How To Look At A House

McGarry and Madsen's home inspection blog for buyers of  

site-built, mobile/manufactured and modular homes

How do I get the hip roof discount for my homeowners windstorm insurance?

Tuesday, August 21, 2018

A hip roof slopes inward on all sides, like in the photo above and the first photo below. The other roof shapes most often used in home construction include a gable (which slopes inward on two sides and has a triangular-shaped “gable end” wall at the other sides), shed (slopes on one side only), and flat roof. 

   Because the hip roof is more resistant to storm damage, a discount of up to 47% of the windstorm portion of your homeowner’s insurance premium is given if your roof qualifies under the insurance industry standards: at least 90% of the roof, as measured along the fascia running around the perimeter of the home, must be the hip shape. Here’s some photo examples to clarify which homes do—and don’t—meet the standard.

  Savings of between $150 and $500 per year or more are typical, so it’s well worth your effort to pursue this discount. A wind mitigation inspection by a Florida-licensed construction professional is the standard way to reduce your premium. An average price statewide for a wind mitigation inspection is $130, but we charge $95 to customers in the metro Gainesville area. The hip roof is just one of the discounts for storm-resistant construction—but definitely the largest—that is documented during the inspection. 

   Many insurance companies do not require that you purchase a wind mitigation inspection to get just the hip roof discount. But if there is any question as to whether your roof qualifies, then an inspection is necessary. It’s officially called a “Uniform Mitigation Verification Inspection OIR-B1-1802” and you can get a copy of the form from your insurance agent.

   Homes built after the statewide Florida Building Code went into effect in early 2002 automatically get a number of the discounts because the storm-resistant construction methods became mandated by the building code. So  owners of newer homes may choose not to get a wind mitigation inspection. But there is a moderate chance of an additional smaller discount or two if the inspection is performed. 

    Also, see our blog posts Why didn't I get the hip roof discount on my wind mitigation inspection? and What are the different roof deck attachment discount categories for a wind mitigation inspection? and What is the difference between a toe nail, clip, single wrap, and double wrap for the wind mitigation form? 

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Here’s links to a collection of our other blog posts about INSURANCE:

* Could faulty work or lack of a building permit for home improvements cause an insurance company to deny a claim?

Why is a fuse box/panel an insurance problem for homebuyers? 

How is Citizens Property Insurance different from other Florida homeowners insurance companies?  

Do I need a home inspection to get insurance? 

Is the 4-point insurance inspection strictly pass or fail? 

Which building permit date is used for the Building Code section of the wind mitigation form? 

What determines the year of a house? 

Should I give a copy of the home inspection report to the bank or insurance company? 

How do I get my home ready for a four point inspection for insurance? 

Can I do my own wind mitigation inspection?  

Will a house without air conditioning pass a 4 point inspection?  

• Why does my homeowner's insurance want a four point inspection? 

• What is the wind mitigation inspection for homeowner's insurance? 

Which water pipes are an insurance problem and possibly uninsurable? 
Why does my homeowner's insurance want a roof inspection? 

• Is it common for an insurance company to require an inspection? 

• How do I get insurance if my home can't pass a 4-point inspection? 

    Visit our ROOF AND ATTIC and INSURANCE pages for other related blog posts on this subject, or go to the INDEX for a complete listing of all our articles.

Water Heaters

Water Heater Age

"What Are The

Signs Of..."

Septic Tank Systems

Structure and Rooms

Plumbing Pipes

Termites, Wood Rot

& Pests

Sinkholes

Stairs

When It First

Became Code

"Should I Buy A..."

Park Model Homes

Site

Shingle Roofs

Safety

Stucco

Remodeling

Wind Mitigation

Roof and Attic

"Does A Home

Inspector...?"

Pool and Spa

"What Is The Difference Between..."

Radon

Brick

Plumbing

Concrete and

Concrete Block

Metal Roofs

Foundations

Modular Homes

Rain Gutters

Mold, Lead & Other Contaminants

Condominiums

Older and

Historic Houses

Crawl Spaces

Mobile-Manufactured Homes

Building Permits

Life Expectancy

Clay Soil

Insurance

Floors

Insulation

Toilets

Exterior Walls

& Structures

Generators

Common Problems

HUD-Code for

Mobile Homes

Garages and Carports

Flat (Low Slope) Roofs

Electrical Panels

Sprinkler Systems

Electrical Receptacle Outlets

4-Point Inspections

Hurricane Resistance

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Home Inspection

Heating and Air Conditioning

Building Codes

Fireplaces and Chimneys

Inspector Licensing

& Standards

Energy Efficiency

Washers and Dryers

Electrical

Kitchens

Doors and Windows

(placeholder)

Cracks

Electrical Wiring

Click Below  

for Links

to Collections

of Blog Posts

by Subject

Plumbing Drains

and Traps

Appliances

Smoke & CO Alarms

Aging in Place

Top 5 results given instantly.

Click on magnifying glass

for all search results.

Bathrooms

Lighting

AFCI, CAFCI,

DFCI, & GFCI

Sinks

Air Conditioner & Furnace Age/Size

Attics

Electrical Switches

Siding

Search

This

Site

Water Intrusion

Electrical - Old

and Obsolete

(placeholder)

Foundation Certifications

Tiny Houses

About McGarry and Madsen

(placeholder)

Wells

Buying a home in North/Central Florida? Check our price for a  team inspection by two FL-licensed contractors and inspectors. Over 8,500 inspections completed in 20+ years. In a hurry? We will get it done for you.

Moisture Problems

Crawl Spaces

Bedrooms

Closets