We’re not afraid
of the big, bad wolf.
Withstand extreme winds and
save thousands of dollars
in insurance every year.
nce upon a time,
houses were built
without hurricane straps.
The majority of homes in Merritt Island and Cocoa Beach were built before 2015. However, almost 90% of homes in Brevard county were built before the year 2002, when hurricane clips, ties, and straps were not required, and existing codes were not well enforced.
According to RiskFactor.com,
100% of properties in Merritt Island and Cocoa Beach face extreme risk of high winds.
That’s more than 14,000 homes in the path of the next monster hurricane predicted to hit Brevard County within thirty years.
“What are hurricane ties?”
Hurricane ties, straps, and clips are segments of stainless or galvanized steel that secure your roof to the walls of your house. Like stakes for a tent, they prevent your roof from lifting off in strong winds.
Clips (pictured above) are required by the FBC – Florida Building Code since 2002.
Straps (picture below), if installed properly, are superior to clips.
Straps are typically imbedded into the concrete tiebeam on top of the wall during the original install. Retrofit hurricane straps are attached to concrete walls with concrete screws, then fastened to the wood truss with nails. Proper straps wrap over the truss and onto the other side. They also contain at least two nails on the front side and one nail on the back side.
Hurricane straps are better than clips. Straps are much better at holding the roof onto the walls during wind storms. Insurance companies prefer that your home has straps instead of clips even if the clips on your house meet code. Insurance carriers offer discounts for having straps instead of clips or toenails… a large discount!
There are 4 applicable levels, or ratings, for hurricane attachments on wood truss style rafters. Odds are, you can improve your rating with a hurricane tie retrofit.
This is great news! Most houses with hurricane clips can be upgraded with straps, and the homeowner will save a lot of money on their insurance premiums.
The Federal Alliance for Safe Homes (FLASH), a disaster preparedness organization based in Florida, also recommends that Merritt Island residents install hurricane straps.
If your home was built before 2015, you may not have the most up-to-date hurricane straps or sufficient anchoring for your existing straps to be considered a lower risk by insurance carriers. Therefore, insurance companies will charge you much higher premiums.
If you’re not replacing your roof, adding hurricane straps or extra nails can be challenging.
“Never fear!” said Kirk.
“We can add them!”
Hello there! My name is Kirk Norman. I’m a general contractor in Brevard County with more than 30 years of experience in the construction industry. Here is why I am passionate about hurricane retrofitting:
Being Proactive
In addition to repairing homes myself as a contractor for over 30 years, I have helped thousands of homeowners get repairs covered by insurance after a devastating storm. I’ve worked as a claims adjuster for 14 years. I’ve seen thousands of homes across Florida torn apart, including once-beautiful living rooms ruined after the roof was ripped away and rain poured in from above. (If you want a room with a view, there are better ways to get it.)
No one ever thinks it’s going to happen to their home.
Now I want to help before the storm hits.
Saving You Money
As your neighbor and a licensed and insured Florida General Contractor, my goal is to establish happy, long-term clients. That means doing what’s right and genuinely caring about home owners.
My cost estimates are competitive and come with full transparency. I just saved one Cocoa Beach resident $3,700 in insurance this year by providing hurricane retrofitting. That means they will save more than $37,000 over the next decade.
I will ensure that the work we do improves your life and saves you money.
Trustworthy Partners
I work with a small, trusted team of local tradesmen. This includes Charlie.
If you received our advertisement on your door, Charlie is the man who put it there. He’s a good guy who also lives in Merritt Island.
We are your neighbors, and we want to see your home survive the next big storm.
3… 2… 1… Don’t lift off!
Call us at 321-307-7320. Secure your roof!
Call us for a free consultation. If we upgrade your home, we can also provide a free wind mitigation inspection. Give the results of our inspection to your home insurance agent, and you may receive an immediate discount on your insurance of 25 to 35%.
Hurricane retrofitting typically involves removing the soffit (the material under the eave that extends from the exterior wall to the fascia). In other scenarios, we can simply add a third nail to the existing ties. In both cases, you save money every year thereafter.