FORTIFIED Roofing: What It Means and Why It Matters for Your Home
When people hear about upgrading their roof, most think about stronger shingles—especially Class III or Class IV impact-resistant shingles that can lower insurance premiums. And according to McCoy Roofing Sales Manager Zach Varadi, that’s a good start.
“Most people, by now, are familiar with impact-resistant shingles,” says Zach. “You hear it all the time—insurance companies are incentivizing us to get them. And they work.”But the future of roofing isn’t just better shingles. It’s building a better roofing system from the deck up. That’s where FORTIFIED comes in.
FORTIFIED Roofing: What It Means and Why It Matters for Your Home
When people hear about upgrading their roof, most think about stronger shingles—especially Class III or Class IV impact-resistant shingles that can lower insurance premiums. And according to McCoy Roofing Sales Manager Zach Varadi, that’s a good start.
“Most people, by now, are familiar with impact-resistant shingles,” says Zach. “You hear it all the time—insurance companies are incentivizing us to get them. And they work.”
But the future of roofing isn’t just better shingles. It’s building a better roofing system from the deck up. That’s where FORTIFIED comes in.
What Is a FORTIFIED Home?
A FORTIFIED Roof is the next level of weather protection. It’s not just about shingles—it’s about the entire structure of your roof, built or retrofitted to meet standards set by the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety (IBHS). These aren’t just industry best practices. They’ve been scientifically tested in hurricane simulations using full-scale homes.
“It’s everything else—not just the shingles, but everything,” says Zach.
Why Does being FORTIFIED Matter?
The roof is your home’s first and most important line of defense. If it fails, everything beneath it is at risk. Zach recalls reviewing insurance paperwork from tornado claims where the roof cost was only a fraction of the total.
“Maybe the roof was $30,000, but the whole claim was $200,000,” he says. “Because once the roof goes, it all goes. Drywall damage, mold, water mitigation, carpet—it adds up.”
FORTIFIED standards include:
- A waterproof barrier taped at the seams
- Stronger plywood attachment with specific nails
- Upgraded starter strips for shingle hold
- Verified ventilation and decking conditions
“Let’s say the roof gets ripped up—the roof is still pretty darn waterproof without the shingles,” Zach explains.
FORTIFIED Tested and Proven
These aren’t just ideas that sound good—they’ve been rigorously tested. IBHS built two identical homes: one to standard building code, and one to FORTIFIED standards. They put both in a wind tunnel simulating a hurricane. The difference was staggering.
“Building code is just the minimum,” says Zach. “FORTIFIED goes above and beyond.”
Three Levels of FORTIFIED Certification
- FORTIFIED Roof (Home): Focuses solely on the roofing system.
- FORTIFIED Silver: Includes protection for all roof and wall openings, such as doors and windows.
- FORTIFIED Gold: Extends structural upgrades to the entire home.
“We can go back and retrofit roofs to get Fortified Home,” says Zach. “Silver and Gold are harder retroactively, but we can absolutely start with the roof.”
Why McCoy Roofing?
McCoy Roofing is one of only five certified FORTIFIED contractors in the state out of more than 5,000 roofers. Certification isn’t something you buy. It’s earned.
“It’s an education, testing, and not only that—they want to see your roofing resume,” Zach explains. “You’re getting a better product. Honest to goodness, we put a nail every four inches, we use six nails per shingle, we’ve taped all the seams with special tape, and inspected every piece of plywood to make sure it’s sound.”
And yes, McCoy Roofing uses only FORTIFIED-approved tools and materials—even the nails.
“This isn’t just a warranty—it’s a better system.”
Who Benefits Most from FORTIFIED Homes?
Zach says there are two ideal candidates for a FORTIFIED Roof:
1. Budget-conscious homeowners.
“Just like we’ve been incentivized to install Class IV shingles, FORTIFIED discounts are likely coming soon. Insurance companies want us to have better roofs—they pay less in claims.”
2. People who want the best.
“If cost isn’t your concern, but you want the strongest, smartest system out there—this is it.”
Built to Last. Backed by Science.
Each FORTIFIED roof receives a 5-year certification. It must be re-certified to ensure ongoing protection, meaning someone comes out to inspect that the system still holds up. It’s a high bar, but a worthy one. And just like the Class III and Class IV shingles, Zach says signs are pointing toward savings.
“You can stack them,” says Zach. “You can have a FORTIFIED Roof and a Class IV shingle. But still, it’s not just the direction insurance companies are going—it’s just a better roof.”
Ready to Upgrade?
Whether you’re building a new home, need roof repair, or want to retrofit your existing roof, McCoy Roofing is certified, trained, and ready to help.
Reach out today to learn more about FORTIFIED Roofing and schedule your free inspection.