FORTIFIED Roofing Near You With Sealed Roof Decks, Ring Shank Nails and Reinforced Edges for Hurricane Season
Charleston Roofs and Windows Builds Your Next Roof to the IBHS FORTIFIED Standard So It Stays Put When the Wind Hits
Most roofs fail at the edges first. Wind gets under the drip edge, peels the shingles, and then rain pours through the open seams in the deck. A FORTIFIED roof is built to stop that chain before it starts.
Charleston Roofs and Windows installs Safe Home FORTIFIED roofing at replacement: sealed deck, ring shank nails, reinforced edges. A W2 project manager runs your job, and an independent evaluator verifies it. Most roofs finish in a day.
- Atlas Pro+ Diamond Level
- Viwinco Blue Label
- BBB A+ Accredited
- 4.9 Stars, 680 Google Reviews
- 0% Financing for 12 Months
How to Choose a FORTIFIED Roofing Company Near You That Gets Every Detail on Camera
A FORTIFIED roof only counts if an independent evaluator can verify it. Your roofer has to build to the standard and document each stage before it's covered. Charleston Roofs and Windows builds that into the job.
"Luis, our project manager went above and beyond to make sure we understood every step of the process. I really appreciated how he took pictures and did a final quality check after the work was done."
Three Questions to Ask Before You Hire
Ask every FORTIFIED roofing contractor near you these three questions. Here's how Charleston Roofs and Windows answers.
Do You Know the Current FORTIFIED Roof Standard?
The IBHS updated the FORTIFIED Home standard in 2025. New decking now has a 7/16 inch minimum thickness, and only certain shingle wind ratings qualify. A roofer working from an old checklist can cost you the designation.
How Charleston Roofs and Windows Answers
We install to the details the current standard calls for: deck attachment, edge protection and water barriers. Our manufacturer credential also shows we install complete roofing systems the way the maker specifies.
● Atlas Pro+ Diamond Level
The top tier of the Atlas Pro+ program, earned by installed volume, not a fee. We're the only Diamond Level contractor in our service area.
Who Photographs the Work Before It Gets Covered?
Ring shank nails and deck tape disappear under underlayment within hours. Missing photos are one of the most common reasons a FORTIFIED designation gets held up.
How Charleston Roofs and Windows Answers
Your W2 project manager is on site during tear-off, deck nailing and underlayment. Taking photos as the work goes in is already how our project managers run a job, as our reviews show.
● W2 Project Manager on Every Roof
An employee who knows the trade and owns your roof from tear-off to final walkaround.
What Happens If You Find Bad Decking Under My Old Roof?
Nobody knows the condition of the deck until the shingles come off. Rotten or thin sheathing has to be replaced before it can be sealed and re-nailed to the FORTIFIED pattern.
How Charleston Roofs and Windows Answers
Your project manager shows you what the crew found and your options before work continues. No shortcuts on the deck.
"The foreman kept me inform on the progress and any unforeseen problems once the old roof was removed."
What Makes a Roof FORTIFIED
A FORTIFIED roof is a roof built to the FORTIFIED Home standard from the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety (IBHS) and verified by an independent evaluator. Charleston Roofs and Windows builds the roof. The evaluator confirms it and the homeowner gets a certificate.
The Sealed Roof Deck
A sealed roof deck keeps rain out of your attic even if wind strips the shingles off. IBHS says sealing the deck seams can cut water intrusion by up to 95 percent. The standard accepts a few ways to do it.
Approved Sealing Methods
- Self-adhered tape over every sheathing joint, then underlayment over the whole deck.
- Two layers of underlayment, lapped 19 inches on horizontal seams and 6 inches on vertical seams.
- A full self-adhered membrane covering the entire deck.
Ring Shank Nails in a Tighter Pattern
Ring shank nails have ridges that grip the wood like a screw. IBHS says they nearly double the roof deck's resistance to wind compared to smooth nails. The FORTIFIED pattern calls for 8d ring shank nails 6 inches apart on every rafter or truss.
Enhanced Edges and Drip Edge
Edges take the hardest wind loads on any roof. A FORTIFIED roof uses a wider drip edge that reaches at least 2 inches onto the deck, overlaps 3 inches at joints, and gets staggered nails no more than 12 inches apart.
A fully adhered starter strip locks the first course of shingles down.
Wind-Rated Shingles and Vents
Asphalt shingles on a FORTIFIED roof must carry one of the top wind ratings, such as ASTM D3161 Class F or ASTM D7158 Class H. Metal and tile systems need tested ratings for the home's design pressures. Attic vents must resist wind and rain.
The Certified Evaluator and Your Certificate
A FORTIFIED Evaluator is an independent, trained third party who documents and verifies the build. The evaluator stays separate from the roofer, and the evaluator fee is billed separately. Once approved, your FORTIFIED certificate is valid for five years.
"We had to replace or roof and ended up having to replace some of the OSB as well because of leaking. They completed the work timely and did a beautiful job."
Standard Roof vs. FORTIFIED Roof Side by Side
A standard roof is built to code minimums. A FORTIFIED roof adds specific upgrades at the deck and edges, where hurricanes do the most damage. Here's how a typical Charleston Roofs and Windows replacement compares when you upgrade to FORTIFIED.
| Component | Standard Roof Replacement | FORTIFIED Roof |
|---|---|---|
| Deck nails | Smooth shank nails common | 8d ring shank nails, 6 inches apart on every framing member |
| Deck seams | Underlayment only | Sealed with tape, double-lapped underlayment or full membrane |
| Drip edge | Standard width | Wider drip edge, staggered nailing every 12 inches max |
| Starter strip | Standard starter | Fully adhered starter strip at eaves and rakes |
| Shingle rating | Varies by product | ASTM D3161 Class F or ASTM D7158 Class H |
| Attic vents | Standard vents | Wind and rain resistant vents |
| Verification | Contractor only | Independent FORTIFIED Evaluator, stage photos |
| Proof for your file | Contractor invoice | FORTIFIED certificate, valid five years |
FORTIFIED Roof vs. Silver vs. Gold
FORTIFIED has three levels, and each one builds on the one before it. FORTIFIED Roof is the first level and the one Charleston Roofs and Windows installs. Silver and Gold reinforce the rest of the house.
Start With the Roof
The roof is where wind and water get in first, which is why it's the first level. Every Silver and Gold home starts with a FORTIFIED Roof designation.
Where Impact Windows Fit In
Charleston Roofs and Windows installs hurricane impact windows as a Viwinco Blue Label installer. If you're working toward a higher level, your evaluator confirms which products qualify before you order.
Why a FORTIFIED Roof Matters for Lowcountry Hurricane Exposure
Hurricane exposure is the reason FORTIFIED exists. Charleston Roofs and Windows customers have lived through Ian and Helene, and the pattern repeats: shingles lift at the edges, the deck opens up, and water does the real damage inside.
How Hurricanes Break a Standard Roof
The Failure Chain
- Edges lift first. Wind catches the drip edge and starter course.
- Shingles peel back. One lifted course exposes the next.
- Sheathing pulls loose. Smooth nails let panels pop off under suction.
- Rain floods the attic. Open seams let water soak insulation and ceilings.
A FORTIFIED roof breaks that chain at every step, and the sealed seams keep water out even if shingles go.
Coastal Homes Take the Hardest Hit
Island homes face open-water wind and salt air. Inland homes still see tropical storm gusts and falling limbs. Charleston Roofs and Windows builds FORTIFIED roofs for both.
"We have been through two storms with the new roof and it is now apparent that we are again leak free. I can't recommend Charleston Roofs and Windows enough for your roofing needs."
How to Reach Charleston Roofs and Windows and Where to Find Us
Charleston Roofs and Windows can get an inspection manager to your home within a day or two to check your roof and decking and tell you whether a FORTIFIED replacement makes sense.
Call Us
Talk to the Charleston Roofs and Windows office team at 843-955-8558. Ask for a FORTIFIED roof estimate and they'll book your free inspection on the first call.
843-955-8558 →Book Online
Fill out the free inspection form and mention FORTIFIED in the notes. Our office team calls you back to confirm a time.
Visit Our Office
Charleston Roofs and Windows 9565 William Aiken Ave Ste 102Ladson, SC 29456
843-955-8558 Get Directions ↗
What Happens After You Reach Out
We call you back to confirm a time that works.
An inspection manager visits and photographs your roof, attic and decking.
You get a written estimate with the FORTIFIED scope spelled out, plus financing options.
You decide. No pressure, no expiring "today only" pricing.