What Is a FORTIFIED Roof and Why Louisiana Homeowners Need One

FORTIFIED Roof™ is a voluntary construction standard from the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety (IBHS) that strengthens a roof against hurricane wind. In Louisiana, every wind/hail policy is required by law to offer a premium discount when you have a FORTIFIED designation — usually 7% to 35% off.

What makes a roof FORTIFIED

• Sealed roof deck — every seam taped or fully-adhered underlayment.
• Enhanced wind-rated drip edge and starter strip.
• Ring-shank nails at a 4″/6″ pattern.
• Locked-down ridge venting rated for hurricane wind.
• Third-party IBHS evaluator inspection.

What it costs and what it saves

A FORTIFIED upgrade typically adds $1,500–$3,500 to a standard New Orleans shingle replacement. Insurance savings range from $800 to $1,800 per year, so payback is often 2 to 4 years. The Louisiana Fortify Homes Program also offers grants of up to $10,000, which can cover the entire delta.

If you’re already replacing a roof, FORTIFIED is the easiest financial decision in Louisiana homeownership. Read our FORTIFIED Roofing service page for the full install spec, or call 504-834-5353 to talk to a real person.