FORTIFIED Roofing
What FORTIFIED Roofing Actually Means
A FORTIFIED roof is a re-roofing and construction standard developed by the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety (IBHS) to help homes stand up to severe weather. Along the coast of Brunswick County, that weather means hurricanes, tropical storms, driving rain, and wind gusts that can strip a standard roof apart. FORTIFIED goes beyond local building code by targeting the specific failure points that lead to catastrophic damage. When the roof deck stays attached and water stays out, the rest of the home has a far better chance of surviving a storm intact.
Salty Dogs Roofing is Fortified Certified, and we are also a GAF Master Elite contractor. That combination matters. A FORTIFIED roof is not a single product you buy off a shelf. It is a set of documented construction techniques verified by an independent evaluator. We follow the methodology precisely so your roof earns its designation and, in many cases, qualifies you for insurance premium reductions available in North Carolina.
The Three Levels and What They Require
FORTIFIED for existing homes is built around a tiered system. Each level adds protection and each has clear technical requirements we document with photographs during the installation.
- FORTIFIED Roof: the foundation level. This focuses on the roof deck attachment, a sealed roof deck to keep water out if shingles blow off, and edge details rated for high wind. Ring-shank nails at a tighter spacing replace standard fasteners.
- FORTIFIED Silver: everything in the roof level plus attention to attached structures, gable ends, and chimneys, along with protection for openings that face wind-driven debris.
- FORTIFIED Gold: the highest level, adding a continuous load path that ties the roof to the walls and the walls to the foundation, engineered specifically for the home.
Most coastal homeowners start with the FORTIFIED Roof designation because it delivers the strongest return for storm protection and insurance savings. We help you weigh which level fits your home, your budget, and your risk tolerance. Because we handle the entire process, you never have to coordinate separately with the evaluator or piece together documentation on your own.
How We Build a FORTIFIED Roof
The work begins by removing the old roof down to the deck so we can inspect and re-nail the sheathing. Deck attachment is the single most important factor in keeping a roof on during a hurricane, so we use ring-shank nails installed to the required pattern. Next comes the sealed roof deck. We apply a fully adhered underlayment or tape the deck seams so that even if wind removes shingles, wind-driven rain cannot pour into your attic and ceilings. Edges get metal drip edge and starter strips rated and fastened for high-wind zones.
Throughout the job, our crew photographs each step because a FORTIFIED designation requires third-party verification. Salty Dogs Roofing manages that submission for you. You are paired with a dedicated Project Manager who keeps you informed at every stage, and our dedicated crews handle the labor with the care the standard demands. We are insured, bonded, and licensed, and our team brings more than 100 years of combined experience to your project. We also have bilingual staff so communication is never a barrier.
Get Up to $10,000 Toward a New, Storm-Ready Roof
Homeowners insured through the NCIUA (also known as the Beach Plan) in eligible coastal North Carolina counties may qualify for grant funding toward a new, storm-resistant roof. The Strengthen Your Coastal Roof program offers up to $6,000 for homes in the state’s 18 general coastal counties, while the Strengthen Your Roof program offers up to $10,000 for higher-risk zones like the Outer Banks and barrier islands. Both programs help fund the installation of an IBHS FORTIFIED Roof, built to better withstand hurricane-force winds. Funding is limited and awarded first-come, first-served, so we encourage you to check your eligibility early. We can walk you through the entire process — from confirming eligibility to final installation.
Why Coastal Homeowners Choose This Standard
The homes we protect across Bolivia, Winnabow, Boiling Spring Lakes, Supply, & St. James, NC sit close enough to the water that wind and rain test every roof each season. A FORTIFIED roof is designed for exactly these conditions. Beyond the storm protection, North Carolina insurers offer discounts for FORTIFIED designations, which means the added investment can pay you back over the life of the roof. We walk you through the paperwork so you can present your certificate to your insurance carrier.
Quality and integrity guide every job we take on. Salty Dogs Roofing never accepts full payment until the work is complete and the site is cleaned up, and our goal is to leave your property in better condition than we found it. Our local roots mean we understand the specific challenges this stretch of coast presents, and we build accordingly. You can learn more about the standard itself through the FORTIFIED program at fortifiedhome.org.
Because storms rarely wait for business hours, we offer 24/7 emergency service. If wind or water finds a weakness in your existing roof, we respond quickly and then help you rebuild to a standard that keeps it from happening again. That is what “Woofs Done Right!” means to us: roofing that protects your home, your family, and your investment for the long haul. Reach out to Salty Dogs Roofing to start planning your FORTIFIED roof today.