The Essential Wind Mitigation Inspection Checklist

When the winds outside are howling, you want to feel safe in your home and confident that it will protect you from even the most severe storms. Taking time to thoroughly check your home’s resistance to wind can help keep insurance costs down and can protect your house and family from wind-related hazards. Use this wind mitigation inspection checklist to see everything your home inspector will cover during their visit.

What Is a Wind Mitigation Inspection?

A wind mitigation inspection is a type of home inspection that scores your home on its durability against strong winds. It looks primarily at the exterior of the home that will see added pressure from wind, including a look at the home’s structural integrity, the strength of doors and windows, the condition and resilience of the roof and siding, and more.

Do I Need a Wind Mitigation Inspection?

Strictly speaking, wind mitigation inspections are never required. However, there are a lot of reasons to get one, and wind mitigation inspections are often worth it, even if you pay for one in addition to paying for the cost of a standard home inspection. For homes in areas that are prone to windstorms, tornadoes, and hurricanes, a wind inspection is all but essential to ensure your home will stand strong once the severe weather hits.

This type of inspection doesn’t just save you stress—it can also save you money. Insurance companies often charge lower premiums on homes with high wind mitigation scores, especially if you live in an area that gets strong winds. How much you’ll save on insurance depends on many factors, but you’re often looking at hundreds of dollars over the coming years of premiums.

Having the report from a recent wind mitigation inspection can also raise the value of your home, putting potential buyers at ease and possibly helping you make a quicker sale. When you consider the savings and peace of mind they bring, you’ll likely find the wind mitigation inspection cost to be well worth it.

Roof Inspection Checklist

Your roof is your home’s main protection against all elements, particularly wind. For this reason, the roof is one of the biggest parts of any wind mitigation inspection. You can expect your local home inspector to check several aspects of your roof.

Roof Condition

The roof material itself, whether shingles or another kind of covering, is the first line of defense against strong winds. Your inspector will check for the following:

• Missing, loose, or damaged parts of the roof

• Age of the roof

• Overall condition and remaining lifespan

• The attachment method used on the roof

• Code compliance

• Wind-resistance rating of the roofing

• Proper installation to stand up to wind forces

Attachment of Roof Deck to Roof Structure

Your inspector should check the type of roof deck that your builder used (usually plywood sheeting). They’ll examine how the professional attached it to the internal roof structure to determine its wind durability, as well as look for signs of water damage on the underside to locate potential areas where the roof may already be damaged. They may advise that you hire a roof repair contractor near you to fix any related issues.

Roof-Wall Connections

Wind mitigation inspectors will also check the connections between trusses and rafters to the rest of the structure, determining whether strong winds could disconnect the roof from the home. This is more of a structural inspection that your inspector will complete from inside the home.

Roof Shape 

Certain roof shapes and designs are better suited to strong winds. For instance, a roof with short or no overhangs won’t catch upward drafts and put pressure on your structure, and a roof pitch of 30 degrees is proven to be best protected against high winds. A home inspector will check the contours, height, and pitch of the roof against local wind patterns.

Secondary Water Resistance Barrier (SWR)

Your inspector will check for a secondary water resistance barrier (SWR). This is a type of membrane that lies underneath the primary roof of your home. In the event that your roof is blown off or severely damaged, this barrier will prevent the bulk of rainwater from getting into the interior of the home. Since this is covered by the roofing material itself, inspectors will usually just look to see if it’s present rather than assessing the condition.

Roof Reinforcements

Your inspector should have a look at any roof reinforcements that your roofing company may have installed, such as hurricane straps or bracing, and check their condition and installation.

Window and Door Inspection Checklist

Strong winds can damage windows and doors or even send objects flying into them, so impact-resistant windows and glass doors—or standalone hurricane windows— are common in homes that see extreme wind events. There are a few things a wind mitigation inspection should look for in regard to doors and windows.

Impact-Resistant Features

Your inspector will check windows and glass doors for specialized features, including the following:

• Impact-resistant glazing

• Closing storm shutters

• Steel doors

• Reinforced window and door attachments

• Hurricane windows installed over primary windows

The good news is that upgrading windows and doors to boost wind resistance can also improve your home’s energy efficiency. An energy audit might even be worth it at the same time to identify areas prone to wind or energy losses.

Skylights

As with other kinds of windows, your inspector should check any skylights in the home for reinforced glass to ensure objects carried by strong winds (sometimes referred to as missiles) can’t pass through them.

Garage Door Braces

Because of their large surface area, inspectors should check garage doors in high-wind areas for strength and durability. Your inspector will analyze the door, its braces, and how it’s attached to the door jamb for wind resistance.

Wall Inspection Checklist

The walls that surround your home and the reinforcements beneath them are also part of a wind mitigation inspection. The quality and condition of your walls can make a big difference when it comes to mitigating damage from high winds. There are a few main things an inspector will check with your walls.

Wall Construction

The framing method and material of your exterior walls will make a big difference in your home’s wind mitigation inspection score. Your inspector will likely need attic and/or basement access to complete this part of the inspection.

Your inspector may also look for two-story exterior walls that may see too much lateral force from intense winds. In areas prone to tropical storms, hurricanes, and tornadoes, building code may call for breaks in the exterior walls to distribute loads across different surfaces.

Wall Reinforcements

Your inspector should also check for any concrete or steel reinforcements that are supporting your walls against high winds. As with checking construction, inspectors will need access to your attic and/or basement to check for wall reinforcements, in most cases.

Wall Condition

The inspector will also need to examine and photograph all exterior walls of your home from both the inside and outside. This helps them determine the overall state of the walls as related to wind protection.

Who to Hire for a Wind Mitigation Inspection

In many cases, you can hire a local home inspector to complete a wind mitigation inspection, but it’s a good idea to make sure they have some experience specifically with wind mitigation inspections. Many professionals in areas prone to severe winds will have specialized training related to or experience with wind mitigation inspections.

If you’re conducting a wind mitigation inspection to get a discount on your homeowners insurance, check with your provider first to see if they have any special requirements related to the professional you hire for the inspection.