"Don't Judge a Home By Its Cover"
"Don't Judge a Home By Its Cover"
Based on decades of research by the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety (IBHS) FORTIFIED is a voluntary construction and re-roofing program designed to strengthen homes against specific types of severe weather such as high winds, hail, hurricanes, and even tornados. https://ldi.la.gov
STRONGER EDGES
Roof damage often begins when wind gets underneath the roof edge and begins ripping it away from the home. To help protect this vulnerable area, FORTIFIED requires specific materials and installation methods, including a wider drip edge and a fully adhered starter strip, that when used together create a stronger system.
SEALED ROOF DECK
If wind rips off your roof covering―such as shingles, metal panels or tiles―it exposes the wood beneath and allows water to pass through the gaps and enter your home. FORTIFIED requires roof decks to be sealed to prevent this type of water damage.
BETTER ATTACHMENT
Instead of common smooth nails, FORTIFIED requires ring-shank nails, installed in an enhanced pattern, to help keep the roof deck attached to your home in high winds. In fact, using ring-shank nails nearly doubles the strength of your roof against the forces of winds.
BRACED FOR A STORM
Post-disaster studies show that typical construction often leaves gable-ends, chimneys and attached structures insufficiently anchored. As a result, storms can leave large holes in your house or even cause a portion of your home to collapse. FORTIFIED Silver prevents this by requiring strong anchors and additional bracing to reinforce these areas.
STRONGER GARAGE DOORS
Keeping winds and pressure from entering your home is critical for its survival in a storm. Both can easily come through a failed garage door, and once this happens, it’s common to see blown-out walls and collapsed roofs. FORTIFIED prevents this scenario by requiring garage doors rated to withstand high pressures.
BRACED FOR STORMS
Post-disaster studies show that typical construction often leaves key elements of a home vulnerable to the powerful winds and pressure that come with a storm. FORTIFIED Gold also includes all the next-level protection provided by FORTIFIED Silver. Things like stronger garage doors, anchored carports and porches, and reinforced chimneys and gable-ends will help keep your home intact during severe weather events.
STRENGTH BY DESIGN
In most areas of the country, typical construction relies on gravity—and the weight of your home—to keep it in one piece when high winds threaten. Sadly, storm after storm, we see proof this is not enough. FORTIFIED Gold requires an engineered continuous load path, which is a specific plan that specifies how your roof should be fixed to your walls, and how the walls should be anchored to the foundation. Creating a singular, solid structure is the key to FORTIFIED’s system for maximum protection.
Introducing the Louisiana Fortify Homes Program. It grants up to $10,000 for homeowners to upgrade their roofs to standards set by the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety (IBHS). The program will help Louisiana homeowners strengthen their roofs to better withstand hurricane-force winds. https://ldi.la.gov/