What is a Fortified Roof?
As I’m sure you’ve heard by now, the most popular topic of discussion when it comes to roofing, is Fortified. Whether you’re talking to real estate agents, insurance agents, roofing contractors or other homeowners in the know, everyone is talking about Fortified. So, what exactly is Fortified? FORTIFIED is a specific set of construction standards created by the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety (IBHS). When we talk about FORTIFIED roofs or simply FORTIFIED, it means that your roof has been strengthened and made resilient using the recommendations given by the IBHS, which are aimed at making sure homes can withstand extreme weather conditions. In order to achieve a Fortified Roof designation, specific building materials and installation practices must be used. These include things like higher wind rated materials, a higher fastener count and placement pattern, along with job specific documentation of the materials and install practices. These are then presented to an evaluator who will submit the application for approval to the IBH.
These beyond code measures may seem a bit excessive but focusing on 3 key vulnerable areas of your roof cover system; roof deck-to-house connections, roof edges, and gaps in the roof deck will provide your home with the best chance of standing up to mother nature.
What’s the difference between a Fortified and Conventional Roof?
It’s crucial to realize that all roofs aren’t made equal. Your chosen roofing system directly influences your property’s resilience against severe weather conditions and its overall longevity. In this section, we’ll discuss the differences between conventional and FORTIFIED Roofs.
In a traditional roofing system, three components are paramount: the roofing material or shingles, underlayment, and sheathing. The roof’s outermost layer consists of a roofing material that shields against rain and sun. Below that is an underlayment that offers an added defense against water penetrations. Lastly, the sheathing, or roof deck, provides structural integrity to these layers. However, while providing respectable protection under normal weather scenarios, standard roofs can succumb to extreme environmental pressures such as torrential rains or hurricane-inducing winds due to lesser bonding strength among their components. In contrast, a FORTIFIED roof takes durability one step further. With design principles backed by carefully conducted scientific research by reputable institutes like the IBHS, they raise the roof performance significantly. Even their name, “FORTIFIED,” is true to their mission — protecting homes against Mother Nature’s wrath.
Benefits of a Fortified Roof?
To recap, there are many benefits to choosing a Fortified Roof during your next roof replacement. Some of those benefits include:
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- Increased protection from extreme weather events
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- Improved durability
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- Lower long term costs
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- Increased home value
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- Improved energy efficiency
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- Maintaining Insurance compliance
While many of the attractive benefits highlighted above speak towards the long-term return on your investment, a Fortified roof may also qualify homeowners to receive financial incentives in the present. Many of the insurance providers that operate in Louisiana have indicated they are providing discounts on homeowners insurance to policyholders who invest in Fortified roofing.
H2H Roofing is Certified in FORTIFIED…..
Here at H2H Roofing, we are committed to helping our community by providing them with many options for their roofing needs. We have taken the required courses and passed the examinations required to be able to install a roof to the Fortified Standard. Our team would be happy to walk you through the entire process of your roof replacement and educate as needed to ensure that you’re able to make the most informed decision for your home. Please reach out to us today to schedule a complimentary inspection or consultation.
~ H2H Team
Happy Mardi Gras from our family to yours!