Wind Mitigation Information

Quick facts about Wind Mitigation Inspections:
The property types listed below may qualify for windstorm insurance discounts.

• Condos
• Townhouses
• Single Family Homes
• Multi-Family Buildings
• Commercial Buildings

Features that reduce damage during high wind events such as tropical storms and hurricanes include:

• Improved Roof Shingles
• Strong Roof Decks
• Hurricane Clips/Straps
• Impact Resistant Glazing on Windows
• Shutter Protection for Windows
• Roof Shape
• Other Construction Techniques

According to Florida Statute 626.0629, insurance companies are required to offer Florida homeowners "discounts, credits, or other rate differentials..." for construction techniques that reduce damage and loss in windstorms. These discounts became effective in 2003. Condoinspectors.com offers this valuable service to property owners in Florida to help you save money on your windstorm insurance. We also want to make sure that you know the strengths and weaknesses of your properties wind resistive features and how to best protect your investment.

Wind Mitigation Discounts

Wind Mitigation discounts are applied towards the windstorm portion of your total insurance premium. Depending on where you are located in Florida, the windstorm portion is between 15% and 70% of the total premium. Premium determination is very complex and actual dollar discounts are not calculated here. For exact quotes, you must contact your insurance agent or the individual insurance company in question. The three main factors for wind mitigation discounts include:

1. The number of wind resistive construction features present on your condo or home - The more wind resistive features you have, the higher the total discount will be for your property. The discounts can be as high as 30% or more of the wind portion of the insurance premium.
2. The location of your condo or home - Discounted wind insurance rates are adjusted according to where your property is located within the state. If your wind insurance rates are high, then the percentage discounts will be greater for a condo or house in a high rate area versus the same condo or house in a lower rate area.
3. The value of your condo or home - High value condos or homes have higher premiums. Therefore, the value of the discounts will increase with the value of the condo or home.

Will You Qualify For Wind Mitigation Discounts?

Wind mitigation discounts are justified because stronger, more wind-resistive houses have lower windstorm losses. Lower windstorm losses equal reduced costs to insurance companies that are then passed on to the consumer. Many homeowners have taken advantage of the insurance discount incentive and strengthened their existing condo or home using the strongest options in the Florida Building Code. The discounted insurance rates in Florida apply to both existing construction (condos and homes built prior to 2002) and new construction built to the new statewide Florida Building Code (FBC). The following items are building features that reduce wind damage.

• Roof coverings such as shingles that meet the FBC Requirements
• Roof decks that have been installed with large nails and close spacing
• Hurricane clips/straps that hold the roof structure to the walls
• Protection of Openings such as windows and glass doors with impact resistant glazing or other protection systems
• Secondary Water Resistance that prevents the roof from leaking if the roof covering is blown off in a windstorm
• Newly Constructed condos and homes built to the Florida