The FBC (Florida Building Code) roof covering credit basically gives a credit to any roof installed after March 1st of 2002. March 1st of 2002 is when the FBC changed and heavily increased the standards which apply to new roof installation and re-roofing projects. If your roof was install previous to this date, you may not be getting the credit applied to your insurance policy. This credit can result in a substantial discount and has even been as high as 86% of the policy premium. This reduction is so significant because in a windstorm insurance policy, the biggest risk and risk of damage to the property will come from damage arising out of loss of the roof covering. If you lose your roof covering during a windstorm or hurricane it exposes your home and all of it’s belongings to the elements and water damage. There are exclusions with certain insurance companies which will give credit for any roof installed after August 31st of 1994. This code change was triggered by the widespread damage that was incurred by hurricane Andrew in 1992. You would have to check with your insurance agent to see if you are currentlygetting this credit applied on your policy premium.With a new roof covering, you will absolutely get this credit and Atlantic Coast Contractors will supply you with all of the necessary information to get this credit applied through a wind mitigation inspection.
In addition to replacing your roof and taking care of any roof problems you may have, a roof replacement can have many added financial benefits that you can take advantage of. When you replace your roof, you will typically qualify for additional credits on your insurance premium. As many insurance premiums are pro-rated into your mortgage payment, this can lower your mortgage liability and also open up your home to new insurance companies that will be willing to cover your home, as it is now a lower risk property, with a new roof covering. Many times a state or government sponsored insurance company may have to take on a higher risk insurance policy and in turn have higher premiums. They are essentially the last resort for insurance, when no private insurance companies are willing to cover the property. When you are able to shop for insurance policies through private companies, it can result in significant savings.
It is always best to contact your insurance agent when considering this type of work. They will be able to tell you what the credit could mean for your policy and how much of a discount can be applied to the policy. They can also tell you whether or not it is worth pursuing in your specific case. If you would like more information on this matter, please do not hesitate to contact us and speak with Steven Hardy. He has in depth knowledge on the insurance requirements and would be happy to come up with a solution to your insurance credit retrofitting work! Read below for information on what insurance credits may be applied to your current policy when you complete a roof replacement.
The RTD (roof to deck) nailing credit applies to how your roof deck is nailed to your truss system. Many roof coverings may be strong, but the nailing that attaches the roof deck to the roof trusses may be very weak. This increases the risk that the insurance carrier must assume when pricing out your policy premium. The current mitigation code calls for 8d 2-1/2″ ringshank nails to be spaced 6″ on the edge and 6″ in the field of the plywood connections. If you have a tongue and groove roof deck the standards are different. For a tongue and groove deck which the boards are less than 6″ wide only 1 nail per board is required. For tongue and groove roof decks in which the boards are greater than 6″ wide the code then calls for 2 nails per board to attach the roof deck to the roof truss system. Atlantic Coast Contractors has extensive knowledge of these codes. We will always nail you roof deck to your truss system exceeding the building and insurance requirements to ensure there are no issues later down the line for you and to also ensure that your home, family, and belongings are as safe as possible during a windstorm or a hurricane.
The roof to wall connections credit applies to the connection between your truss system and the tie-beam that makes up the top of your wall connection. The insurance standards requires 3 total nails to apply for a credit on the policy. If your strap does not wrap over the trusses but has 3 total nails attaching the trusses, it would qualify for a clip credit which is a lower rating than a strap credit. To qualify for a strap credit on the policy you must have a strap that wraps completely over the trusses with 2 anchor side nails and at least 1 opposing side nail. However, if you have a strap that does wrap over the entire truss and only has 1 anchor side nail and 2 opposing side nails, you will not qualify for a strap credit on the policy and will only qualify for a clip credit. Retrofitting these roof to wall connections can be done during a roof replacement, but must be done by a licensed general or building contractor. The retrofitting of the roof to wall connections could be as simple as removing the plywood over these connections and adding nails to the existing straps. It could also be fairly in depth where the plywood must be removed over these connections and and a strap added to the tie-beam and nailed per code. Either way Atlantic Coast Contractors can take care of all of your strap and insurance needs in house without hiring a separate contractor!
The roof to wall connection typically is not addressed during a roof replacement unless specifically requested. Many roofing companies cannot legally do this work as they are not a licensed general or building contractor. Should you decide to strengthen your roof to wall connections, you would then need to hire a separate contractor to coordinate with the roofing contractor to do this work during the tear off. It can be much harder than it sounds when taking into account poor weather during the tear off and scheduling 2 different companies. However, Atlantic Coast Contractors has you covered! Atlantic Coast Contractors is a licensed building contractor and is qualified to perform this work! We have retrofitted many roof to wall connections and have in depth knowledge and experience on this matter.