By Loretta L. Worters, Vice President, Media Relations, Triple-I
Your roof is greater than only a overlaying over your head. It’s the primary line of protection in opposition to nature’s strongest forces.
Throughout Nationwide Roof Consciousness Week (June 1-7), we highlight the vital position roofs play in defending properties, companies, and communities from extreme climate (see infographic) and why constructing stronger, smarter roofs right this moment is important for decreasing injury and insurance coverage claims tomorrow.
Why roof consciousness issues
The roof bears the brunt of wind, rain, hail, fireplace, and flying particles. But, many residence and enterprise house owners overlook its situation till it’s too late. In response to the Insurance coverage Institute for Enterprise & House Security (IBHS), a staggering 70 to 90 p.c of storm-related insurance coverage claims contain roof injury. Whether or not it’s shingle loss from 60 mph winds or water intrusion by uncovered decking, roof failures can flip a storm right into a monetary catastrophe.
FORTIFIED: A greater approach to construct and rebuild
Developed by IBHS after a long time of analysis, the FORTIFIED customary is a voluntary development and re-roofing technique that dramatically improves a constructing’s potential to resist extreme climate. FORTIFIED Roof™ strengthens essentially the most susceptible elements of a roof, corresponding to edges, decking, and fastening methods, by strategies like:
- Utilizing sealed roof decks to forestall water intrusion (can cut back injury by as much as 95 p.c);
- Requiring ring-shank nails to safe roof decking extra successfully; and
- Reinforcing edges with totally adhered starter strips and a wider drip edge.
Many upgrades are inexpensive. A sealed roof deck can price as little as $600, and switching to stronger nails may cost a little below $100 for a typical 2,000-square-foot residence. Roofs constructed to the FORTIFIED customary not solely shield what issues most; it might probably additionally result in vital insurance coverage reductions in states like Alabama, Oklahoma, and Mississippi. These applications are making roof resilience accessible and cost-effective for householders and companies alike.
“It solely takes one storm to show a minor vulnerability into main destruction,” mentioned Roy Wright, IBHS president and CEO. “At IBHS, we’ve spent a long time learning how buildings fail—and the way they survive. That analysis led to the FORTIFIED Roof customary, a confirmed approach to cut back storm injury. It’s inexpensive, accessible, and one of many smartest investments a house owner could make for peace of thoughts and safety.”
Why It Issues to Insurers
Insurers are more and more centered on roof resilience as a result of it reduces the quantity and severity of claims. The FORTIFIED Roof customary is a part of a broader trade shift from “detect and restore” to “predict and forestall.”
Poorly maintained or outdated roofs can lead to denied claims, larger premiums, or non-renewal of insurance policies. Conversely, resilient roofs could qualify for most well-liked protection, decrease deductibles, and higher insurance coverage choices.
“A resilient roof isn’t only a safeguard for a single construction,” mentioned Triple-I CEO Sean Kevelighan. “It’s a wise technique for decreasing threat throughout total communities. As frequency and severity of pure disasters rise, insurers are more and more centered on proactive options just like the FORTIFIED customary. These enhancements assist shield property, reduce pricey disruptions, and guarantee insurance coverage stays obtainable and inexpensive for extra People.”
Roofing in wildfire and hurricane zones
Roofs are additionally susceptible to wildfire embers, particularly in areas the place particles can ignite on the roof floor. For wildfire-prone areas, following IBHS’s Wildfire Ready House customary and native fire-safe roofing suggestions is vital. Likewise, in hurricane zones, sturdy connections between roof parts can stop catastrophic failures when wind forces try and peel roof decks away.
Changing or upgrading a roof is among the most essential investments you can also make to your property. And due to assets just like the Roofing Roadmaps from IBHS, householders and enterprise house owners could make knowledgeable choices about supplies, upkeep, and upgrades that can repay in each resilience and decreased threat.
Study Extra:
Examine Touts Payoffs From Alabama Wind Resilience Program
FEMA Highlights Function of Fashionable Roofs in Stopping Hurricane Harm
2025 Tornadoes Spotlight Convective Storm Losses
Extreme Convective Storm Dangers Reshape U.S. Property Insurance coverage Market
Hail: The “Dying by 1,000 Paper Cuts” Peril
