A wind mitigation inspection documents the hurricane-resistant features built into your Florida home. Insurance companies use this report to determine whether your property qualifies for premium discounts, and those discounts often save homeowners hundreds — sometimes over a thousand — dollars per year. In other words, wind mitigation verification pays for itself after a single premium cycle.
Additionally, Florida law requires insurers to offer discounts for homes that meet specific wind-resistance criteria. The Florida Office of Insurance Regulation mandates these credits under Florida Statute 627.0629, which means your carrier must reduce your premium if your home qualifies. You just need a licensed inspector to document the qualifying features.
What Wind Mitigation Covers
A wind mitigation inspection evaluates seven specific construction features that reduce vulnerability to hurricane damage. Moreover, the inspector records findings on the OIR-B1-1802 form, the standardized Uniform Mitigation Verification document created by the state. Each feature on the form corresponds to a potential discount on your homeowner policy.
Specifically, the inspection answers one question: how well will this home perform when a hurricane arrives? Homes built after 2002 under the updated Florida Building Code typically score well across all seven categories. Homes built before that date may still qualify for partial credits depending on renovations and upgrades.
The Seven Wind Mitigation Features
We evaluate each feature independently. Furthermore, your insurer assigns a discount to each category, so even qualifying in three or four areas can produce meaningful savings.
1. Roof Covering
The roof covering section documents whether your roof meets the Florida Building Code adopted in 2001 or the South Florida Building Code adopted in 1994. Consequently, homes with FBC-compliant roof coverings receive a credit because these materials and installation methods resist wind uplift more effectively than older roofing systems.
We verify the roof permit date and installation method to confirm compliance. In particular, a re-roof permitted after March 1, 2002, automatically qualifies under the current FBC standard.
2. Roof Deck Attachment
The roof deck is the plywood or OSB sheathing that sits on top of the trusses. Furthermore, how that deck attaches to the structure determines how well the roof resists wind uplift. The inspection identifies the fastener type and spacing pattern used during construction.
Specifically, decks secured with 8d ring-shank nails at six-inch spacing along the edges earn the highest credit. Stapled decks or those with wider nail spacing receive lower ratings. We access the attic to visually confirm the attachment method.
3. Roof-to-Wall Connection
This feature measures how the roof structure connects to the exterior walls. As a result, homes with hurricane clips or straps receive significant credits, while homes with simple toenail connections receive none. The difference between a clip and a strap can mean hundreds of dollars in annual savings.
We inspect the connection type in the attic at multiple points along the roof line. In fact, the distinction between a single-wrap strap and a double-wrap strap can shift your discount by an additional tier.
4. Roof Geometry
Hip roofs perform better in high winds than gable roofs because wind flows over them rather than catching a flat surface. Therefore, a home with a hip roof — where all four sides slope upward to meet at a ridge — receives a credit that gable-roof homes do not qualify for.
We measure the roof geometry from the exterior. Specifically, a roof qualifies as a hip roof if no non-hip feature exceeds ten percent of the total roof perimeter.
5. Secondary Water Resistance
Secondary water resistance, often called SWR, is a sealed barrier applied to the roof deck before the shingles or tiles go on. Moreover, this barrier prevents water intrusion if the roof covering blows off during a storm. Homes with SWR receive one of the largest individual discounts available on the wind mitigation form.
Most homes built after 2007 have SWR installed as part of the building code requirement. However, older homes can retrofit SWR during a re-roof to capture this credit.
6. Opening Protection
Opening protection refers to the impact resistance of windows, doors, skylights, and garage doors. Consequently, homes with impact-rated glazing or code-compliant hurricane shutters covering all openings receive a substantial discount. Partial protection — covering some but not all openings — still qualifies for a reduced credit.
We inspect every opening on the home and document the protection type. In particular, the garage door is the largest opening and the most vulnerable point, so many homeowners start there when upgrading.
7. Existing Construction vs. Opening Protection
This final category addresses whether the home qualifies for additional credits based on its overall construction standard. For example, a home built to the FBC Wind Borne Debris Region standard after 2002 with full opening protection receives the maximum available credit in this category.
How Much Wind Mitigation Saves You
The savings from a wind mitigation inspection vary based on the qualifying features and your current premium. However, Florida homeowners routinely save between $500 and $2,500 per year with a favorable wind mitigation report.
In particular, the following features produce the largest individual discounts:
- Secondary water resistance. Most importantly, this single feature can reduce your wind premium by 30 to 50 percent.
- Opening protection. Furthermore, full impact protection saves 20 to 40 percent on the wind portion of your premium.
- Roof-to-wall connections. Similarly, hurricane straps save significantly more than clips, and clips save more than toenails.
- Hip roof geometry. In addition, a qualifying hip roof adds an additional discount on top of the other features.
As a result, a home with SWR, impact windows, hurricane straps, and a hip roof can see wind premium reductions exceeding 50 percent. Most importantly, the inspection cost pays for itself within the first few months of your renewed policy.
Who Needs a Wind Mitigation Inspection
Every Florida homeowner with property insurance should consider this verification. Furthermore, certain situations make the inspection especially valuable.
- First-time home buyers. Specifically, document wind-resistant features before your first premium payment and start saving immediately.
- Homeowners facing premium increases. In particular, a wind mitigation report can offset rising rates by locking in feature-based discounts.
- After a roof replacement. Consequently, a new roof installed under current code qualifies for multiple credits that your old roof did not.
- After installing hurricane shutters or impact windows. Moreover, these upgrades trigger opening protection credits that only apply after a licensed inspector documents them.
- Policy renewal. Additionally, wind mitigation reports are valid for five years. Therefore, if yours has expired, schedule a new inspection before renewal.
Wind Mitigation vs 4-Point Inspection
Homeowners frequently confuse these two inspections. However, they serve different purposes and evaluate different aspects of your home.
| Feature | Wind Mitigation | 4-Point Inspection |
|---|---|---|
| Purpose | Qualify for insurance discounts | Determine insurability |
| What it evaluates | Hurricane-resistant construction features | Roof, electrical, plumbing, HVAC condition |
| Who benefits | Homeowner (lower premiums) | Insurance company (underwriting decision) |
| Required? | No, but saves money | Yes, when carrier requires it |
| Report form | OIR-B1-1802 | Carrier-specific form |
| Validity | 5 years | Varies by carrier |
In short, a 4-point inspection determines whether your carrier will insure you. A wind mitigation inspection determines how much you pay. Most homeowners with older homes need both.
The Inspection Process
Our wind mitigation process takes 30 to 60 minutes and causes no disruption to your daily routine.
Schedule
Call or use our online form to book your appointment. We offer scheduling within 24 to 48 hours and accommodate morning, afternoon, and weekend availability. Similarly, we can combine your wind mitigation with a 4-point inspection on the same visit to save you time.
On-Site Inspection
We examine the roof, attic, windows, doors, and garage door. Specifically, we access the attic to verify roof deck attachment and roof-to-wall connections. We also photograph every feature for the report.
Report Delivery
Your completed OIR-B1-1802 form ships electronically within 24 hours. After that, you forward the report to your insurance agent, who submits it to your carrier for discount application. Most carriers apply the credits at your next renewal.
Why Choose a Licensed Inspector
Florida requires a licensed home inspector, general contractor, architect, or engineer to complete a wind mitigation form. We hold a Florida home inspector license and a public adjuster license, which gives us the technical background to document every qualifying feature accurately.
Moreover, an incomplete or inaccurate wind mitigation report leaves money on the table. We ensure that every eligible credit appears on your form. Additionally, if we identify features that fall just short of qualifying, we advise you on cost-effective upgrades that would capture the missing credits.
Schedule Your Wind Mitigation Inspection
A wind mitigation inspection is the fastest way to lower your Florida homeowner insurance premium. We serve Orlando, Winter Park, Windermere, and all of Orange, Osceola, and Seminole Counties. Contact us today to schedule your inspection and start saving on your next policy renewal.
Related Services
- Full Home Inspection — comprehensive evaluation of all systems.
- 4-Point Inspections — required for insurance renewal.
- Infrared Thermal Imaging — detect hidden moisture and defects.
- Hurricane & Storm Recovery — when storm damage needs a claims advocate.
- Service Areas — Orlando, Winter Park, Windermere.