Florida Wind Mitigation Inspections Explained — How Shutters Save You Money
If you've installed hurricane shutters or impact windows on your Florida home, you're sitting on a significant insurance discount that you might not be collecting. The mechanism is called a wind mitigation inspection, and it's one of the most direct ways Florida homeowners can reduce their property insurance premiums.
What Is a Wind Mitigation Inspection?
A wind mitigation inspection is a standardized assessment of your home's hurricane-resistance features. A licensed inspector (typically a general contractor, home inspector, or engineer) evaluates seven specific areas of your home and fills out the state-mandated OIR-B1-1802 form. Your insurance company uses this form to calculate discounts on your wind premium.
The inspection takes 30–60 minutes and costs $75–$150 in the Davie area. It's one of the best returns on investment available to Florida homeowners.
What the Inspector Looks At
Roof covering: What material is your roof, how old is it, and does it meet current Florida Building Code? Newer roofs (post-2002) with proper installation typically earn discounts.
Roof deck attachment: How is the plywood (or other decking) attached to the roof trusses or rafters? Homes with 8d ring-shank nails at 6-inch spacing or structural adhesive earn higher credits.
Roof-to-wall connection: How are the roof trusses attached to the walls? Clips, single wraps, and double wraps each earn progressively larger discounts. Hurricane straps (metal connectors) are what inspectors want to see.
Roof geometry: Hip roofs (sloped on all four sides) perform better in wind than gable roofs and earn a discount.
Secondary water resistance: Is there a sealed barrier (peel-and-stick membrane, foam adhesive, or similar) between the roof deck and the shingles/tiles? This prevents water intrusion even if the outer layer is damaged.
Opening protection: This is where your shutters and impact windows come in. To earn the full discount, every opening in your home (windows, doors, skylights, garage doors) must have code-compliant protection. Every product must carry either a Miami-Dade NOA or a Florida Product Approval.
Garage door: Often overlooked. Your garage door must be wind-rated or protected by shutters to avoid negating your other credits.
How Much Will You Actually Save?
The discount varies by insurer, policy, and home, but typical Broward County savings break down like this:
On a $3,500/year homeowner's policy where wind accounts for roughly 60% of the premium ($2,100 in wind charges), full opening protection typically earns a 25%–45% credit on the wind portion. That's $525–$945 per year in savings.
Over 10 years: $5,250–$9,450. Over 20 years: $10,500–$18,900. For many Davie homeowners, the insurance savings alone cover the cost of accordion or panel shutters within the first decade.
How to Get Your Inspection
After your shutters or impact windows are installed, schedule a wind mitigation inspection with a licensed inspector. We can recommend inspectors we've worked with in Davie, or you can find one through your insurance agent. Once the report is filed, contact your insurer to apply the credits to your policy.
Don't have shutters yet? Call (954) 715-2452 for a free quote. Every product we install is Miami-Dade NOA approved and qualifies for wind mitigation credits.