What Is Your Wind Mitigation Report Costing You?
Every Florida homeowner with a wind mitigation inspection holds a form full of codes almost nobody explains. One line on that form — opening protection — is usually the largest single discount available on a Florida policy, and most homeowners have no idea what missing it costs them each year.
Answer six questions below for a free estimate. No account, no obligation.
Estimates only. Actual credits are set by your carrier based on a certified wind mitigation inspection.
How wind mitigation credits actually work in Florida
Florida law requires insurers to provide premium discounts for construction features that reduce windstorm damage. A certified inspector documents those features on a standard form (the OIR-B1-1802), and your carrier applies credits based on what's verified. The categories that carry the most weight are roof covering, roof deck attachment, roof-to-wall attachment, roof geometry, secondary water resistance, and opening protection.
Opening protection is the one most homeowners are missing, and it is typically the largest single credit available — because unprotected windows and doors are how wind gets inside a house. Once an opening fails in a storm, internal pressure does the structural damage. Insurers price that risk accordingly.
The credit requires protection on every opening rated to the appropriate impact standard — which is why partial coverage often yields little or nothing. It is all-or-nothing on most policies.
Reading the lines on your report
- Opening Protection: None / N — no verified impact-rated protection. The largest credit on the form is unclaimed.
- Roof to Wall: Toe Nail — the weakest attachment category, common in older homes.
- Roof to Wall: Clips / Single Wrap / Double Wrap — progressively stronger, progressively better credits.
- SWR: No — no secondary water resistance barrier under the roof covering.
- Roof Deck Attachment: A through D — nail pattern and fastener type. D is strongest.
If your report shows "None" for opening protection, that single line is usually worth more than everything else on the form combined — and it is the only category you can change without touching your roof.
Frequently asked questions
How much do impact windows lower Florida insurance?
It varies by carrier, county, home age and construction, but opening protection is typically the largest wind mitigation credit available on a Florida policy. Homeowners in high-wind counties generally see the biggest reductions. Your carrier determines the actual credit from a certified inspection.
Do I need to protect every window to get the discount?
Generally yes. Most carriers require all openings — windows, doors, skylights and garage doors — to carry rated protection before the opening protection credit applies. Partial protection often yields little or no credit, which is why leaving one or two openings unprotected can cost you the entire discount.
How long is a wind mitigation inspection good for?
A wind mitigation inspection report is generally valid for five years in Florida. If you add impact windows or doors after your last inspection, you need a new inspection to claim the improved credits — the discount is not applied automatically.
Will my premium drop immediately after installing impact windows?
Not automatically. You need a new certified wind mitigation inspection documenting the protection, submitted to your carrier. Many carriers apply the credit from the date the report is received, and some will prorate mid-term. Ask your agent how yours handles it before you install.
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