Living in Tulsa and across Oklahoma means dealing with intense weather, from high winds and severe thunderstorms to destructive hail and tornadoes. Traditional roofing standards don't always hold up to the extremes we see in our state. That’s where the FORTIFIED Roof™ program comes in. Demand for it continues to grow across Oklahoma.
As a FORTIFIED-certified contractor, Tier-One Roofing is fully equipped to help you upgrade your home’s defense system. Here is what you need to know about the program, the structural benefits, and the financial incentives available through the state.
What Is a FORTIFIED Home™?
Developed by the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety (IBHS), the FORTIFIED standard is an above-code building method designed to better withstand severe weather. The program offers three levels of resilience: FORTIFIED Roof, FORTIFIED Silver™, and FORTIFIED Gold™.
FORTIFIED Roof: Strengthening the Roof System
For most homeowners, starting with a FORTIFIED Roof is a strong first step toward protecting your home from property damage. It helps keep high winds from ripping off shingles and torrential rain from destroying your home's interior. A FORTIFIED Roof goes in during a roof replacement, so it fits best when your current roof is aging or storm damaged.
A FORTIFIED Roof requires:
- Enhanced Roof Deck Attachment: We use specialized ring-shank nails, which IBHS testing shows can double the wind uplift your roof deck withstands.
- A Sealed Roof Deck: By sealing the seams of your roof deck, we help reduce water intrusion if shingles are blown off.
- Locked-Down Roof Edges: Specialized materials and installation methods help keep wind from getting underneath the edges of your roof.
- Impact-Resistant Roof Covers: To protect against Oklahoma's infamous hail, the program utilizes IBHS-tested, impact-resistant shingles.
- Wind and Rain-Resistant Attic Vents: Keeping wind-driven rain out of your attic is crucial to limiting interior water damage during a severe storm.
For more detail on each upgrade, read our post on the engineering behind a FORTIFIED roof.
FORTIFIED Silver: Protecting the Envelope
While the Roof tier hardens the top of your house, FORTIFIED Silver takes the next step by protecting your home's "envelope,” the vulnerable openings where wind and rain can force their way inside. The Strengthen Oklahoma Homes grant is built around the FORTIFIED Roof level, so check with OID before planning Silver upgrades.
All that's included in the standard FORTIFIED Roof, plus:
- Impact and Pressure-Rated Garage Doors: High winds can damage a standard garage door, and the pressure buildup inside can put your roof at risk.
- Impact Protection for Windows & Doors: Protecting these openings helps keep storm pressure and flying debris out of your living space.
- Chimney Bracing: Chimneys must be firmly anchored to the roof framing to help keep them from tearing off in a storm.
- Gable End Bracing: Unbraced gable ends are reinforced to help keep walls from collapsing under wind loads.
- Anchored Attached Structures: Carports and covered porches must be properly anchored so wind is less likely to lift them.
- Reinforced Soffits: Soffits are strengthened to stay securely in place, which helps keep wind-driven rain out of the eaves.
FORTIFIED Gold: Whole-Home Structural Protection
FORTIFIED Gold is the highest level of protection available. It engineers the entire home to act as a single, connected unit that better withstands extreme wind forces without being lifted or pushed off its foundation. As with Silver, check with OID about grant coverage before planning Gold upgrades.
All that's included in FORTIFIED Silver, plus:
- Engineered Roof-to-Wall Connections: Heavy-duty straps and anchors physically tie the roof directly to the load-bearing walls.
- Engineered Story-to-Story Connections: The upper floors are tied directly to the lower floors to create a continuous load path.
- Engineered Wall-to-Foundation Connections: The bottom-floor walls are strapped to the concrete foundation.
- Pressure-Rated Windows & Doors: Upgraded windows and doors rated to handle intense, sustained wind pressures.
- Stronger Exterior Sheathing: Reinforced exterior walls provide an enhanced layer of defense against structural failure.
The Strengthen Oklahoma Homes Program
The Oklahoma Insurance Department (OID) recognizes the benefits of this program and has launched the Strengthen Oklahoma Homes initiative to help residents pay for it.
Through this program, eligible homeowners can receive a grant of up to $10,000 to upgrade their current roof to the FORTIFIED Roof standard. OID pays the money directly to your approved contractor once IBHS certifies the job, which reduces your out-of-pocket costs.
Funding opens in application rounds, and OID has reported that earlier rounds have reached capacity, so check OID's Strengthen Oklahoma Homes page for current status and eligibility rules. Eligible homes are owner-occupied, single-family primary residences with an in-force homeowners insurance policy. Condos, duplexes, manufactured homes, and mobile homes do not qualify.
What’s the Next Step After OID Approval?
After OID approves your application, you select a certified FORTIFIED evaluator, who inspects your home and documents the scope of work for a fee you pay directly to the evaluator. You then collect bids from three approved contractors and choose one, and work can begin only after you receive your award letter. Our full grant application guide walks through each step in more detail.
Savings on Homeowners Insurance
Beyond the peace of mind that comes with a storm-resilient roof, upgrading can also pay off on your insurance bill.
Oklahoma homes with a FORTIFIED designation can qualify for a discount on the wind and hail portion of their homeowners' insurance premiums, and OID cites discounts of up to 42%. Each carrier sets its own discount, and OID reports that homeowners who complete the program save an average of $750 per year.
Some insurers also offer a FORTIFIED endorsement, an add-on that pays to upgrade your roof to the FORTIFIED standard when a covered loss requires a replacement. Coverage varies by insurer, so ask your agent whether your policy includes it. If a storm damaged your roof, we can help you document the storm damage and file your insurance claim, so you know your options before you replace anything.
Not sure your Tulsa-area home qualifies for a FORTIFIED roof? Call (918) 393-4682 or submit a contact form online, and our certified team will review your options.
Why Choose Tier-One Roofing as Your FORTIFIED-Certified Contractor?
- Veteran-Owned Commitment & Precision: Founded by military veterans, we bring the same discipline, attention to detail, and dedication to protecting our neighbors' homes as we did when serving our nation.
- HAAG-Certified Expertise: In addition to our FORTIFIED designation, we are HAAG-certified roofing inspectors and ORCA-registered contractors with over 85 years of combined experience, ensuring your roof is built correctly from the deck up.
- Rigorously Trained & Program-Vetted: Earning FORTIFIED certification requires completing intensive IBHS training and passing a comprehensive exam. Our owner, Jonathan Marsh, holds this certification, and Tier-One Roofing is separately vetted and approved by OID for grant projects.
- Official OID Listing: We appear directly on the Oklahoma Insurance Department (OID) website as an approved contractor for the Strengthen Oklahoma Homes program.
- Seamless Evaluator Coordination: Because we build strictly to IBHS standards, we know exactly what independent evaluators inspect at every step, helping ensure your roof receives its official designation without delay.
- Trusted Local Service: We install FORTIFIED roof systems for homeowners in Tulsa, Bixby, Jenks, and across the areas we serve.
Ready to protect your home and explore savings? Call (918) 393-4682 or submit a contact form online to learn more about the FORTIFIED program.