Wind Mitigation Inspections in Florida: How to Save on Insurance

If you own a home in Pensacola, you already know that property insurance rates are painful. But Florida law requires insurance companies to offer substantial discounts to homeowners who take steps to protect their homes from hurricane-force winds. The key to unlocking these discounts is a Wind Mitigation Inspection.

A wind mitigation inspection costs about $100 to $150, but it can save you hundreds or even thousands of dollars on your annual premium. Here is exactly what inspectors look for and how to maximize your savings.

What is a Wind Mitigation Inspection?

A wind mitigation inspection is a specialized evaluation of your home's structural ability to withstand high winds. A licensed inspector (usually a home inspector, general contractor, or architect) examines specific features of your roof and exterior, documenting them on the standard OIR-B1-1802 form.

You submit this form to your insurance company, and they apply discounts based on the protective features your home has.

The 7 Areas Inspectors Evaluate

The inspection focuses almost entirely on your roof and your windows/doors. Here are the seven specific areas the inspector will check:

1. Building Code Compliance

The inspector checks when your roof was installed. Roofs installed after the 2001 Florida Building Code (FBC) went into effect receive a discount because the code mandated stricter wind resistance standards. If your roof was replaced recently, you automatically qualify for this baseline discount.

2. Roof Covering

What is your roof made of? Asphalt shingles, metal, tile, or concrete? The inspector verifies that the roofing material itself is rated for Florida's wind zones and was installed according to code.

3. Roof Deck Attachment

This is how the plywood or OSB decking is attached to the roof trusses. The inspector will go into your attic to look at the nails. Older homes often used staples or 6d nails spaced far apart. Modern code requires 8d ring-shank nails spaced closely together. The stronger the attachment, the higher the discount.

4. Roof-to-Wall Connections

How is your roof attached to the walls of your house? This is critical for preventing the roof from blowing off. The inspector looks for:

• Toenails: Nails driven at an angle (least secure, no discount).
• Clips: Metal brackets that secure the truss to the wall plate.
• Single Wraps: Metal straps that wrap over the top of the truss.
• Double Wraps: Metal straps on both sides of the truss (most secure, highest discount).

5. Roof Geometry (Shape)

The shape of your roof dictates how wind flows over it. A Hip Roof (sloped on all sides like a pyramid) deflects wind efficiently and receives a significant discount. A Gable Roof (with flat, triangular ends) catches wind like a sail and receives no discount for shape.

6. Secondary Water Resistance (SWR)

If your shingles blow off, what stops the rain from pouring in? SWR is a self-adhering polymer layer (peel-and-stick) applied directly to the roof deck, or tape applied over all the plywood seams. Having SWR provides a substantial insurance discount.

7. Opening Protection

The inspector checks your windows, doors, garage doors, and skylights. To get this discount, every single opening must be protected by impact-rated glass or approved hurricane shutters. If even one small bathroom window is unprotected, you lose the entire discount.

Frequently Asked Questions