FORTIFIED roof installation — lower insurance, stronger home.
FORTIFIED is a paid upgrade — you pay for the installation and state grants of up to $6,000–$10,000 reimburse you after certification. No income limits. Annual insurance discounts of 20–30%+ then continue paying you back for years after that.
Free consultation. No obligation. Serving Wilmington and all of southeastern NC.
A building standard built for storms — and recognized by insurers.
FORTIFIED Home™ is a voluntary construction and re-roofing standard developed by the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety (IBHS). It goes beyond code minimums to reflect how coastal weather actually performs — and most major NC insurers reward certification with real premium reductions.
The roof system
FORTIFIED Roof™
The FORTIFIED Roof™ designation focuses on the roof system itself — sealed deck, upgraded fasteners, continuous drip edge, and wind-rated shingles installed to high-wind specifications. It is the most impactful single upgrade on most coastal homes and the designation IBHS-certified inspectors verify before issuing your certificate.
IBHS also offers Silver and Gold designations that extend to windows, doors, and structural connections. We focus exclusively on FORTIFIED Roof™ — the starting point where most coastal NC homeowners get the best return for the cost.
Up to $6,000–$10,000 toward your FORTIFIED roof. No income limits.
The NC Insurance Underwriting Association (NCIUA) funds annual grant programs for active Beach Plan policyholders. New Hanover, Brunswick, and Pender counties — Caliber's core service area — are all in the eligible zone.
On an insurance claim — how most FORTIFIED roofs in our market get done — insurance covers the base replacement and the FORTIFIED upgrade is the only incremental cost above a standard roof. That premium typically runs 5–15% above standard installation. In most insurance claim scenarios, the grant covers the full FORTIFIED upgrade cost — meaning the homeowner pays nothing extra to go FORTIFIED beyond their standard deductible.
For out-of-pocket replacements without an insurance claim, the full installation cost is due at the time of the project and the grant reimburses after certification.
Requires an active NCIUA (Beach Plan) wind/hail policy. NCJUA/FAIR Plan policies are not eligible. Grants are first-come, first-served — new rounds open annually and deplete quickly.
Check your eligibilityWilmington area
New Hanover · Brunswick · Pender + 15 coastal counties
$6,000
Strengthen Your Coastal Roof grant
strengthenyourcoastalroof.comEast of the ICW
Outer Banks & barrier island properties
$10,000
Strengthen Your Roof grant
strengthenyourroof.comWhat a FORTIFIED Roof requires beyond standard code.
Each requirement addresses a documented failure mode from real storm events — not theoretical improvements. The upgrades are specific, verifiable, and inspected by an independent third party.
- Sealed roof deck (double felt method) — two overlapping layers of #30 felt (ASTM D226 Type II) cover the entire deck, creating a continuous secondary water barrier if shingles are ever lost
- Ring-shank nails for deck attachment — 8d ring-shank at 6" o.c. in the field and 4" o.c. at gable ends and panel edges; dramatically outperforms smooth-shank code-minimum fasteners
- Wind-rated shingles installed per high-wind spec — must meet ASTM D3161 Class F or D7158 Class H; installed with 6 nails per shingle strip per manufacturer high-wind instructions
- Fully adhered starter strip — self-adhering starter along all eaves and rakes seals the roof perimeter where wind-driven uplift begins
- Continuous drip edge — minimum 26-gauge metal, full perimeter, with 4" fastener spacing in coastal high-wind zones (vs. code-typical 12")
- Hip and ridge caps — must carry the same ASTM wind rating as field shingles; installed per manufacturer high-wind instructions
- Third-party verification — an IBHS-certified FORTIFIED Evaluator (independent of your contractor) inspects during and after installation; IBHS issues the designation upon review
The right time to go FORTIFIED
Replace your roof once. Do it right.
FORTIFIED upgrades typically add 5–15% to a standard replacement cost — that difference is what you are paying for above and beyond a normal roof. Done at the time of replacement the incremental cost is at its lowest, and eligible homeowners can apply for up to $6,000 in grant reimbursement after certification. Retrofitting later costs more and disrupts an intact roof. If you are already replacing the roof, this is the window.
(910) 218-8178Schedule consultationThree reasons coastal NC homeowners choose FORTIFIED.
Insurance savings that compound annually
NC coastal homeowners commonly see 20–30%+ premium reductions. On a $3,500/year policy that is $700–$1,050 back every year — often recovering the upgrade cost within two to four years.
Built for what coastal NC weather actually does
Salt-air degradation, hurricane-force winds, and sustained rain are the normal operating environment on the NC coast. FORTIFIED specs are calibrated for high-wind coastal zones, not the inland averages that code minimums are based on.
Transfers to the next buyer
The FORTIFIED certificate is tied to the property, not the owner. A certified home is a documented, verifiable upgrade — a real selling point in a coastal market where buyers understand what storm seasons cost.
Consultation to certificate — we handle every step.
01
Free consultation
We walk through your current roof, your insurance policy, and whether FORTIFIED makes financial sense for your specific situation before you commit to anything.
02
FORTIFIED-spec installation
We install to IBHS FORTIFIED Roof™ specifications — sealed deck, ring-shank nails, compliant shingles, and continuous drip edge, all documented as we go.
03
Third-party inspection
An IBHS-approved independent inspector verifies the installation. We coordinate the inspection and make sure everything is ready for sign-off before they arrive.
04
Certificate issued
You receive your IBHS FORTIFIED Roof™ certificate. Present it to your insurer, confirm your discount, and the savings start on your next renewal.
FORTIFIED upgrades pair naturally with a full roof replacement or an insurance claim.