Alabama homeowners know how quickly severe weather can develop. High winds, hail, thunderstorms and tornadoes can place tremendous stress on a home's roofing system.
But what if your next roof could be built using construction standards specifically developed to help protect homes against severe weather? That's the idea behind the FORTIFIED™ program developed by the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety (IBHS).
FORTIFIED is a voluntary construction and re-roofing program based on decades of IBHS research into damage caused by severe weather. The program is designed to help protect homes against hazards including high winds, hail and hurricanes (GAF FORTIFIED guide).
For North Alabama homeowners considering a roof replacement, understanding the FORTIFIED Roof standard can help you make a more informed decision about how your next roofing system is built.
What Is a FORTIFIED Roof™?
A FORTIFIED Roof™ is the first designation level within the FORTIFIED program. It isn't simply a particular brand of shingle.
Instead, FORTIFIED is a construction standard addressing multiple parts of the roofing system and how those components are installed. Requirements can vary based on the home's roof type, location and weather hazards. According to GAF and IBHS, important elements can include:
- Stronger roof edges
- A sealed roof deck
- Enhanced roof-deck attachment
- Stronger roof vents
- Impact-resistant roof coverings, when the optional hail supplement applies
It's a whole-roof approach rather than focusing exclusively on the shingles you can see from the ground.
1. Stronger Roof Edges
The edges of a roof can be particularly vulnerable when high winds get underneath the roofing materials.
FORTIFIED requirements address this with specific materials and installation methods. GAF's FORTIFIED information highlights features such as a wider drip edge and fully adhered starter strip to help reduce the risk of wind getting underneath the roof edge and causing blow-offs.
For Alabama homes exposed to strong thunderstorms and high winds, the way a roofing system is secured at its edges can be an important part of the overall roof design.
2. A Sealed Roof Deck
Your shingles are your roof's primary exterior covering, but they're not the only line of defense against water. FORTIFIED requires the roof deck to be sealed using specified methods.
Why? If severe winds remove shingles or other roof coverings, a properly sealed roof deck can help prevent water from passing through gaps in the roof decking and entering the home.
GAF offers several products that can be used to satisfy certain FORTIFIED requirements, including GAF Roof Deck Seam Tape, which is designed to help seal joints, seams and areas around fasteners against water intrusion.
3. Better Roof-Deck Attachment
A strong roofing system depends on more than shingles. The roof deck itself needs to remain attached to the structure during high winds.
The FORTIFIED standard calls for specific ring-shank nails installed in an enhanced fastening pattern to help keep the roof deck attached during high-wind conditions. This is another example of why the installation underneath your shingles can be just as important as the roofing material visible from outside your home.
4. Stronger Roof Vents
Roof vents are another potential weak point during severe weather.
FORTIFIED requires ridge and off-ridge roof vents to meet specific testing requirements. GAF's FORTIFIED documentation identifies TAS 100(A) testing for these components, and GAF lists a variety of qualifying ventilation products that can be incorporated into a roofing system designed around applicable FORTIFIED requirements.
5. What About Hail?
FORTIFIED also offers an optional Hail Supplement. For homeowners pursuing a High Wind & Hail or Hurricane & Hail designation, additional requirements apply.
GAF's FORTIFIED guide says the optional Hail Supplement requires shingles receiving a Good or Excellent score on the IBHS Hail Impact Ratings. GAF identifies several shingles among the options for the Hail Supplement, including:
- Timberline HDZ®
- Timberline UHDZ®
- Timberline® AS II
- Grand Sequoia®
The particular products and current FORTIFIED requirements should always be verified for the individual project. GAF also notes that use of qualifying products does not by itself guarantee that a FORTIFIED designation will be awarded.
GAF Products and the FORTIFIED Roof™
This is where the program becomes particularly interesting for homeowners already considering GAF roofing products. GAF and IBHS have formed a strategic alliance intended to make FORTIFIED Roofs more accessible to homeowners nationwide.
GAF offers roofing components that can meet certain FORTIFIED criteria, including products for:
- Roof deck protection
- Leak barriers
- Roof deck seam sealing
- Starter strips
- Shingles
- Ridge cap shingles
- Attic ventilation
GAF's current FORTIFIED materials list includes familiar products such as Timberline HDZ®, Timberline UHDZ®, WeatherWatch®, StormGuard®, Tiger Paw™, Deck-Armor™, Pro-Start®, WeatherBlocker™ and several Cobra® ventilation products, depending on the particular FORTIFIED requirement and installation method.
Does Installing GAF Shingles Automatically Give You a FORTIFIED Roof?
No. This is an important distinction. Using GAF products that satisfy certain FORTIFIED requirements does not, by itself, make a house FORTIFIED.
For a roof to be eligible for an official FORTIFIED Roof™ designation, the roofing contractor must be FORTIFIED certified, the qualifying home must be installed according to the applicable FORTIFIED Standard, and a Certified FORTIFIED Evaluator must independently verify that the applicable requirements have been satisfied. IBHS then awards the designation.
According to GAF's current guide, the designation is valid for five years, after which an inspection is required for renewal.
That's an important difference between using high-quality roofing products and receiving an official FORTIFIED Roof designation.
Can a FORTIFIED Roof Lower Your Homeowners Insurance?
Potentially, but homeowners should not assume that a discount is guaranteed.
GAF states that homeowners with a FORTIFIED Roof designation may be eligible for insurance discounts, grants or other incentives in some states, but availability varies and these benefits are not guaranteed. Alabama homeowners interested in possible insurance benefits should contact their individual insurance carrier and ask what incentives, if any, apply to their property and policy.
Is a FORTIFIED Roof Worth Considering in North Alabama?
For a homeowner already planning a roof replacement, FORTIFIED introduces an important question: instead of simply replacing the shingles, should you consider how the entire roofing system can be strengthened against severe weather?
A FORTIFIED roofing approach looks beyond the visible shingles and considers the roof as a complete system, from the edges and roof deck to fasteners, water protection, ventilation and roofing materials.
GAF Roofing Options for North Alabama
Southern Exterior Construction offers GAF roofing options for homeowners throughout North Alabama. If you're considering a roof replacement, SEC can help you compare available GAF roofing materials and roofing-system components based on your home's needs, budget and desired level of protection.
Learn more about our GAF roofing options. We can also help homeowners compare GAF options with available Malarkey Roofing Products.
Planning a Roof Replacement in North Alabama?
Whether your current roof has reached the end of its service life or you're replacing a roof following storm damage, it's worth considering more than just the color of your next shingles. Ask questions about:
- How will the roof deck be protected?
- How are the roof edges secured?
- What underlayment and water-protection products will be used?
- What type of shingles are being installed?
- Are impact-resistant options available?
- How will the roofing system be ventilated?
- Could the home qualify for a FORTIFIED Roof designation?
Those decisions can affect how the complete roofing system performs long after installation day.
Talk With SEC About Your North Alabama Roofing Project
Southern Exterior Construction provides residential roofing services throughout North Alabama, including Huntsville, Madison, Guntersville, Albertville, Fort Payne, Scottsboro, Gadsden, Decatur, Athens, Cullman, Florence, Muscle Shoals, Sheffield, Tuscumbia and surrounding communities.
If you're considering a new roof, call 855-256-BAMA to schedule a roof inspection and explore available roofing systems and GAF roofing options for your home.
FORTIFIED™ and FORTIFIED Roof™ are programs of the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety (IBHS). Southern Exterior Construction is not FORTIFIED certified. Products that meet certain FORTIFIED requirements do not by themselves guarantee a FORTIFIED designation. Certification, installation, evaluation and eligibility requirements apply. Insurance discounts, grants and other incentives are not guaranteed and may vary.