A roof built to stay on when the weather turns.
FORTIFIED is a stronger, independently verified building standard from IBHS, the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety. It's engineered to keep your roof attached and water out in severe wind and storms, beyond what a standard roof is built to handle.
Wondering if it's worth it for your home?
FORTIFIED makes the most sense at certain moments, a re-roof, a storm rebuild, or building new. Ask us on a free estimate and we'll tell you honestly whether it fits your home, your budget, and your goals. We respond within 2 hours.
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A voluntary standard for a stronger roof.
FORTIFIED is a re-roofing and construction standard developed by IBHS, the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety, a research organization. It comes from decades of studying how roofs actually fail in storms, then engineering the build to prevent it.
Instead of just meeting the minimum building code, a FORTIFIED roof adds specific, tested upgrades at the points where roofs typically let go in high wind, and the work is independently verified before it earns the designation.
- Built around a sealed roof deck, a backup barrier if shingles are lost.
- Enhanced fastening so the deck and covering resist wind uplift.
- Independently evaluated, not just self-certified by the contractor.
The difference is where roofs actually fail.
When a roof comes off in a storm, it usually doesn't start in the middle of the field, it starts at the edges and the deck, then peels. FORTIFIED targets exactly those weak points:
- The deck is sealed, so even if some shingles blow off, water doesn't pour straight into the home.
- The deck is fastened with a tighter nailing pattern to resist uplift.
- The edges are reinforced, the first place wind gets under a roof.
- It's verified by a third party, so the upgrades are proven, not assumed.
What a FORTIFIED roof gets you.
It's an upgrade, so the real question is what you get for it. Here's the honest case, with the parts that depend on your insurer flagged as such.
Better storm resistance
The whole point: a roof engineered to stay on and keep water out in severe wind and storms, where ordinary roofs fail.
Possible insurance benefits
In states that recognize FORTIFIED, it can qualify for insurance incentives or discounts. Availability varies by state and insurer, so check yours.
Independent proof
You get a third-party-verified designation, documentation that the roof was actually built to the standard, not just claimed.
Resale & peace of mind
A documented, stronger roof can be a selling point, and it's real peace of mind every time a storm rolls through.
Less storm damage risk
By keeping the roof intact, FORTIFIED helps reduce the interior and structural damage that follows when a roof fails.
Done at the right moment
It's most cost-effective during a re-roof or storm rebuild, when much of the work is happening anyway.
It only counts if it's verified.
What makes FORTIFIED meaningful is that it isn't a contractor saying "trust me." The work is checked and documented against the IBHS standard, which is also what makes it count with insurers who recognize it.
Built to the standard
We install to the FORTIFIED method, the sealed deck, fastening, and edge details the standard requires.
Evaluated independently
A FORTIFIED evaluator, a third party, reviews the documentation and confirms it meets the standard.
Designation issued
The home receives an official FORTIFIED designation, your proof of the stronger build.
FORTIFIED levels, technical requirements, evaluation, and designation are defined by IBHS. We'll confirm the current requirements and what applies to your project at your estimate.
FORTIFIED makes the most sense when...
It isn't for every project. These are the moments it tends to be worth it, and we'll always give you a straight answer for your situation.
You're re-roofing anyway
The upgrades cost far less when the roof is already being replaced.
You're rebuilding after a storm
Rebuild stronger than before so the next storm does less.
Your insurer rewards it
If your carrier offers an incentive, the math gets even better.
You're staying put
Long-term homeowners get the most from the resilience and resale.
They explained all our options clearly and didn't push anything we didn't need. The roof is rock solid and looks great.
Top notch from start to finish. Professional crew and they stand behind their work. Highly recommend.
The whole crew was professional, the work was excellent, and they cleaned up so well you'd never know they were there.
Q.01What does FORTIFIED actually mean?+
Q.02How is it different from a normal roof?+
Q.03Will a FORTIFIED roof lower my insurance?+
Q.04Does it cost more than a regular roof?+
Q.05Can you build a FORTIFIED roof?+
Q.06Can I add it to my existing roof?+
Roofing, storms & quality.
Find out if a FORTIFIED roof is right for your home.
Request a free estimate and we'll explain what FORTIFIED would mean for your roof, whether your project is the right moment for it, and what any insurance benefit might look like in your area. Straight answers, no pressure. Family-owned since 1979.
FORTIFIED is a voluntary construction and re-roofing standard developed by the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety (IBHS); FORTIFIED standards, levels, technical requirements, evaluation, and designation are defined and administered solely by IBHS, and the descriptions on this page are a general summary, not the official standard. Performance in any given storm depends on conditions and is not guaranteed. Insurance premium incentives or discounts for FORTIFIED vary by state, insurer, and policy and are determined by your insurer, not by Buckshot; confirm availability with your carrier. Buckshot General Contracting is an independent contractor trained to build to the FORTIFIED standard and is not IBHS. Confirm current requirements at your estimate. WI Lic. DC-080900045 · IL Lic. 104017198 · Family-Owned Since 1979.