What Is a FORTIFIED Roof and How Can It Protect Your Home?
Target Keywords: roof replacement, roofing company Richmond, roofer Richmond, roofing contractor, FORTIFIED roof, Owens Corning
When it comes to protecting your home, the roof is the first line of defense — and often the weakest link in the chain. High winds, heavy rain, and sudden storms all look for vulnerabilities. Once water or wind finds its way under shingles or through seams, the damage spreads quickly. At V.C. Veterans Contracting, we focus on building IBHS FORTIFIED Roof systems with Owens Corning products, because the best protection starts from the top down.
What Is a FORTIFIED Roof?
FORTIFIED is a nationally recognized standard developed by the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety (IBHS). It goes beyond local building codes to provide superior protection against wind and water intrusion. A FORTIFIED roof isn’t just stronger shingles. It’s a system that includes:
- Sealed roof decking to prevent water from entering if shingles blow off.
- Reinforced edges where wind pressures are most extreme.
- Better attachment methods that secure the roof to the home.
By upgrading the weakest link, homeowners reduce their risk of costly storm damage, and in many cases, may even qualify for lower insurance premiums.
Owens Corning Products That Make the Difference
We rely on Owens Corning because they combine product innovation with warranty support. For example:
- Duration® Shingles with SureNail® Technology provide superior wind resistance and consistent fastening strength.
- WeatherLock® G Ice & Water Barrier can be applied across the entire roof deck, creating a continuous waterproof seal. This is one of the approved methods to meet FORTIFIED standards and protects your home even if shingles are lost in a storm. It goes far beyond just valleys, eaves, or ice dam areas to turn your whole roof into a watertight system.
- Together, they integrate seamlessly with the Owens Corning Total Protection Roofing System®, which includes underlayment, ventilation, and attic insulation.
When installed to FORTIFIED standards, these products don’t just meet code, they exceed it. That means peace of mind for homeowners and confidence for us as contractors. We can stand by our work knowing it’s backed by both Owens Corning warranties and the FORTIFIED designation.
Why FORTIFIED Matters Beyond the Coast
Many homeowners think FORTIFIED roofs are only for coastal properties facing hurricanes. The truth is, inland markets face increasing risks from high-wind thunderstorms, pop-up storms, and even tornado activity. Central and eastern states see billions in insured losses every year from severe convective storms — and roofs are almost always the first point of failure.
By choosing a FORTIFIED roof, you’re reducing that risk and often gaining additional value. Insurance providers in many states offer premium discounts for certified FORTIFIED roofs because they lower the likelihood of costly claims. That’s a win for homeowners and insurers alike.
More Than Just Shingles. It’s a System
At V.C. Veterans Contracting, we don’t cut corners with quick fixes or bare-minimum code installations. A roof replacement is an investment, and it deserves a system designed to protect your home for decades. That’s why we specialize in FORTIFIED Roof applications with Owens Corning. From sealing the decking with WeatherLock® G to installing high-performance shingles, we build roofs that last and we back them with both manufacturer and contractor warranties.
The Bottom Line
Your home doesn’t have to be vulnerable at its weakest link. With a FORTIFIED Roof, reinforced by Owens Corning products and installed by trusted professionals, you gain superior protection, potential insurance savings, and peace of mind in every storm season.
