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What Is a Wind Mitigation Inspection?
A wind mitigation inspection looks at seven key areas of your home to determine its ability to withstand strong winds and water intrusion. During a storm (yes, even a typical summer thunderstorm), heavy winds can push rain against your home, where, being water, it will find its way into any crack or crevice. Your roof is the first line of defense against wind, which is why wind mitigation inspections focus on your roof.
The inspection report will examine seven areas:
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Construction Year: the year your home was built, which tells the home inspector how strict the building codes were;
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Roof Covering: the type of roof covering (shingle, tile, etc.) and age of the roof;
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Roof Decking: the material your decking (i.e. the material your shingles are nailed to) is made of, the type of nails securing the shingles, and how far apart the nails are;
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Roof To Wall Attachment: the method used to attach the roof to your walls;
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Roof Shape: the shape and slope of your roof;
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Secondary Water Resistance: the type of material between the shingles and roof decking;
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Opening Protections: whether you have additional protections on openings such as sunroofs, garage doors, windows, etc.
The newer, stronger, and better constructed your roof is, the more protection it can provide against wind damage.
Who Can Perform a Wind Mitigation Inspection?
Legally, wind mitigation inspections can only be performed by a licensed general contractor, building contractor, architect, engineer, building inspector, or home inspector.
Certified home inspectors are typically used for most wind mitigation inspections. If you are purchasing a home, a professional home inspector can do both the wind mitigation, four-point, and/or buyer’s inspections at the same time. Many even offer a discount for performing multiple inspections at once.
What to Expect From Your Wind Mitigation Inspection?
A wind mitigation inspection is a visual examination of the home related to how well the home may hold up during a wind storm.
Unlike a typical home inspection, a wind mit inspection focuses on your roof. For this reason, someone will need to be present to allow the inspector to access the attic and view the underside of your roof.