If you live along the Texas coast, your property must be able to meet certain building standards to get a policy through the Texas Windstorm Insurance Association (TWIA). There are 14 coastal counties in the State of Texas that are in a designated catastrophe area, and any properties located in this zone may not be able to get a policy for covering windstorm and hail damage from a private insurer. They can get one through TWIA. But if they want to get a policy through this program, they will have to get a certificate of compliance (which proves that the property meets certain building codes and can withstand wind and hail).
Why a Windstorm Certification is Important
Texas doesn’t have any requirements for windstorm insurance, but almost every mortgage company will require it as part of their terms. Even if you build your own home, you must do it according to certain windstorm specifications. Inspections can only be performed during the construction process, so the Certificate of Compliance becomes a major selling point that guarantees code compliance and eligibility for windstorm insurance. If you build or renovate a property without getting this certificate, it will be hard to sell it because it may not be eligible for windstorm coverage or require a hefty surcharge to the premium.
Once a hurricane enters the Gulf of Mexico, you won’t be able buy a new or any additional windstorm insurance policy until it has cleared the area. Flood insurance is just as important for coastal homes and businesses, but they don’t have any protection from wind or hail damage. The same is true for windstorm policies, which won’t protect your home from flood damage. That’s why you need them both.
Coastal Counties That are Susceptible to Hurricanes
Here is a list of Texas counties that are considered a high risk for hurricanes:
- Aransas
- Brazoria
- Calhoun
- Cameron
- Chambers
- Galveston
- Jefferson
- Kenedy
- Kleberg
- Matagorda
- Nueces
- Refugio
- San Patricio
- Willacy
If you have properties in any of these areas, you should make sure they meet Texas windstorm certification requirements.
Types of Windstorm Certificates in Texas
The Texas Department of Insurance (TDI) issues two types of certificates of compliance:
- A WPI-8 for ongoing construction — These inspections can be performed by an engineer who has been licensed by the state or a TDI windstorm inspector while the work is in progress.
- A WPI-8-E for completed construction — These inspections must be performed by an engineer who has been licensed by the state.
Be sure to speak to a professional for more information about Texas windstorm certification.
Inspection Requirements for Texas Windstorm Certification
Most new construction projects, major repairs, roof replacements, or alterations require an inspection and a certificate of compliance. There are often a lot of strict regulations with regard to the structural parts of your home. You don’t want your roof to put you and your family in danger. But if you want it to be certified for Texas windstorm insurance, it must be able to withstand winds of up to 100 mph and gusts of up to 110 mph. If you live on the Gulf Coast, it must be able to withstand wind gusts of up to 128mph. These regulations are there to ensure your safety and wellbeing, because your home will be better protected from seasonally strong winds in your area.
A home inspector will be able to determine what needs to be done to get your home up to par with windstorm regulations, which will include the following:
- The roofing material is at least 1/7 of an inch thick and is used as roof decking.
- The plywood decking is nailed every four inches at the edge of the roof and every six inches within the center areas of the roof.
- The fasteners are at least 0.132 x 2.5 inches and sit flush with the platform.
If you’re planning to have your roof renovated, there must be at least a 15-pound minimum layer of new shingling placed on top the existing shingles. This is because new fasteners tend to not hold in place when they’re attached to old roofing. If your roof already has two layers of existing shingles, all of it must be stripped and replaced with a brand new roof. This is done to prevent decay and rot from forming over time.
If you’re looking for one of the best roofers in Corpus Christi, be sure to get in touch with B. Ramirez Roofing. We would be happy to speak with you about your specific needs!