FORTIFIED Silver™ is the 2nd level of the FORTIFIED program. A FORTIFIED Silver home starts with a FORTIFIED Roof™. FORTIFIED Silver™ adds a focus on three new areas:
- Opening protection
- Strengthening gable ends
- Attached structures such as porches
FORTIFIED Silver ™ is possible for most existing homes during remodeling.
What is opening protection?
Openings in a house are defined as any opening into the exterior wall of your home. Windows, doors, garage doors and even pet doors qualify. FORTIFIED Silver ™ homes in coastal areas are required to have hurricane panels for all openings that are not impact rated. Garage doors must be wind rated and should not include glazing (windows) unless they are impact rated.
Hurricane panels must be tested therefore plywood is not accepted for the FORTIFIED Silver ™ designation.
For more information on hurricane shutters, go here.
Why does my gable need to be stronger?
A gable sustains a lot of wind forces during a hurricane. FORTIFIED Silver™ requires that the gables of a house be reinforced with bracing and sheets of plywood or OSB. Strengthening the gable helps to protect the integrity of your home’s exterior
What about attached structures?
A porch or carport can sustain heavy damage from high winds during a storm. FORTIFIED Silver™ requires that the posts to the porch or carport have documented, appropriate connections from the ground all the way to the roof.
For more information, contact us today: info@koinspectionscom.kinsta.cloud or 251-517-4558