By Loretta L. Worters, Vice President, Media Relations, Triple-I
Your roof is greater than only a masking over your head. It’s the primary line of protection towards nature’s strongest forces.
Throughout Nationwide Roof Consciousness Week (June 1-7), we highlight the essential position roofs play in defending properties, companies, and communities from extreme climate (see infographic) and why constructing stronger, smarter roofs right now is crucial for decreasing injury and insurance coverage claims tomorrow.
Why roof consciousness issues
The roof bears the brunt of wind, rain, hail, hearth, and flying particles. But, many residence and enterprise house owners overlook its situation till it’s too late. In accordance with the Insurance coverage Institute for Enterprise & Residence Security (IBHS), a staggering 70 to 90 % of storm-related insurance coverage claims contain roof injury. Whether or not it’s shingle loss from 60 mph winds or water intrusion via uncovered decking, roof failures can flip a storm right into a monetary catastrophe.
FORTIFIED: A greater solution to construct and rebuild
Developed by IBHS after a long time of analysis, the FORTIFIED commonplace is a voluntary development and re-roofing technique that dramatically improves a constructing’s capability to face up to extreme climate. FORTIFIED Roof™ strengthens probably the most susceptible elements of a roof, reminiscent of edges, decking, and fastening methods, via strategies like:
- Utilizing sealed roof decks to forestall water intrusion (can scale back injury by as much as 95 %);
- Requiring ring-shank nails to safe roof decking extra successfully; and
- Reinforcing edges with absolutely adhered starter strips and a wider drip edge.
Many upgrades are reasonably priced. 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 commonplace not solely shield what issues most; it may additionally result in important insurance coverage reductions in states like Alabama, Oklahoma, and Mississippi. These packages 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 commonplace, a confirmed solution to scale back storm injury. It’s reasonably priced, 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 targeted on roof resilience as a result of it reduces the quantity and severity of claims. The FORTIFIED Roof commonplace 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, greater premiums, or non-renewal of insurance policies. Conversely, resilient roofs could qualify for most popular 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 targeted on proactive options just like the FORTIFIED commonplace. These enhancements assist shield property, reduce pricey disruptions, and guarantee insurance coverage stays accessible and reasonably priced for extra Individuals.”
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 Residence commonplace and native fire-safe roofing suggestions is essential. Likewise, in hurricane zones, robust connections between roof parts can forestall catastrophic failures when wind forces try and peel roof decks away.
Changing or upgrading a roof is likely one of the most essential investments you may make to your property. And because of 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 diminished threat.
Study Extra:
Research 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
