A wind mitigation inspection records whether a building has specific construction features that resist wind, so an insurer can rate it on what is actually there. It is a documentation exercise rather than a condition survey: the inspector is not judging whether the roof is in good order but establishing, with evidence, how the covering is fixed, how the roof is tied to the walls, what shape it is and how the openings are protected.
That distinction matters because owners often book one expecting an assessment of their roof and receive a form instead. If you want to know the state of the roof, that is a different inspection. If you want a carrier to reduce the wind portion of your premium, this is the document it asks for.
What is recorded, and what counts as proof
| Feature | What is being established | Evidence an inspector needs |
|---|---|---|
| Roof covering | Type, and whether it carries a current product approval | Product approval number, permit record, or direct observation |
| Deck attachment | Fastener type and spacing holding the deck to the structure | Attic observation and photographs of the fasteners |
| Roof to wall connection | Toe nails, clips or straps between structure and top plate | Attic photographs of the connection itself |
| Roof shape | How much of the roof is hip rather than gable | Measurement and a plan or sketch |
| Secondary water barrier | Whether a layer stops water if the covering goes | Observation, or permit and specification records |
| Opening protection | Impact rated glazing, shutters or equivalent on all openings | Product markings, approval numbers and photographs |
The right hand column is the part that decides whether the form is accepted. A tick with nothing behind it is the single most common reason a carrier sends one back.
Why insurers want it
Wind is the peril that most often takes a roof off, and the features above change the odds substantially. Rather than pricing every building in a region the same way, a carrier would prefer to charge the house with strapped connections, a hip roof and a well nailed deck less than the one next door with toe nails and a gable end.
The credit is therefore not a reward for having an inspection. It is a correction to a default assumption, and the default assumption is usually the least favourable option the form allows. That is why the inspection often pays for itself even on a modest house: you are replacing a worst case assumption with a fact. How insurers use roof inspections more generally covers the other reports they ask for.
Preparing for the visit
- Clear attic access. The two heaviest items on the form are usually verified from inside the roof space. A blocked hatch loses them.
- Find the paperwork. Permits, the roofing invoice, the material specification and any product approval documents. A permit record can establish a feature the inspector cannot see.
- Know when the roof was last replaced. The covering’s approval status depends on it.
- List any upgrades. Shutters, impact rated glazing, a garage door replacement, re nailing during a previous reroof.
- Ask what the carrier wants. Which form, from whom, and in what format.
Reading the completed form
Check three things before you send it on. Every answer should have evidence attached. Anything marked unknown or unverified should be a genuine limitation rather than an item the inspector did not look for. And the roof shape and covering should match what you know about the building, because a transcription error on either is easy to make and awkward to unpick after the policy is issued. How to read an inspection report critically applies here too.
Where to go next
If the carrier has asked for proof that the roof itself is sound rather than well built, what a roof certification is covers the shorter document underwriters often want instead. If you want to know what a full report should contain before comparing one against another, what goes into a roof inspection report is the standard to hold yours against.
Common questions
Who can perform a wind mitigation inspection?
It depends on the state and sometimes on the carrier. Where the inspection is part of a regulated discount scheme, the form itself names who may sign it, typically some combination of licensed contractors, home inspectors, engineers and architects. The form is the authority, not the inspector's website.
- The eligible professions are listed on the form
- Requirements are set by state, not nationally
- Some carriers accept a narrower list than the state allows
- The signature carries professional responsibility
- Ask your insurer who it will accept before booking
The sequence that avoids wasted money is to ask the insurer first. A completed form from somebody the carrier will not accept has to be done again, and you pay twice. Where no regulated form exists in your state, what the carrier wants is usually a documented inspection report addressing the same features, and it is worth asking which specific items it wants evidenced rather than guessing from a template designed for somewhere else.
What does the inspector record on a wind mitigation form?
Construction features rather than condition. Typically the roof covering and its approval, how the deck is fastened, how the roof structure is connected to the walls, the roof shape, whether there is a secondary water barrier, and how openings such as windows and doors are protected.
- Roof covering type and its compliance approval
- Deck attachment: nail or staple size and spacing
- Roof to wall connection: toe nails, clips or straps
- Roof shape, and how much of it is hip
- Opening protection and any secondary water barrier
Each answer has to be supported, not asserted. That means photographs, a permit record, a manufacturer product approval number or a direct observation from the attic. An inspector who ticks boxes without recording the evidence has produced a document a carrier can decline, and declining it is common. Ask to see a completed example before booking, and look at whether each answer has a photograph attached to it.
Which features earn the most on a wind mitigation inspection?
Carriers weight them differently and the credits vary by state and insurer, so there is no universal ranking. In broad terms the connection between the roof structure and the walls, the deck attachment and the roof shape tend to carry more weight than the smaller items.
- Roof to wall connection is usually the heaviest single item
- Deck attachment nailing matters more than owners expect
- A fully hip roof performs better than a gable end
- Opening protection can matter as much as the roof
- Credits are set by the carrier, not by the inspector
Do not treat a credit estimate from a contractor as a quotation. The only reliable figure is the one your own insurer applies to your own policy, and the way to get it is to ask what each feature is worth before you spend money chasing it. That matters most when you are considering work rather than documentation: upgrading straps or re nailing a deck is only worth doing if the carrier credits it, and the order of those two conversations decides whether the money is well spent.
Can an inspector verify roof to wall connections without opening the ceiling?
Usually through the attic, where the connection between the truss or rafter and the top plate can be seen and photographed directly. Where there is no attic access, or the insulation covers the connection, the answer may have to come from permit records or remain unverified.
- Attic access is the normal route to the connection
- Insulation and tight eaves can hide it entirely
- Permit and drawing records are a secondary source
- Unverified usually means the lowest credit applies
- Opening a small access point is sometimes worth the cost
This is the item most often lost by default rather than by fact. Where the connection cannot be seen, a form will generally record the weakest qualifying option, and the building is then priced as if the connection were the poorest type. If you have reason to think better connectors are present, perhaps from a permit, a drawing or a known rebuild, say so before the inspection so the inspector knows where to look. Creating one small inspection opening can pay for itself.
Is a wind mitigation inspection the same as a four point inspection?
No. They answer opposite questions. A wind mitigation inspection records construction features to assess wind resistance and can earn a discount. A four point inspection records the condition and age of the roof, electrical, plumbing and heating systems so a carrier can decide whether to write the policy at all.
- Wind mitigation looks at how the building was built
- A four point looks at the condition of four systems
- One supports a discount, the other supports eligibility
- Different forms, and sometimes different inspectors
- An older home may be asked for both
Because they overlap on the roof, it is often cheaper to have both done in one visit, and many inspectors offer that. Ask explicitly for two separate documents, since a carrier processing a discount wants the mitigation form and underwriting wants the four point, and a merged report satisfies neither cleanly. If only one is being requested, check which: paying for the wrong one is a common and avoidable error.