Ensure Your Home is Weather-Ready With the FORTIFIED Home™ Program
What is the Fortified Home™ Program?
FORTIFIED is a Game Changer for insurance costs and the ability to maintain or qualify for preferred insurance coverage! This voluntary construction and re-roofing standard, is designed to strengthen homes against severe weather, such as storms, hail, hurricanes, and high winds.
Homes with FORTIFIED Home™ designations may save up to 60% or more on their wind insurance premiums depending on the Certification Level*
FORTIFIED Home™ Certificates Must Be Renewed Every 5 Years
Homeowners: Do You or Are You...
Have a FORTIFIED Certificate?
- Certificates have an expiration date and must be renewed every 5 years to continue your insurance credits.
- Any structural changes, re-roofing, or additions could void your certification, please contact Disaster Smart for more information
- When updating or remodeling a FORTIFIED Home™, or if you would like to pursue certification during an improvement project, call Disaster Smart for a consultation.
Building a New Home or Thinking about upgrading to a FORTIFIED Home?
- Are you building a new home? —Contact Disaster Smart for more information
- Are you retrofitting or re-roofing? –Get the Disaster Smart Home Review to develop a scope of work for your roofing contractor
- Alabama Residence-Take advantage of the Strengthen Alabama Homes grants to receive $10,000 towards your re-roofing project. Call Disaster Smart for more information on how to register for this program.
- Don’t Goof, Call Disaster Smart before you re-roof
Frequently Asked Questions:
Why Should You get a Fortified Home Roof™ Certification?
In addition to providing peace of mind that your home an withstand a high wind event, having a Fortified Home™ Certification may qualify you for insurance discounts, may increase the value for your home all while keeping the interior of your home dry & habitable immediately following a wind storm event.
How Can Your Home Earn a Fortified Home Roof™ Certification?
Regardless of the year built, if your home was re-roofed between January 1, 2019 and December 31, 2021, you may already qualify!
If You’re Planning to Re-Roof Your Home What Should You Do?
Before you re-roof your home CALL Disaster Smart for a FORTIFIED Home Roof™ Evaluation to create the scope of work specific to your home.
Is a FORTIFIED Home Roof™ More Expensive?
No! For most homes, the only additional costs are the fee for the evaluation service and certification of the home. There are some upgrades that you may want to consider that may further lower your insurance premium.
Does having a Wind Mitigation (WMIT) Inspection work for the FORTIFIED Home™ Program?
While a WMIT inspection may qualify your roof for discounts, a fortified certification documents your roof’s ability to reduce interior damage by as much as 70% in some states.
Thinking About Making Improvements/Upgrades to Your Home?
Don’t Jeopardize Your Home’s Resilience! Listed below are some common home modifications that can that leave your home vulnerable to severe weather or, if you have a FORTIFIED™ certification, requires that you re-certify during construction/modifications.
- Adding an addition:
When adding onto an existing FORTIFIED home, make sure the new section meets all FORTIFIED requirements. Work with your certified FORTIFIED evaluator, DISASTER SMART, to ensure all requirements are met and properly documented. - Replacing or repairing your roof:
When installing a new roof or repairing an existing one, make sure it meets all FORTIFIED requirements. If it doesn’t, it may be missing key upgrades that keep the roof in place and the water out during high wind events. As a certified evaluator, DISASTER SMART will and must document that the materials and installation meet the rigorous FORTIFIED standard. - Mounting rooftop equipment:
Poorly installed roof-mounted equipment can lead to roof leaks and be pulled loose by high winds, damaging the roof deck. Make sure all rooftop equipment is properly connected and flashed. - Installing gutter guards:
Gutter guards that interrupt the locked-down roof edges required by the FORTIFIED standard can allow wind to get beneath this critical section of roofing. Make sure your gutter guards are compatible with the FORTIFIED standard. - Installing solar panels:
Improperly installed roof-mounted solar panels can lead to roof leaks and be pulled loose by high winds, damaging the roof deck. To minimize this risk, FORTIFIED requires a professional engineer to determine how solar panels should be attached to a roof. - Adding a rooftop deck:
Rooftop decks that fail can cause significant damage to the roof and home below. To minimize this risk, FORTIFIED requires they be designed by a professional engineer and adequately braced for the increased wind loads brought on by severe weather. - Replacing or adding windows (Silver and Gold designations only):
In hurricane-prone areas, FORTIFIED Silver and Gold designations require windows be protected from storm debris. This requirement can be met by installing impact-rated windows or a tested hurricane shutter system. When adding or replacing windows, engage your FORTIFIED evaluator, DISASTER SMART, to document that the materials and installation meet the FORTIFIED standard. - Replacing garage doors (Silver and Gold designations only):
FORTIFIED Silver designations require garage doors meet pressure ratings appropriate for the property’s location. When purchasing a new garage door, contact your FORTIFIED evaluator, DISASTER SMART, who can ensure it meets this requirement and collect the documentation needed to maintain your designation. - Replacing exterior doors (Gold designations only):
In hurricane prone areas, FORTIFIED Gold designations require exterior doors meet pressure ratings appropriate for the property’s location. When purchasing a new exterior door, contact your FORTIFIED evaluator, DISASTER SMART, who can ensure it meets this requirement and collect the documentation needed to maintain your designation. - Installing a dog door in any exterior door (Gold designations only):
FORTIFIED Gold designations also require exterior doors meet pressure ratings appropriate for a property’s location. Altering doors after they’ve been purchased, by adding windows or even a dog door, impacts their ability to withstand pressure and can leave your home vulnerable during a storm.
By following these guidelines and contacting us here at 888-964-8776, before your project starts, you can keep your FORTIFIED home safe and secure.
Questions About the FORTIFIED Home™ Program? Visit Our Website: www.disaster-smart.com or Call our office at 888-964-8776 Ext. 2
*Please contact your insurance agent to verify potential savings with the FORTIFIED program.