mitigation Inspection?
Now that you know what wind mitigation entails, you can guess what the inspection would look like.
A wind (or windstorm) mitigation inspection involves a certified inspector checking the ability of your home’s roof and openings to resist strong winds. In other words, they check for the presence of the wind mitigation features we mentioned before.
Someone will have to be at home to give the inspector access to your attic. The inspector will examine the underside of your roof as part of the inspection and may take photos to back up their claims on the wind mitigation report.
What Is a Wind Mitigation Report?
A Florida wind mitigation report outlines the wind mitigation features your home has.
Professionals conducting a wind mitigation inspection in Florida use the Uniform Mitigation Verification Inspection Form to look at the seven areas of concern we list below.
- Building code: What year was your home built?
- Roof covering: What material is your roof covering, and does it meet FBC?
- Roof-deck attachment: How strong is your roof’s attachment to the rafters based on the thickness of the roof sheathing and the spacing of the fasteners?
- Roof-to-wall attachment: How strong are the fasteners that attach your roof to the walls?
- Roof geometry: What shape is your roof?
- Secondary water resistance (SWR): Do you have an SWR barrier?
- Opening protection: Do your glass openings (glazed openings) have impact resistance, and do your entry garage doors (non-glazed openings) have proper sealing?
How Long Does the Inspection Take?
A wind mitigation inspection in Florida typically takes under an hour to perform—about 20 to 45 minutes total.
Who Conducts Wind Mitigation Inspections?
Under Florida law, the following individuals can conduct a wind mitigation inspection if they are licensed:
- A home inspector
- A building code inspector
- A general, building, or residential contractor
- A professional engineer
- A professional architect
- Any other individual or entity recognized by the insurer who has the necessary qualifications
How Much Is a Wind Mitigation Inspection in Florida?
Depending on the size of your house and where you live in Florida, a wind mitigation inspection costs between $75 and $150.
How Long Is a Wind Mitigation Inspection Report Good For?
According to the Uniform Mitigation Verification Inspection Form, a wind mitigation inspection report is valid for five years from the inspection date.
If you have a favorable report, it’ll be your best friend for five years, providing you wind mitigation credits toward your homeowners insurance premium each year.
However, if you make repairs or other material changes within five years after your inspection, you have to get another inspection to receive wind mitigation credits for your premium.
Is a Wind Mitigation Inspection Required in Florida?
No. Some insurance carriers may require you to have other home inspections, but a wind mitigation inspection is optional in Florida.
Still, we highly recommend you have a professional conduct a wind mitigation inspection to ensure you are aware of what your home needs to be secure during a storm. An inspection is especially important if your home is in an HVHZ (or high-velocity hurricane zone), like Broward and Miami-Dade Counties.
And while Florida doesn’t have wind mitigation requirements, the state does require insurance carriers (including OpenHouse Home Insurance) to provide credits if your home has wind mitigation features.
The Benefits of a Wind Mitigation Inspection in Florida
Safety is undoubtedly the most vital benefit of a wind mitigation inspection in Florida, where hurricanes can devastate homes and lives. Hurricane Ian from 2022, for example, caused over $109 billion in damage and over 150 deaths throughout Florida.
Assuming an inspector checks out your roof before a major storm, you can ensure your home has what it needs before irreversible damage occurs.
Savings are another major benefit of a Florida windstorm mitigation inspection. Because Florida law requires insurance carriers to give credits for wind mitigation features, you will receive heavy savings on your premium in the long run.
Wind mitigation inspections in Florida usually pay for themselves many times over. Over the wind mitigation report’s five-year validity period, the inspection saves you several hundred or even thousands of dollars.
The exact amount you save with a wind mitigation inspection in Florida depends on where you live, your homeowners insurance coverage, and the types of wind mitigation features your home has.
What To Do After Getting a Wind Mitigation Inspection in Florida
Once you receive your completed wind mitigation report, the inspector will suggest adding windstorm mitigation features or making any necessary repairs.
It’s up to you whether you take the inspector’s suggestions, but they can only benefit you. Plus, adding wind mitigation features may increase the value of your home.
Call a Florida Wind Mitigation Inspector
Hurricanes, tropical storms, and even severe thunderstorms are scary, especially if your home is unprepared. But there are actions you can take to lower your risk.
Now that you know what wind mitigation is and how you can determine your home’s level of preparedness, it’s time to call an inspector.
Here’s a list of certified wind mitigation inspectors in Florida from the International Association of Certified Home Inspectors.
Above all, getting a wind mitigation inspection in Florida is a smart decision that will give you and your family the peace of mind that your home is resistant to severe winds.