FORTIFIED roofs: the three levels and the grants that fund them

What FORTIFIED is

IBHS runs FORTIFIED as a voluntary construction and re-roofing program meant to strengthen homes and commercial buildings against high winds, hail, hurricanes and even tornadoes. A certified FORTIFIED Evaluator documents the key elements of the work, and a team at IBHS reviews that documentation and issues the designation. IBHS's site also links a Find a Professional search for trained contractors and evaluators.

FORTIFIED Roof: what the standard asks for

IBHS lists these FORTIFIED Roof requirements:

• Stronger edges: a wider drip edge and a fully adhered starter strip.
• A sealed roof deck, which IBHS says can cut water intrusion by up to 95% if the covering blows off.
• Better attachment: 8d ring-shank nails at closer spacing, which IBHS testing shows can double the uplift a roof deck withstands.
• Wind- and rain-resistant attic vents.
• Tested roof covers: asphalt shingles must carry the top wind ratings, ASTM D3161 Class F or ASTM D7158 Class H, while metal, tile and low-slope systems must be tested for site-specific design pressures.

That shingle rule goes beyond the 2024 IRC, whose Table R905.2.4.1 accepts lower wind classes, such as D7158 Class D or G, at lower design wind speeds.

The optional Hail Supplement

For the Hail Supplement, asphalt shingles must be rated Good or Excellent in IBHS's Hail Impact-Resistant Shingle Ratings, which IBHS says better protect a home from hail up to 2 inches in diameter. Metal panels and low-slope systems must meet UL 2218 Class 4, and tile must meet FM 4473 Class 4. NRD's encyclopedia explains the Class 4 impact-resistant shingle label.

Silver and Gold

FORTIFIED Silver includes every FORTIFIED Roof requirement and adds strong anchors and bracing for gable ends, chimneys and attached structures, along with garage doors rated to withstand high pressures. On the Silver page, IBHS flags impact protection for windows, doors and garage doors with an asterisk that reads required in hurricane-prone areas only.

FORTIFIED Gold includes all of Silver and requires an engineered continuous load path: a specific plan for fixing the roof to the walls and anchoring the walls to the foundation.

Grant programs that pay toward a FORTIFIED roof

Each row below reflects the program's own page; check it again before you apply, because funding rounds open and close.

Details worth knowing before you call anyone

Louisiana's program says homeowners who pick a contractor and start work before LFHP approval are not eligible, and that roof patching or partial repairs are not funded. The same page notes that FORTIFIED Roof certificates are good for five years, after which an evaluator must reinspect the home to renew.

Alabama pays the contractor only after the FORTIFIED certificate is issued, under a program the legislature created with the Strengthen Alabama Homes Act in 2011. Oklahoma pays its grant directly to the contractor once the project is complete and the IBHS certificate is submitted, and says the program is funded by the insurance industry rather than the state's general budget.

South Carolina's Safe Home program dates to the Omnibus Coastal Property Insurance Reform Act of 2007, and it now partners with the IBHS FORTIFIED Roof program, which the page says lets homeowners earn two safety designations at the same time when they upgrade a roof.

In North Carolina, the Department of Insurance's July 2025 announcement put the Strengthen Your Coastal Roof round at $20 million, following a May 2025 round for the Outer Banks and barrier islands. NCIUA also offers a Stronger Roof Endorsement worth up to $5,000 toward a FORTIFIED upgrade when a covered claim replaces the roof.

Finding FORTIFIED help through NRD

The National Roofing Directory's entry on what a FORTIFIED roof is covers the basics, and its directory lists IBHS FORTIFIED and NC FORTIFIED. To compare roofers in your area, start with the find-a-roofer directory.

Frequently asked questions

Does a FORTIFIED Roof require Class 4 shingles?

Not for the base designation, which asks for the top wind ratings. The impact rating comes in with the optional Hail Supplement, where shingles must be rated Good or Excellent by IBHS. Oklahoma's grant, though, requires the Hail Supplement.

Do FORTIFIED certificates expire?

Louisiana's program page says FORTIFIED Roof certificates are good for five years and are renewed through an evaluator's reinspection.

Can a grant pay for a roof I have already started?

Louisiana says no: starting work before program approval makes a homeowner ineligible. Read the rules of your state's program before you sign a contract.