3 Reasons You Need a FORTIFIED Roof

Here’s why homeowners looking to increase the strength of their home’s roofs should consider a FORTIFIED roof. 

When it comes to protecting your home, the roof is your first line of defense. If it were to get damaged by a storm for example, your home would be much more at risk than if the roof was stronger. That’s why you might want to consider getting a FORTIFIED Roof™ to increase the overall strength of your roof. But what exactly is a FORTIFIED Roof? 

A FORTIFIED Roof is a set standard of roof upgrades defined by the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety (IBHS). These roofs have a lot of requirements to be considered FORTIFIED, the three main ones being: a roof deck that has a tight nailing pattern of ring-shank nails, a sealed roof deck and additional roof edge details. 

If you still aren’t sure about making these upgrades, here are three reasons to consider getting a FORTIFIED roof: 

1 – You’ll have a roof that meets and exceeds building code standards 

Trustworthy contractors should be installing your roof in accordance with your local code, but according to FORTIFIED by IBHS, these standards are actually the bare minimum. They state that “Building codes establish the minimum construction standards required to ensure the safety of those inside a home... However, even in areas where the most up-to-date codes are adopted and enforced, your home can be stronger.” 

When you choose to upgrade your roof to be a FORTIFIED one, you are ensuring that your home will be as strong as possible. These roof upgrades are backed by decades of research and all contractors who install them are trained and certified according to these standards. 

2 - They protect your roofs from storm-related damage 

For homeowners who live in storm-prone areas, a FORTIFIED Roof is one of the best investments you can make. According to Fine Homebuilding, FORTIFIED Roofs are able to combat extreme weather because of their strengthened roof edges, sealed roof deck and increased uplift resistance. Simply put, your roof is far less likely to fly off in the event of a major storm. It also reduces water infiltration by up to 95% during these weather events. 

3 – Possible incentives for upgrading to a FORTIFIED roof 

In some states, you can earn financial incentives by having a FORTIFIED Roof. This is because these roofs are considered to be much more resilient than homes that are built according to standard building codes. Some states allow insurers to provide discounts to homes with a FORTIFIED roofs and other states offer tax credits up to $5,000. It pays to protect your roof! 

Photo credit: Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety