If you own a home in Florida and haven’t had a wind mitigation inspection, you’re likely overpaying for your homeowners insurance. A wind mitigation inspection is a quick, affordable assessment of your home’s hurricane-resistant features that can unlock premium discounts of 30% or more — and Florida law requires carriers to offer these credits.
What Is a Wind Mitigation Inspection?
A wind mitigation inspection evaluates specific construction features that help your home withstand hurricane-force winds. A licensed inspector examines seven key areas and documents the findings on a standardized form (OIR-B1-1802) that your insurance carrier uses to calculate your wind mitigation credits.
The Seven Features That Drive Your Credits
1. Building code: When was your home built, and which edition of the Florida Building Code was it built under? Homes built after 2002 under the FBC receive the best credits.
2. Roof covering: What type of roofing material is on your home, and does it comply with current FBC requirements? FBC-compliant roof coverings earn credits.
3. Roof deck attachment: How is the plywood or OSB attached to the roof trusses? Closer nail spacing (8d nails at 6 inches on center) provides better wind resistance and better credits.
4. Roof-to-wall connection: How is the roof structure attached to the walls? Clips are good; single wraps are better; double wraps are best. This is often the biggest single credit on the form.
5. Roof geometry: Hip roofs (sloped on all four sides) perform better in high winds than gable roofs (vertical ends). A hip roof earns a credit.
6. Secondary water resistance (SWR): Is there a barrier (like peel-and-stick underlayment) between the roof deck and the roof covering that prevents water intrusion if shingles or tiles blow off? SWR is one of the most valuable credits available.
7. Opening protection: Are all exterior openings (windows, doors, garage doors, skylights) protected by hurricane shutters, impact-rated glass, or other approved systems? Full opening protection earns a significant credit.
How Much Can You Save?
The exact savings depend on your specific home, location, and carrier, but a home with favorable features in all seven categories can see premium reductions of 30-50% compared to a home with no wind mitigation credits. Even a single strong credit — like a hip roof or single wraps — can reduce your premium meaningfully.
How to Get a Wind Mitigation Inspection
Wind mitigation inspections are performed by licensed home inspectors, general contractors, architects, or engineers. The inspection typically takes 30-60 minutes and costs between $75 and $150 — an investment that pays for itself many times over in annual premium savings.
Once you have the completed OIR-B1-1802 form, send it to your insurance agent. If you’re a Nymble client, we’ll apply the credits to your current policy and re-shop your coverage to capture the maximum savings. If you’re not yet a client, get a quote and upload your wind mitigation form — we’ll show you exactly how much you can save.