FORTIFIED Roof in New Orleans

A FORTIFIED roof in New Orleans is a roof built or replaced to the FORTIFIED Roof standard, a voluntary construction standard from the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety (IBHS) designed to strengthen a roof against high winds and hurricanes. An independent evaluator documents the work, and IBHS issues the designation. TurnKey Roofers is FORTIFIED certified, and our own crews install roofs on homes across the city.

To talk through a FORTIFIED roof for your home, book a free roof inspection or call 504-732-0336. You’ll get photos of what we find and a written estimate, with no obligation to book the work.

FORTIFIED Roof Key Facts

FORTIFIED is a voluntary construction and re-roofing program run by IBHS.
The roof standard rests on enhanced roof deck attachment, a sealed roof deck and locked-down roof edges.
There are three designation levels: FORTIFIED Roof, FORTIFIED Silver and FORTIFIED Gold.
An independent, certified FORTIFIED Evaluator documents the work before IBHS issues a designation.
The Louisiana Department of Insurance (LDI) states: “FORTIFIED designations last five years.”
Louisiana has a Fortify Homes Program, which LDI says “helps Louisiana homeowners strengthen their roofs to better withstand hurricane-force winds.”

What Is a FORTIFIED Roof?

A FORTIFIED Roof is a roof system built to the IBHS FORTIFIED Roof standard. IBHS describes FORTIFIED as “a voluntary construction and re-roofing Program designed to strengthen homes and commercial buildings against specific types of severe weather such as high winds, hail, hurricanes and even tornadoes.”

The standard governs how the roof goes together, and it works with most roof covers. IBHS’s FORTIFIED Roof page says it was designed for “just about any type of roof cover (shingles, metal, tile, composite, low slope, etc.).”

IBHS lists testing and rating requirements for each of these roof covers:

Asphalt shingles
Metal panels
Tile
Low-slope roof systems

That gives you room to pick the material that suits your house and budget. A home with asphalt shingle roofing can meet the standard, and so can one with metal panels, as long as the product meets the rating or testing the standard calls for.

IBHS says the method is “backed by decades of research,” and it includes the roof steps in every FORTIFIED home. In its words, “Your roof is your home’s first line of defense against severe weather, and if it fails, water can pour in causing severe damage throughout.”

What Are the FORTIFIED Roof Requirements?

The FORTIFIED Roof requirements cover three things: how the roof deck is attached, how the deck is sealed, and how the edges are locked down. The roof cover, flashing and attic vents have to meet the standard as well.

Here is what the standard asks for, drawn from IBHS and from LDI’s page for service providers:

Roof deck attachment. Ring-shank nails replace common smooth nails, set in a tighter pattern. LDI specifies 8D ring-shank nails, and IBHS says its testing shows this “can double the uplift your roof can withstand.”
Roof deck thickness. LDI states the deck “must meet or exceed 15/32-inch nominal thickness.”
Sealed roof deck. FORTIFIED requires a sealed roof deck. IBHS says sealing the seams of the deck can reduce water intrusion by up to 95%.
Roof edges. The standard requires a wider drip edge and a fully adhered starter strip. LDI adds that the drip edge “must be new and securely installed.”
Flashing. LDI states that flashing “must be new” and that reusing old flashing needs prior approval.
Roof cover. IBHS says asphalt shingles must meet the highest wind ratings, ASTM D3161 Class F or ASTM D7158 Class H. Metal, tile and low-slope systems must be tested for the design pressures at your site.
Attic vents. FORTIFIED requires attic vents that resist wind and rain.

IBHS also offers an optional Hail Supplement with impact requirements for the roof cover. LDI notes that the FORTIFIED requirements are minimums, and where they conflict with building code or the manufacturer’s specifications, the more stringent rule applies.

FORTIFIED Roof, Silver and Gold Compared

FORTIFIED has three levels, and each one includes everything in the level below it. FORTIFIED Roof covers the roof system, Silver adds protection for other components of the house, and Gold ties the whole structure together.

Level	What it covers	What it adds
FORTIFIED Roof	The roof system	Enhanced roof deck attachment, a sealed roof deck, locked-down roof edges, and attic vents that resist wind and rain
FORTIFIED Silver	Everything in FORTIFIED Roof, plus what LDI calls “vulnerable and often overlooked components”	IBHS names stronger garage doors, anchored carports and porches, and reinforced chimneys and gable ends
FORTIFIED Gold	Everything in FORTIFIED Roof and Silver, plus the structure as a whole	An engineered continuous load path

IBHS explains the top level on its FORTIFIED Gold page, where it describes the continuous load path as a plan for “how your roof should be fixed to your walls, and how the walls should be anchored to the foundation.” Silver and Gold add further requirements beyond the ones in this table, and IBHS publishes the full detail.

A roof replacement is a practical time to reach the Roof level, because the crew already has the deck exposed. Silver and Gold reach past the roof into garage doors, gable ends and structural connections, so they take in more of the house than a roof replacement does.

How Does FORTIFIED Certification Work?

A roof earns a FORTIFIED designation when a certified evaluator documents that the work meets the standard and IBHS approves that documentation. Your roofer builds the roof, and the evaluator and IBHS verify it.

Start with a roof inspection. Our free inspection gives you an assessment of your roof with photos and a written estimate.
Hire a FORTIFIED Evaluator. LDI describes evaluators as “independent, third-party professionals who have been trained and certified in FORTIFIED™ standard requirements.” LDI says the evaluator determines whether the home is eligible to be upgraded to the standard and what work it needs.
Pull the permits. LDI says homeowners must make sure their contractor receives all applicable building permits from the local building inspector’s office.
Build the roof to the standard. While the contractor installs the upgrades, IBHS says your evaluator “will document those key elements.” LDI adds that evaluators “document and verify the entire construction process.”
Send the documentation to IBHS. The evaluator provides a report to IBHS.
Receive your certificate. IBHS reviews the file and issues the designation. LDI calls it “written certification that a home or business has been built, renovated, or re-roofed according to FORTIFIED standards.”
Renew the designation. LDI states: “FORTIFIED designations last five years.” It adds that a re-designation inspection through a FORTIFIED Evaluator “is typically all that is required to renew the designation for another five-year period.”

LDI also notes that designation certificates are transferable upon a home sale. If you’d like to know where your roof stands before you hire an evaluator, a roof inspection gives you an assessment with photos.

To get a price for your roof, call 504-732-0336 and we’ll schedule your free inspection and written estimate.

FORTIFIED Roofs in Louisiana: The Louisiana Fortify Homes Program

The Louisiana Department of Insurance publishes the details of a state program tied to the FORTIFIED Roof standard. In LDI’s words, the Louisiana Fortify Homes Program (LFHP) “helps Louisiana homeowners strengthen their roofs to better withstand hurricane-force winds.”

Check LDI’s program page for whether registration is currently open, who is eligible and how the program works. Those details can change, and LDI is the source for the current rules.

LDI’s page states two rules to know before you plan a project:

LDI lists “New construction homes” among the homes that “are not eligible to participate in the program.”
LDI states: “Homeowners who select a Contractor and begin work on the project before receiving approval from the LFHP are not eligible for the program.”

On insurance, LDI’s Fortify Homes FAQ says: “After the work is complete and your home is upgraded to the FORTIFIED™ Roof standard, you will be issued a certificate that can be shared with your insurer for a discount on your premium.” Confirm with your insurer whether a discount applies to your policy.

We can’t tell you whether you’ll qualify for the program or what your insurer will offer. Confirm both with LDI and with your insurer before you plan around either one.

What Affects FORTIFIED Roof Cost?

Meeting the FORTIFIED standard adds to the cost of a roof. LDI’s wind mitigation page refers to the increased costs of repairing or replacing a roof to meet the FORTIFIED standards. We don’t publish a flat price, since the number depends on your roof.

These are the factors that move the price:

Roof size and pitch. A larger or steeper roof takes more material and more time.
The roof cover you choose. The product has to meet the rating or testing in the standard, and a New Orleans metal roof is priced differently from asphalt shingles.
The condition of the deck. Decking that needs repair adds work, and LDI’s summary sets a minimum nominal thickness of 15/32 inch.
The added FORTIFIED work. Ring-shank nailing of the deck, sealing the deck seams, a new drip edge, new flashing and an adhered starter strip can all add labor and material.
Attic vents. The standard requires vents that resist wind and rain, so existing vents may need replacing.
The evaluator’s fees. LDI says homeowners are responsible for paying evaluation fees “according to prices set by the Evaluator.”

We give you a written estimate after a free inspection. For a sense of what a standard replacement runs before those upgrades, read our guide to roof replacement cost in New Orleans.

New Roof or Re-Roof: When Can You Get a FORTIFIED Roof in New Orleans?

You can get a FORTIFIED Roof designation on a new home or on an existing home when the roof is replaced. IBHS describes FORTIFIED as both a construction and a re-roofing program, and LDI describes the designation as certification that a home has been “built, renovated, or re-roofed” to the standard.

Re-roofing an existing home

On an existing home, the opening comes when the old roof is due to come off. The nailing and sealing requirements apply to the roof deck, so a full New Orleans roof replacement is the practical time to do that work.

On a replacement, our crew removes the old roof and repairs the decking where needed before the new roof goes on.

Building a new roof

On a new home, the roof can be built to the standard from the start. If you’re planning a new roof installation, tell us you’d like to build to FORTIFIED and we’ll explain what that involves.

One difference to plan for is that LDI lists “New construction homes” among the homes that “are not eligible to participate in the program.” Check LDI’s page for the current rule.

Choosing a FORTIFIED Roofing Contractor in New Orleans

Choose a roofer who knows the standard and will work with your evaluator, who documents the key elements as the roof goes on. IBHS has a Provider Locator tool for finding a roofer, builder or FORTIFIED Evaluator, and you can reach it through the FORTIFIED program site.

For grant-funded work, LDI states: “All providers must be certified through IBHS and approved by LFHP before performing any grant-funded work.” Confirm a provider’s current status with IBHS and LDI.

Before you sign with any roofer for this work, ask about:

Their FORTIFIED training and how you can check it
Their Louisiana license. LDI’s wind mitigation page says roofers must hold a Residential Roofing or Residential Contracting license for projects beginning on or after August 1, 2025
Who installs the roof
Whether the written estimate covers the deck attachment, sealed deck, drip edge and flashing work
How they’ll work with your evaluator during the installation

How TurnKey Roofers handles it

TurnKey Roofers is GAF Master Elite and FORTIFIED certified, and licensed and insured in Louisiana. Our residential license number is 890459 and our commercial license number is 3667.

Our own crews handle the installation, from the decking and underlayment to the flashing, ventilation and finished roof. The people who plan your roof are part of the team that installs it.

We inspect the roof, give you a written estimate, and start only after you approve it. When the roof is finished, we clean up the site and walk the roof with you.

If you’d like to build to the FORTIFIED standard, we’ll explain what a FORTIFIED roof involves. If a designation doesn’t fit your plans, see our guide to the best roofing options for the New Orleans climate.

Warranties on a TurnKey Roof

Every TurnKey installation is backed by a 50-year non-prorated warranty, a 10-year workmanship warranty and a 15-year unlimited wind warranty that holds even for named storms. These warranties are separate from the IBHS designation, which certifies how the roof was built.

With a non-prorated warranty, the coverage does not shrink as the years pass. The workmanship warranty covers how we install the materials, which a materials warranty leaves out.

You can read more about the unlimited wind warranty, and we’ll go over the details for your roof when we quote it.

FORTIFIED Roof FAQ

What is a FORTIFIED roof?

A FORTIFIED roof is a roof built or replaced to the FORTIFIED Roof standard from the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety. The standard requires stronger roof deck attachment, a sealed roof deck and locked-down roof edges. A certified evaluator documents the work, and IBHS issues the designation.

How long does a FORTIFIED designation last?

The Louisiana Department of Insurance states: “FORTIFIED designations last five years.” It adds that a re-designation inspection through a FORTIFIED Evaluator “is typically all that is required to renew the designation for another five-year period.”

Who inspects a FORTIFIED roof?

A certified FORTIFIED Evaluator inspects and documents the roof. LDI describes evaluators as independent, third-party professionals trained and certified in the standard’s requirements. The evaluator reports to IBHS, and IBHS issues the certificate.

Can any roofing material be used on a FORTIFIED roof?

Most can. IBHS says the standard works with shingles, metal, tile, composite and low-slope roofs. The product has to meet the standard’s testing and rating requirements, such as ASTM D3161 Class F or ASTM D7158 Class H for asphalt shingles.

Does Louisiana have a grant program for FORTIFIED roofs?

Yes. The Louisiana Department of Insurance says the Louisiana Fortify Homes Program “helps Louisiana homeowners strengthen their roofs to better withstand hurricane-force winds.” Check LDI’s program page for whether registration is open, who is eligible and how it works.

How much does a FORTIFIED roof cost in New Orleans?

There is no single price. The cost depends on the size and pitch of the roof, the roof cover, the condition of the decking and the evaluator’s fees. We give you a written estimate after a free inspection.

Is TurnKey Roofers FORTIFIED certified?

Yes. TurnKey Roofers is GAF Master Elite and FORTIFIED certified, and licensed and insured in Louisiana. Our own crews handle the installation.

Book a Free FORTIFIED Roof Inspection in New Orleans

The first step is a free roof inspection. We’ll assess your roof, send you photos and a written estimate, and explain what a FORTIFIED roof involves if you’d like to build to that standard.

A roof project takes planning, so it helps to start well ahead of storm season. If storms are on your mind, our guide on preparing your roof for hurricane season covers what to check in the meantime.

Call 504-732-0336 or request your free roof inspection online. There’s no cost and no obligation to book the work.