FORTIFIED Realizes Different Homes have Different Needs

When you ask for FORTIFIED, you’re asking for a collection of construction upgrades that work together to protect your home from severe weather. Each FORTIFIED solution includes enhancements specifically designed to give your home the level of protection you want from the weather your home faces. 

Typical Construction Leaves Your Home Vulnerable

Danny Lipford, host of Today’s Homeowners, explains the benefits of FORTIFIED and why he chose to follow the standard when building his own house.

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When severe weather strikes, FORTIFIED Roof keeps the roof on and the rain out. Stronger connections to hold the roof to the house. 

 

FORTIFIED Silver includes all the protection of FORTIFIED Roof and adds additional protection to vulnerable and often overlooked components. 

For ultimate protection choose FORTIFIED Gold.  It includes all the protection of FORTIFIED Roof and Silver and requires that your home’s entire structure to be tied together.

Whether you’re re-roofing your existing home or building a new one, there’s a FORTIFIED solution that can help you make your home stronger and better prepared to protect you from the severe weather you face.  

The National Standard for Resilience

Enhanced Roof Deck Attachment

When severe weather hits, keeping your roof deck attached to your home is key to blocking storm pressure and rain from entering your home. IBHS testing shows that switching from common smooth nails to 8D ring-shank nails and decreasing the space between nails, can double the uplift your roof can withstand.

Sealed Roof Deck

If wind rips off your roof covering (like shingles, metal panels or tiles), it exposes the wood beneath and allows water to pass through the gaps and enter your home. IBHS testing shows that for every inch of rain to hit an exposed roof deck, the equivalent of nine bathtubs of water can pour in and cause significant interior damage. By sealing the seams of your roof deck, you can reduce that water-intrusion by up to 95%!

Locked Down Roof Edges

Roof damage often begins when wind gets underneath the roof edge and begins ripping it away from the home. To help protect this vulnerable area, FORTIFIED requires specific materials and installation methods, including a wider drip edge and a fully adhered starter strip, that when used together create a stronger edge system.

Impact-resistant Shingles Rated by IBHS**

In hail-prone areas, FORTIFIED requires shingles tested by IBHS to show they can withstand hail up to 2 inches in diameter. These shingles outperform typical Class 4 shingles when tested against realistic hailstones and will better protect your home.

Wind and Rain-Resistant Attic Vents

During severe-weather events, high winds can pull typical attic vents loose, giving the storm a pathway into your home. Even when it doesn’t pull vents loose, wind can drive rain almost sideways, allowing it to enter your home through vents that are not designed to prevent it. To keep this from happening, FORTIFIED requires attic vents that are wind and rain resistant.

Impact Protection for Windows & Doors*

When rain and storm pressures penetrate a home, damage quickly escalates. That why it is so important to defend openings like doors and windows. FORTIFIED requires window and door protection that is tested to withstand both pressure and impact.

Impact* & Pressure-Rated Garage Doors

Keeping winds and pressure from entering your home is critical for its survival in a storm. Both can easily come through a failed garage door, and once this happens, it’s common to see blown-out walls and collapsed roofs. FORTIFIED prevents this scenario by requiring garage doors rated to withstand high pressures, and in hurricane-prone areas, garage doors with windows to be rated to withstand impact from windborne debris.

Chimney Bracing

High winds can tear chimney framing off the roof of the home, leaving a hole in the roof and allowing rain to easily enter, which typically leads to significant interior damage. FORTIFIED requires chimneys to be anchored to the home to help spread the load and prevent tear-offs.

Reinforced Soffits*

IBHS testing shows that when wind drives rain almost sideways, it can actually be blown up under your roof overhangs. Your soffits should prevent that water from sneaking into your attic, but in typically-built homes, soffits are often hung with inadequate support. This allows them to be easily blown and gives wind-driven rain easy access to your home. FORTIFIED requires extra bracing and some additional fasteners to keep the soffit in place.

Anchored Attached Structures

High winds can flow under the roof of a carport or porch, and if the structure is not properly anchored, it can not only lift up like a kite―it can take part of your house with it. FORTIFIED requires strong anchors and proper connections to prevent this type of damage.

Gable End Bracing

Post-disaster studies show that unbraced gable ends are a critical weak link for homes attacked by high winds. By requiring additional bracing, FORTIFIED stops wind from collapsing this section of a home.

Pressure-rated Windows & Doors*

When severe weather strikes, keeping the storm pressure out is absolutely imperative. One of the easiest ways for it to barge into your home is through doors and windows. Once inside, storm pressure pushes outward on your walls and roof and can cause catastrophic damage to the structure of your home. Fortunately, you can defend against this by using windows and doors that are properly rated for the weather you face.

Stronger Exterior Sheathing*

No matter what direction the wind is coming from, your walls will take the brunt of it. If they fail, wind and rain will ravage your home. This is why FORTIFIED requires thicker, impact resistant structural sheathing that can resist flying debris.

Engineered Roof-to-Wall Connections

Storm after storm, we see homes completely leveled. FORTIFIED reduces the risk of this happening to your home by requiring a continuous load path, which means your roof-to-wall, story-to-story, and wall-to-foundation connections are engineered to withstand the wind and pressure your home is likely to face in a severe storm. Creating a singular, solid structure is the key to keeping the roof on and the home in place when high winds or hurricanes threaten.

Engineered Story-to-Story Connections

Storm after storm, we see homes completely leveled. FORTIFIED reduces the risk of this happening to your home by requiring a continuous load path, which means your roof-to-wall, story-to-story, and wall-to-foundation connections are engineered to withstand the wind and pressure your home is likely to face in a severe storm. Creating a singular, solid structure is the key to keeping the roof on and the home in place when high winds or hurricanes threaten.

Engineered Wall-to-Foundation Connections

Storm after storm, we see homes completely leveled. FORTIFIED reduces the risk of this happening to your home by requiring a continuous load path, which means your roof-to-wall, story-to-story, and wall-to-foundation connections are engineered to withstand the wind and pressure your home is likely to face in a severe storm. Creating a singular, solid structure is the key to keeping the roof on and the home in place when high winds or hurricanes threaten.
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* Required in Hurricane Prone Areas Only
** Required for the optional Hail Supplement to a FORTIFIED designation.
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Not sure which FORTIFIED solution is right for you?

Take the short self-assessment quiz to start down the most appropriate path or contact a local FORTIFIED service provider who can help you take the first step towards a stronger home.

First, tell us a little about the condition of your roof.



My roof...

We’re sorry to hear that you’ve had to experience the damage and disruption caused by severe weather.

You're not alone!

In 2020, there were 30 named tropical systems, more than 1000 confirmed tornadoes, and a derecho that became the costliest thunderstorm in US history. Collectively, these severe weather events caused approximately $100 billion in damage, and IBHS post-storm studies generally show that between 70% and 90% of related insurance claims include damage to the roof. But don’t worry, you’ve come to the right place. We can connect you to a FORTIFIED professional who will help you get a new roof that can stand up to the next storm. But, first we need just a little more information.

But don’t worry, you’re in the right place. We can put you in touch with a FORTIFIED building professional near you. But first, we need a little more information. Start Over

To connect you, we'll need to know where your home is located. Please enter your Zip Code below.

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Not only can we connect you to FORTIFIED Service Providers who work in your area, we may be able to point out incentives available in your state that can help save you money.

Enter your email, and we’ll send your personalized “Get FORTIFIED” packet, including a list of FORTIFIED-trained roofers and evaluators in your area.

“Get FORTIFIED” packet includes:

  • Directory of Professionals in your area
  • Financial incentives available in your state
  • Storm Recovery Checklist
  • Seven Questions You Should Absolutely Ask Your Roofer
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That’s great to hear!

Did you know that even if your roof cover (shingles, metal or tiles) is in good condition, there are steps you can take to get the next level protection FORTIFIED provides? If you live in North Carolina or Alabama, there are even programs that can help pay for the upgrade.

Lucky You! is a leader in resilient construction and you may be able to take advantage of some of the following:
Offers significant incentives!

  • Mitigation Grants - Funds may be available to help you make your home more resilient.
  • FORTIFIED Endorsements - Your insurer may offer add-on coverage which will pay to upgrade your roof to the FORTIFIED standard, if it is being replaced due to a covered loss.
  • Insurance Discounts - Insurers in your area offer discounts on homeowners insurance premiums for homes with a FORTIFIED designation.

Also, since your roof is in good shape, you might prefer to address other vulnerable areas of your home. Enter your email, and we’ll send your personalized “Get FORTIFIED” packet.

Your “Get FORTIFIED” packet will include:

  • Financial incentives available in your state
  • A sample of insurance discounts offered in your area
  • The Next Line of Defense: 5 Parts of Your Home to Reinforce Before the Next Storm
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Although North Carolina and Alabama lead the way in FORTIFIED and resiliency incentives, you may still have some available to you.

For example, your insurer may offer a discounts for FORTIFIED designations or for some of the key elements included in the standard (e.g. window protection, impact-resistant shingles, or hurricane straps).

Also, since your roof is in good shape, you might prefer to address other vulnerable areas of your home.

Enter your email and zip code, and we’ll send your personalized “Get FORTIFIED” packet.

Your “Get FORTIFIED” packet will include:

  • Financial incentives available in your state
  • A sample of insurance discounts offered in your area
  • The Next Line of Defense: 5 Parts of Your Home to Reinforce Before the Next Storm
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Did you know that roofs may need to be replaced every 15 – 20 years, and depending on what type of weather conditions it’s faced, that number could be even lower?

The urgency of roof replacement depends on the condition of your roof. Let’s see how your roof is showing its age.
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You’re in the right place. We want to help you determine if now might be the time to replace your roof.

When you look at your roof, do you see any of these conditions:

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Looks like it may be time to replace your roof.

Depending on where your home is located, it may be better to replace it sooner rather than later. As your home’s first line of defense, your roofing system prevents water from entering your home and causing a cascade of damage.

Enter your email and zip code, and we will connect you to a FORTIFIED professional in your area who can inspect your roof and help you determine if it does need to be replaced.

We’ll also send you important information on how to get started on your roof replacement and some preventative measures you can take to protect your home until them.

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Thank you using this self-assessment tool.

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* Please be sure to check your spam/junk email filter.

Stay In The Know

Do you want to keep up with the latest resiliency research? Would you like timely tips and reminders to keep your home safe from Mother Nature? Are you interested in the science behind the FORTIFIED standard? Then, sign up for customized emails to learn more.

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