Who Can Perform Commercial Wind Mitigation Inspection?

It’s no secret that inspections in general help property owners protect themselves from bad investments and negotiate a favorable price. However, certain types of commercial inspections also prove valuable when it comes to saving quite a bit of money on insurance premiums. 

Such is the case with wind mitigation. Taking proper measures during hurricane seasons is not a mystery to Florida businesses and property owners. In fact, you’re not really a Florida resident unless you ever filled up sandbanks and took measures to protect your windows, at the very least.

Yet, it’s easy to forget about the roof area which takes the brunt of the damage when gusts and gales start blowing. 

Fortunately, wind mitigation inspections will not only save you money on insurance but also help protect your property and minimize any hurricane-related damage.

Keep reading to learn more about the benefits of wind mitigation and who can perform commercial wind mitigation inspections in the first place.

What Is A Windstorm Mitigation Inspection Checklist?

As the name suggests, a wind mitigation inspection is a thorough assessment of key areas of the roof with the goal of determining its ability to resist strong winds, and more importantly, water intrusion. 

Even a relatively mild thunderstorm can be devastating when coupled with heavy winds. As the rain gets pushed against your building, the water can easily find its way into the interior through the smallest of cracks. 

Because of this, the commercial wind mitigation inspection is focused solely on the roof, where the inspector will check the following areas:

• Roof covering 
• Roof deck
• Roof-to-wall attachment
• Roof geometry
• Secondary water resistance
• Opening protection

Generally speaking, newer roofs are frequently built using stronger materials, so by default, they’ll be able to withstand more wind damage. Consequently, this will be reflected in the wind mitigation report. 

Along with the written examination of the wind-resistant features on your roof, the report will contain photographic evidence. The benefits of this are twofold - photos help strengthen the validity of the report, while also eliminating any chance of fraudulent behavior on the part of property owners. 

Which Roof Features Provide You With Wind Mitigation Credits?

Wind mitigation inspections confirm the presence of certain construction features, which in turn grant you an insurance discount.

According to state law, insurance carriers are required to provide you with wind mitigation credits (which translate into discounts) for receiving passing grades on your report. Naturally, the more wind-resistant features your roof has at the moment, the higher your discount rate will be. 

Along with giving discounts for newer roofs, insurers will also place value on roof construction features, such as:

• Upgraded materials
• Longer nails placed closer to each other
• Hipped roofs
• Secondary water resistance
• Hurricane-rated windows, shutters, or doors

In regards to the amount of discounts you can receive, the answer isn’t as straightforward as it may seem. While the resistance features protecting the roof from damage are openly recognized by all insurance companies, there are also different standards for valuing each of them. 

This is mostly because insurance companies use own data when determining the effectiveness of the wind-resistant features. For instance, it’s not uncommon for one company to offer up to 5% premium discounts for clip roof attachments, while another may offer as little as 2%.

Despite this fact, commercial wind mitigation inspections are worth it. Considering they cost around $125 while also resulting in well over $100 of annual credit for five years, your business can save a significant amount of cash in the long run on insurance premiums. 

Should You Let A Contractor Perform A Wind Mitigation Inspection?

Who can perform commercial wind mitigation inspections is a hot debate. Legally, an inspection can only be conducted by a state-licensed commercial building inspector, an architect, or a general contractor.

Regardless, most business owners put their faith in inspectors for their experience, as well as for their ability to perform a variety of inspections. It’s a standard practice to bundle different assessments together so there is a possibility of saving more money in the process. For example, you can schedule a balcony or a fire door inspection on the same day as a wind mitigation inspection to receive a hefty discount. 

So why does it matter who can perform commercial wind mitigation inspections? 

For the simple reason that some people opt to use a general contractor, in spite of their lack of experience in detecting defects and potential for bias. 

First, inspectors perform the inspection on a visual level, yet, they also use more advanced diagnostic tools such as infrared technology. Compare this to a speculative approach many contractors take and it’s apparent that the report they put together will be less accurate than the one written by a professional inspector.

Contractors are also notorious for trying to up-sell their clients, so there is always a risk that the person conducting your inspection is looking for defects for the sake of finding defects. For instance, they may lie about the spacing of the nails to try to get you to sign up for an additional service.

Sign Up Now For A Commercial Wind Mitigation Inspection

The easiest way to save some coin on your premiums is by scheduling a wind mitigation inspection before the hurricane season. It also serves the purpose of discovering areas of potential improvement which will, without a doubt, help you protect your property from hurricane damage for years to come. 

To achieve the best results and get more value for your money, make sure to hire an inspector with an established reputation in your area. If you’re looking for someone in Palm Beach, Broward, Miami-Dade, Treasure Coast, Hernando, Citrus, Sumter & Pasco County, you can’t go wrong with Certified Inspectors.

We have every necessary certification under our belt (including The Certified Master Inspector® certification) and close to three decades of experience helping commercial building owners make the best choices regarding their property. 

Fill out our form to receive a quote and unlock exciting discounts in the process