📘 Part of The Florida Home Inspection Guide

What a wind mitigation inspection is

A wind mitigation inspection documents the wind-resistant features of your home on Florida’s standard OIR-B1-1802 form. It is a focused inventory, not a pass-or-fail test. The inspector records the features that make a home more resistant to hurricane-force wind.

• Roof shape — hip roofs generally resist wind better than gable.
• Roof-deck attachment — nail type and spacing that hold the deck down.
• Roof-to-wall connection — toe-nails, clips, single wraps, or double wraps.
• Roof covering — whether it meets the code in force when installed.
• Opening protection — impact windows, doors, and rated shutters.

Each of those lines on the wind mitigation form maps to how a carrier prices wind risk.

How a wind mitigation inspection can lower a premium

Florida insurers may apply credits for qualifying wind-resistant features, and that is why the OIR-B1-1802 exists. If your home has those features, the wind mitigation inspection puts them on the record so your carrier can apply any credit it offers.

The key word is can. The inspection documents what exists; your insurer decides the credit. The wind portion of a Florida premium is often a large share of the bill, so documenting real features can matter, but anyone promising a guaranteed dollar amount is guessing. An honest wind mitigation inspection reports the features and lets the numbers fall where the carrier sets them.

What a wind mitigation inspection doesn’t do

A wind mitigation inspection does not upgrade your home and does not guarantee savings. It is an honest inventory of features that already exist.

• It will not add clips or straps; it only records what is there.
• It will not promise a credit; the carrier owns that decision.
• It will not fix a gable roof or bare openings; it documents them as-is.

If the features are not there, the form will say so, and that is still useful information when you are weighing improvements like a re-roof or impact windows.

How the roof-to-wall connection is graded

Of everything on the OIR-B1-1802, the roof-to-wall connection often moves the needle most. The inspector looks in the attic to see how the roof framing is tied to the walls.

The ladder, weakest to strongest

• Toe-nails — the minimum, the least wind-resistant.
• Clips — metal connectors that improve the tie.
• Single wraps — straps wrapping over the truss.
• Double wraps — the strongest documented connection.

Why a contractor’s eye helps

Reading connectors correctly in a hot, tight attic takes experience. A licensed roofing contractor knows what a code-compliant connection looks like, which protects you from a mis-graded form.

When to get a wind mitigation inspection

Get a wind mitigation inspection any time you are placing or renewing a policy, or after work that may have added qualifying features. Good moments include:

• After a roof replacement, which often improves deck attachment and covering compliance.
• After adding impact windows, doors, or rated shutters.
• When shopping carriers, including Citizens, and you want your features on record.

It pairs naturally with a 4-point inspection on older homes, and it complements a roof certification. See the full guide for the big picture.

How roof covering and opening protection are documented

Two more lines on the OIR-B1-1802 carry real weight in a wind mitigation inspection: the roof covering and the opening protection. Both describe how well the home keeps wind and water out during a storm.

Roof covering

The inspector records whether the covering meets the building code in force when it was installed, and whether documentation supports it. A newer, code-compliant roof generally documents better than an older one on a wind mitigation inspection.

Opening protection

• Impact-rated windows and doors — the strongest documented protection.
• Rated shutters — protecting openings that are not impact-rated.
• Unprotected openings — recorded as-is, with no credit implied.

For opening protection to count, the whole home generally has to be covered. One unprotected window can change how the line is graded, which is why a careful inspection matters.

Wind mitigation and a re-roof: why timing matters

A re-roof is the single best moment to revisit a wind mitigation inspection, because new work often improves several lines on the form at once. A modern roof can upgrade the deck attachment, the covering compliance, and sometimes the secondary water barrier.

• Get the wind mitigation inspection after the re-roof is complete and permitted.
• Keep the roofing permit and product documentation; it supports the form.
• Ask your roofer to install to the standards that document well, not just the minimum.

If you are also buying, a wind mitigation pairs naturally with a full home inspection, and the home inspection page lays out what is included. The goal is to capture every qualifying feature the new roof actually gives you.

How to prepare for a wind mitigation inspection

A wind mitigation inspection goes smoothly when the inspector can reach the attic and see the connections. To prepare:

• Clear access to the attic hatch, since roof-to-wall connections are graded from inside.
• Gather any roofing permits, product approvals, and prior wind mitigation forms.
• Note any impact windows, doors, or rated shutters and where they are.

The more documentation you can put in front of the inspector, the more complete the wind mitigation inspection will be. Missing paperwork does not create features, but it can be the difference between a feature that counts and one the carrier will not credit without proof.

What a wind mitigation inspection means for a home buyer

If you are buying, a wind mitigation inspection does something a full home inspection cannot: it tells you what the home’s wind features might do to your insurance bill before you close. A buyer who orders a wind mitigation early can get a realistic policy quote while there is still time to weigh it into the deal.

That matters in Florida, where the wind portion of a premium is often a large share of the total. Two similar homes can carry very different insurance costs based on their roof shape, deck attachment, and opening protection. A wind mitigation inspection turns those hidden differences into documented facts, so you are not surprised by the first insurance quote after you are already committed. It is one more way to know the true cost of a home before you sign.

Keeping your wind mitigation documentation organized

A wind mitigation inspection is only as useful as your ability to produce it when a carrier asks. Because the form can be reused within its acceptance window, keeping it organized saves money over time.

• Store the completed OIR-B1-1802 with your other closing and insurance documents.
• Keep the roofing permit and product approvals that support the form.
• Note the inspection date, so you know when it may need refreshing.
• Share a copy with your agent whenever you shop carriers.

When you switch insurers, an organized file lets your new carrier apply any credit without a fresh visit. That small habit keeps the value of a wind mitigation inspection working for you across renewals instead of expiring in a drawer.

Wind Mitigation FAQ: Questions Homeowners Ask

How long is a wind mitigation inspection good for?

In Florida a wind mitigation inspection is generally accepted for up to five years, though your carrier sets the terms. Keep your copy; you can reuse it if you switch insurers within that window.

Is a wind mitigation inspection worth it if my home is older?

Often yes, especially after a re-roof. Even an older home can have qualifying features, and the only way to get credit for them is to document them on the OIR-B1-1802.

What if my home has none of the features?

Then the form says so, and you owe nothing extra in hype. You also learn exactly which upgrades would improve your resistance, which is useful when you plan work.

Can you guarantee how much I’ll save?

No. The wind mitigation inspection documents features; your insurer decides the credit. That honesty is the point.