What is Wind Loss Mitigation?
Mitigation is the act of making a condition less severe. Therefore wind loss mitigation is the act of preventively minimizing loss that might be caused by wind damage to your home.
History Behind the Credits
After the devastating 2004 Hurricane season many Florida based insurance companies were forced to increase premiums due the substantial losses they occurred. The Florida Legislature saw the rising premiums as a problem for Floridians so they agreed that if homeowners made steps to make their homes more secure from wind loss, they should be rewarded by a reduction in insurance premium.
So How Do I Get the Credits?
In order to get credits you must have a Wind Mitigation report completed by a licensed inspector. Many people believe that their Homeowners carrier is responsible for paying for the report, but that is not the case. That being said, the mitigation report usually pays for itself within the first year, with prices ranging from $70 – $125. These prices are typically reduced if you purchase another report from the inspector, such as a 4-point inspection.
Make Sure You Request the 2012 Form!
Most carriers are now requiring that the Wind Mitigation Report to be on the 2012 form. If you have an older form, you will most likely have to get a new mitigation completed to apply for credits.
I Just Got the Report. Now What Do I Do?
After the report is completed, please have it sent to your agent at Insurance Resources, and we will be happy to get you the premium credits you deserve.
So What Features Can I Get Credits For?
1. Roof age
If your roof was replaced on or after March of 2002, it most likely is eligible for the Florida Building Code of 2001 credit. This code required contractors to use improved construction techniques, thus making roofs sounder.
2. Roof covering
As a homeowner you have many options for your roof covering. These options include: membrane roofing (including asphalt rolled roofing and modified bitumen), shingles, concrete tile, and metal to name a few. Carriers typically don’t offer discounts for the type of roof covering, but they do have different age restrictions for each of the various coverings.
3. Roof geometry or shape
There are 3 typical types of roof shapes in Florida: flat, gable, and hip. Gable roofs have 2 sloping sides with a gable at each end, while hip roofs have all their sides sloping downwards towards the walls. Credits are given for hip roofs because they allow for wind to pass over them more easily than other roof shapes.
4. Roof deck attachment
Credits are given for the length of nails used as well as their spacing on the roof deck. The longer the nail and the closer the spacing, the more credits the carrier will offer.
5. Roof to wall connection
How the roof truss attaches to the wall is a significant measure of your home’s strength. There are different options when securing a roof truss to the wall, including nails, hurricane clips, single wraps, and double wraps. The more expensive methods (clips, straps, and wraps) result in the most savings.
Secondary water resistance
If your home has a secondary barrier to prevent water damage, you may apply for this credit.
Opening protection
To get opening protection credits, all openings of your home must be hurricane rated. This means not just your roof, but also your windows and doors (including your garage door).
One of the costs of living in paradise is that we have to pay higher premiums for wind insurance. However, if you have made steps to make your home more secure, there is a good chance you could be paying too much for your insurance. Please contact our agents with any questions you may have about windstorm mitigation at 727-345-0242 or email Web@InsuranceResourcesLLC.com
