How Do You Retrofit an Existing Building for Hurricanes?

Hurricane retrofits fix the load path (roof ties, gable bracing) and the envelope (impact openings, rated garage door, secondary water barrier), prioritized by safety per dollar. Assessment of existing conditions comes first; insurance credits help fund the work. The prioritization logic: keep the roof on first, keep the envelope intact second, keep the water out third. Each layer assumes the one before it.

It starts with a wind-mitigation assessment — documenting the existing roof covering, deck attachment, roof-to-wall connections, opening protection, and roof geometry. That assessment does double duty: it tells the engineer what to fix and it establishes the baseline for insurance credits. The retrofit design then targets the gaps: straps and ties where connections are missing, opening protection where glazing is unrated, bracing where gables are unbraced, and secondary water barrier at the next re-roof. Construction on an occupied building takes choreography. Roof connections are installed from the attic, opening protection goes in opening by opening, and the work sequences to keep the building weather-tight throughout. I always specify a final wind-mitigation inspection at completion — the updated form is what unlocks the insurance credits, and it needs the documentation of every upgrade installed.

Not every building needs everything. Here's the order I prioritize. Highest value first.

• Roof-to-wall connections: straps and ties on every rafter and truss — the number one priority
• Opening protection: impact-rated or shuttered windows, doors, and a wind-rated garage door
• Gable-end bracing: triangular gable walls braced back to the roof structure
• Secondary water barrier: self-adhering membrane at the next roof replacement
• Documentation: final wind-mitigation inspection to capture every insurance credit earned