FORTIFIED Roofs — Insurance Discounts for MS Gulf Coast Homes

The Mississippi Gulf Coast is one of the few places where your roof can save you money on insurance. A FORTIFIED Roof is built to higher standards (ring-shank nails, sealed deck, enhanced edge attachments) and qualifies for 15-30% discounts on the wind portion of your homeowner's insurance.

How the program works

The "Strengthen Mississippi Homes" program offers grants up to $10,000 for eligible homeowners in coastal counties to retrofit existing roofs to FORTIFIED standards.

What to look for

Look for the 🏠 FORTIFIED badge on contractor cards in our directory — these contractors are trained in FORTIFIED installation methods. The final certification requires inspection by an independent IBHS-certified evaluator, not the installer.

• Verify the contractor's license before signing anything (verify online).
• Ask whether the FORTIFIED evaluator inspects the completed roof.
• Confirm with your insurance agent what the discount will be before you commit.

The five-minute version

1. Ask your insurance agent for the current wind discount on a FORTIFIED roof.
2. Check whether you qualify for the Strengthen Mississippi Homes grant (up to $10,000).
3. Hire a FORTIFIED-trained contractor from our directory.
4. Get the independent IBHS inspection so the certification holds.

A stronger roof lowers your insurance bill for the life of the policy — and it is the roof over your head either way.