IBHS FORTIFIED Roof Installation in South Carolina
Exterior Genie LLC is listed in the IBHS FORTIFIED provider directory as an active FORTIFIED Roofer. We are also an SC Safe Home approved contractor and approved inspector, helping South Carolina homeowners replace their roofs to a stronger, documented standard.
Request a FORTIFIED Roof Estimate
Pick a day that works for you — it takes about 60 seconds.
- Veteran-owned & operated
- Owens Corning Preferred Contractor
- Free, no-obligation inspection
Prefer to talk? Call (803) 999-7663
What a FORTIFIED Roof Is
FORTIFIED is a program of the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety (IBHS). A FORTIFIED roof is built to a published set of construction requirements focused on keeping the roof deck attached, the edges secured and water out of the home when high winds strike.
Projects permitted on or after November 1, 2025 follow the 2025 FORTIFIED Home Standard. The roof is not simply described as FORTIFIED by the installer; it earns a designation from IBHS once an independent Evaluator has documented the work.
For a homeowner, that means a roof replacement with a clear checklist behind it and an outside party confirming the work was done. As an active FORTIFIED Roofer, we build to that checklist; the Evaluator and IBHS handle verification and designation.
How It Differs From a Standard Re-Roof
Choosing new shingles is only one part of a FORTIFIED re-roof. A FORTIFIED roof requires specific steps beneath and around the shingles: the old roof comes off down to the deck, damaged decking is replaced, the deck is re-nailed with ring-shank nails on a tight pattern, every seam is sealed, and the edges receive new drip edge fastened and sealed to the standard.
The other key difference is verification. Every required step is documented by a certified FORTIFIED Evaluator who is independent of the roofing contractor, and IBHS reviews that record before issuing a designation.
What We Install
Each FORTIFIED roof we build includes the following components. These requirements work together: the ring-shank nailing pattern holds the deck to the framing, the sealed deck helps keep water out of the home if shingles are lost, the fastened and sealed drip edge protects the roof perimeter, and high-wind rated shingles installed to the manufacturer's high-wind method complete the system. Because the Evaluator must document these steps, we plan each project so the work can be recorded at the right stages.
Full tear-off to the deck
We remove the existing roof covering down to the roof deck so every layer of the new system can be inspected and installed correctly.
Damaged decking replaced
Any damaged deck boards found after tear-off are replaced before the new roof goes on.
Deck re-nailed with ring-shank nails
The deck is re-nailed using 8d ring-shank nails spaced a maximum of 4 inches on center.
Sealed roof deck
All deck seams are sealed with approved tape, or the entire deck is covered with an approved full self-adhered membrane.
Corrosion-resistant drip edge
New corrosion-resistant drip edge is installed at eaves and rakes, fastened a maximum of 4 inches on center and sealed at the eaves.
High-wind rated shingles
Shingles rated to ASTM D3161 Class F or ASTM D7158 Class H, installed using the manufacturer's high-wind installation method.
How Designation Works
Installing the roof is our job. Evaluating it and designating it are not. Keeping those roles separate is what gives a FORTIFIED designation its value, and it is why we are clear that the designation is issued by IBHS, not by Exterior Genie.
- 1
We install to the standard
Exterior Genie builds the roof to the FORTIFIED Home Standard that applies to your project.
- 2
An independent Evaluator documents the work
A certified FORTIFIED Evaluator, independent of our company, documents the installation and submits it to IBHS.
- 3
IBHS reviews the submission
The Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety reviews the documentation.
- 4
IBHS issues the designation
If approved, IBHS issues a FORTIFIED designation valid for five years, renewable through reinspection.
Keep the distinction between an installation estimate and a designation certificate in mind when discussing your roof. Our estimate describes the installation work; it is not an IBHS designation. The independent certified FORTIFIED Evaluator documents the required work and submits that record for review. IBHS, rather than the roofer, determines whether to issue the designation certificate. That certificate is valid for five years and can be renewed with re-inspection. Some insurers offer discounts for FORTIFIED homes, but homeowners should ask their insurer whether a discount applies to their policy. Neither an estimate nor a grant inquiry confirms an insurance discount.
SC Safe Home Grants
SC Safe Home is a South Carolina Department of Insurance program for owner-occupied single-family homes in eleven counties: Beaufort, Berkeley, Charleston, Colleton, Dorchester, Florence, Georgetown, Horry, Jasper, Marion, Williamsburg. Its Resilient grant for a Safe Home plus FORTIFIED Roof project offers up to $7,500 non-matching or up to $6,000 matching.
These amounts are as published by the SC Department of Insurance; amounts and application windows can change.
Being in a listed county is not a promise of a grant award. Review the current program information before treating any grant amount as available for your project. Our role as an approved contractor and approved inspector is separate from the state's grant approval decision.
Grant windows open periodically, so check doi.sc.gov for current status. We cannot promise approval, and contacting us is not a grant application. Homes in Lexington and Richland counties are not eligible for these grants, but anyone can choose a FORTIFIED roof.
Coastal Service Areas
Explore our service information for Charleston, Summerville and Florence below when planning a FORTIFIED roof. For grant eligibility, check your property's county against the eleven-county list rather than relying on a city name alone, and check current application status at doi.sc.gov. Whether or not you pursue a grant, the FORTIFIED installation and independent designation process remain separate from the grant decision.
FORTIFIED Roof FAQ
Does Exterior Genie certify or designate FORTIFIED roofs?+
No. Exterior Genie LLC is listed in the IBHS FORTIFIED provider directory as an active FORTIFIED Roofer, but we are not a FORTIFIED Evaluator. An independent certified FORTIFIED Evaluator documents the work and submits it to IBHS, and IBHS reviews it and issues the designation.
How long does a FORTIFIED designation last?+
IBHS issues a FORTIFIED designation that lasts five years. It can be renewed through reinspection.
Will a FORTIFIED roof lower my insurance premium?+
Some insurers offer discounts for FORTIFIED roofs. Discount availability and amounts are set by your insurer, so ask your insurance company directly what applies to your policy.
Am I eligible for an SC Safe Home grant?+
SC Safe Home serves owner-occupied single-family homes in Beaufort, Berkeley, Charleston, Colleton, Dorchester, Florence, Georgetown, Horry, Jasper, Marion and Williamsburg counties. Grant windows open periodically, so check doi.sc.gov for current status. We cannot promise approval, and contacting us is not a grant application.
I live in Lexington or Richland County. Can I still get a FORTIFIED roof?+
Yes. Lexington and Richland counties are not eligible for SC Safe Home grants, but any homeowner can choose to have a FORTIFIED roof installed.
Request a FORTIFIED Roof Estimate
Pick a day that works for you — it takes about 60 seconds.
- Veteran-owned & operated
- Owens Corning Preferred Contractor
- Free, no-obligation inspection
Prefer to talk? Call (803) 999-7663