Bob and the roof that paid him back
A couple of years ago, Bob called me after his renewal notice landed in the mailbox.
His homeowners rate had spiked again, and like a lot of folks in South Louisiana, he was feeling the squeeze.
To make matters worse, his roof was pushing 18 years old. His insurance company told him that if he didn’t replace it soon, they were either going to drop his wind coverage or non-renew the policy entirely.
Bob said, “Tim, I’m looking at paying $12,000 for a new roof, and insurance is still bleeding me dry every month. How am I supposed to get ahead?”
I told him, “Bob, if you’re already replacing the shingles, don’t just put on an ordinary roof. Build it to the IBHS FORTIFIED Roof standard.”
What a FORTIFIED roof actually means
Bob had heard about FORTIFIED roofs but thought it was just extra red tape. I explained what it actually means:
1. Ring-shank nails spaced closely so the decking stays attached in high winds.
2. A sealed roof deck with specialized tape or a full membrane so water can’t pour into your attic even if the shingles blow off.
3. Reinforced drip edges and wind-rated shingles, certified by an independent evaluator.
Bob went with a certified FORTIFIED roofing contractor and applied for the Louisiana Fortify Homes grant to help offset the cost.
Once the roof was finished and inspected, the evaluator handed Bob his official IBHS FORTIFIED certificate.
Louisiana FORTIFIED roof discounts
Bob brought that certificate straight to our office.
Under Louisiana Act 533, insurance companies writing homeowners policies in Louisiana file discounts with the Louisiana Department of Insurance for homes with a FORTIFIED designation. These aren’t small 2% credits. According to LDI’s 2026 report:
SURE / SageSure, Auros file up to 30%.
Louisiana Citizens files discounts up to 24.3% in coastal zones
GuardianPointe up to 20%
Discounts apply to the wind/hail portion of the premium and vary by insurer, program and location.
Bob’s rate went down
With that FORTIFIED certificate in hand, we re-shopped Bob’s policy across our top Louisiana carriers.
He qualified for a 30%+ discount on his wind premium, and having a certified FORTIFIED roof opened doors to preferred carriers that previously wouldn’t write his neighborhood.
Bob ended up saving over $1,400 a year on his homeowners insurance.
He called me after his first new statement came in and said, “Tim, for the first time in twenty years, my insurance actually went down — and when the next hurricane rolls through the Gulf, I know my ceiling isn’t ending up in my living room.”
Your savings depend on your home, insurer and policy.