Wind Mitigation Vs. Four-Point Inspection: What’s The Difference?

Hiring a home inspector is often a good idea. It gives you an overview of the structural integrity of your home and helps you learn which repairs are mandatory. However, the general buyer/seller inspection usually isn’t enough - particularly when it comes to insurance.

Each type of inspection is different, more so when you consider its purpose. For instance, the goal of wind mitigation inspection is completely different from the purpose of a four-point inspection.

But do you need both, and ultimately, is the wind mitigation inspection cost worth it?

What Is A Four-point Inspection?

The name suggests that some kind of four points are involved, but it doesn’t have anything to do with scorekeeping. It simply refers to the four areas in your home. 

Since this is a required inspection, most insurance companies won’t issue a policy without it. 

In short, this inspection is used to determine the level of risk of your home (i.e. the older the home, the higher the risk). It will help establish the age, condition, and lifespan of your core home systems.

Even though it’s a simple visual inspection, it helps the insurance company identify problematic or unsafe areas. More importantly, it helps them learn if your property is up to standards and if it’s in good condition.

This inspection became essential after Hurricane Andrew in 1992 when Florida insurance companies encouraged homeowners to improve their homes to reduce insurance claims. Today, for every homeowner who wants to renew their policy or obtain a new one, this inspection is obligatory if their property is older than three decades.

The four-point inspection will survey the following areas of your home:

• Roof 
• Electrical system
• Plumbing
• Air conditioning system

What Is A Wind Mitigation Inspection?

Before delving deeper into the wind mitigation inspection cost, it’s important to first be familiar with what it entails. 

It can help you decrease the overall cost of your homeowner's insurance policy. Since most homes in Florida have at least one construction feature that qualifies them for premium discounts on windstorm insurance, it doesn’t hurt to submit the results of this inspection to your insurance provider to save quite a bit of money.

During this inspection, the inspector will verify the structural features of your home. The better your home can withstand the forces of nature (strong winds such as hurricanes), you will qualify for more discounts.

In more detail, the inspection will consist of the following areas:

• Roof covering: the inspector will determine the age of the roof and if it's up to the standards of state building codes.
• Roof-to-wall attachment: the more resistant your roof is to wind damage, the higher the savings. An inspector will check the way trusses are attached (hurricane clips or nails) and check how sturdy the wraps (single or double) are.
• Roof deck attachment: what type of roof decking does your roof have and what method is used to connect it to the underlying structure? For instance, roof decking can be stapled down or nailed. Inspectors will also check nail length and spacing if your decking is connected with nails.
• Roof geometry: the inspector will check the type of roof. For example, if your roof is hip shaped (looks like a pyramid), you will get a discount as this type is more resistant to wind damage than a gable roof (which resembles a tent).
• Gable roof end bracing: for those with gable-style roofs, the inspector will check if the ends of the gable are braced properly. According to Florida Building code standards, the ends that have a vertical height of over 48 inches need to be reinforced. If this checks out, you qualify for a discount.
• Wall construction: what type and what percentage of construction materials were used for outer fascia, framing, and reinforcement? For instance, a home made from concrete blocks will receive a ‘’better score’’ than one made from a plywood frame and plastic siding.
• Secondary water barrier: newer homes have this feature, but many houses built before 2008 don’t. You’ll need documentation proving you have this installed if you want to receive a discount.
• Opening protections: this part covers any shutters and protection devices that safeguard your windows and doors from any wind-related debris. When it comes to shutters, all openings need to have hurricane protection for you to receive a discount.

The Difference Between The Two Inspections

To quickly recap, these are the differences between a four-point and wind mitigation inspection:

• A wind mitigation inspection only covers the roof area, while a four-point covers more areas of your home
• A four-point inspection takes longer because it covers a larger area
• Four-point inspections are compulsory, while wind mitigation inspections are completely optional
• Wind mitigation inspection cost is typically between $75 and $150, while a four-point inspection is between $175 to $250.

How Big Of A Discount Can You Get From A Wind Mitigation Inspection?

Now that you are familiar with a wind mitigation inspection cost, you’re probably wondering if it’s worth cashing out over a hundred bucks. 

The answer is tricky. The standard varies between insurers and there is no clear consensus about certain wind-resistant features being safer than others. This is why it’s not uncommon to see one insurance company offering a 1% discount for a roof attached with clips, while others will offer upwards of 5%.

While this seems a bit pointless, on average, the wind mitigation inspection cost is worth it and will pay for itself. For instance, you may earn $100 credit a year for five years. 

While this inspection is not mandatory, keep in mind that your insurance company will assume you have no wind-resistant features if you never got your roof inspected. This can be a major problem later on if you ever find yourself in a situation where you need to file a wind damage insurance claim.

Invest In Your Future

Saving money on your insurance premiums is easy when you schedule a wind mitigation inspection. Further to the point, it also makes certain your roof will withstand whatever the treacherous Florida weather throws at it.

Here at Certified Inspectors, you’re getting inspectors with integrity, years of experience, and top-notch customer service. The best thing is, we offer exceptional inspections at reasonable prices. With us, a wind mitigation inspection cost is only $100 - almost too good to be true.

Schedule yours now by calling +1 561-570-6311 or filling out our contact form - we’ll be happy to assist!