By Fareed Tulbah, owner of Caden Roofing · 8,000+ roofs inspected · Last updated November 10, 2026
0%
is the insurance discount Texas law requires for a FORTIFIED roof. Each insurer decides.
Source: TDI Commissioner’s Bulletin B-0008-26 (2026)
4 of 23
insurer groups offered a FORTIFIED discount in a 2024 survey of Texas home insurers.
Source: TDI Market Incentives Study (2024)
15 years
is the longest an asphalt shingle roof can hold a FORTIFIED designation, starting January 1, 2027.
Source: IBHS Technical Bulletin FH-2026-03
Quick Answer
A FORTIFIED roof can lower a homeowners insurance premium in Texas, but only when the insurer chooses to offer a discount. Texas law does not require a FORTIFIED discount. In a 2024 study for the Texas Department of Insurance (TDI), 4 of the 23 insurer groups that responded offered one, and those discounts averaged 9% for a FORTIFIED Roof designation.
The discount most Texas homeowners can obtain today is the impact-resistant roof discount for roofing rated Class 3 or Class 4 under UL 2218. That discount is based on the shingles. A FORTIFIED roof built with Class 3 or Class 4 shingles earns the impact discount, even when the insurer gives no credit for the FORTIFIED certificate.
Three developments could change the answer in 2027. First, TDI issued a bulletin in September 2026 encouraging insurers to offer FORTIFIED discounts. Second, a $400 million state grant program has been proposed. Third, a new IBHS rule limits a shingle roof’s FORTIFIED designation to 15 years.
What is a FORTIFIED roof designed to do?
A FORTIFIED roof is designed to stay attached and keep water out of the home during severe wind and hail. FORTIFIED is a voluntary construction standard developed by the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety (IBHS), a research organization funded by the insurance industry.
Caden Roofing describes the purpose this way: a FORTIFIED roof makes the roof more resilient and limits collateral interior damage in a catastrophic weather event. The standard is not designed to make shingles last longer. The standard adds a sealed roof deck, closer nail spacing, stronger roof edges and tested components, and an independent evaluator verifies the work before IBHS issues a certificate.
That verification is the reason insurers pay attention. A certificate gives an insurer documented proof of how the roof was built, which a standard roof replacement does not provide. For construction details and Austin pricing, see FORTIFIED Roof in Austin: What It Is, What It Costs, and What It Won’t Do.
Does Texas require an insurance discount for a FORTIFIED roof?
No. As of November 2026, no Texas statute or rule requires an insurer to discount a premium for a FORTIFIED roof or sets a discount amount. Each insurer decides whether to offer a discount and sets the amount.
On September 16, 2026, TDI issued Commissioner’s Bulletin B-0008-26. The bulletin encourages insurers to develop “meaningful, actuarially supported premium discounts” for homeowners who invest in loss mitigation, to build each mitigation item into their rating plans, and to tell policyholders which credits are available. A bulletin is guidance, not a requirement. Bulletin B-0008-26 does not require a discount, and an insurer that wants to add a discount must file the change with TDI.
| Date | Action | Effect on a FORTIFIED discount |
|---|---|---|
| November 15, 2024 | Texas A&M University at Galveston delivers the Market Incentives Study to TDI. | Documents how few Texas insurers offer a FORTIFIED discount. Requires nothing. |
| 2025 legislative session | House Bill 1576, a grant program for hurricane and windstorm loss mitigation, passes the Texas House 120 to 21 and stalls in a Senate committee. House Bill 4532, which would have required insurers to offer a FORTIFIED roof endorsement, does not become law. | No change in the law. |
| July 16, 2026 | Governor Abbott proposes a $400 million Texas Roof Fortification Program with grants of up to $10,000 per home. | A proposal. The Legislature must pass a bill. |
| August 24, 2026 | The Governor directs TDI to have insurers include FORTIFIED roof status in rate setting. | Leads to the September bulletin. |
| September 16, 2026 | TDI issues Commissioner’s Bulletin B-0008-26. | Encourages discounts. Sets no amount and requires none. |
| September 29, 2026 | IBHS releases Technical Bulletin FH-2026-03. | Limits how long a shingle roof can keep a FORTIFIED designation. |
| January 12, 2027 | The 90th Texas Legislature convenes. | The first opportunity to change the law. |
How many Texas insurers offer a FORTIFIED roof discount today?
Few. The best available data is the Market Incentives Study that Texas A&M University at Galveston completed for TDI in November 2024. Among the insurers that responded, 4 reported offering a FORTIFIED discount.
| TDI 2024 Market Incentives Study finding | Figure |
|---|---|
| Insurer groups that responded | 23 groups representing 48 companies (a 30% response rate) |
| Share of the Texas residential property market those insurers represent | 37%, by 2023 premium |
| Insurers that reported offering a FORTIFIED discount | 4 |
| Average discount those insurers reported | 9% for FORTIFIED Roof, 13% for Silver, 15% for Gold |
| Surveyed insurers that do not inform customers about FORTIFIED | 68% |
| Homes with a FORTIFIED or similar certification, as a share of the wind and hail policies those insurers wrote | About 1% |
| Insurers that support a program to promote FORTIFIED or similar standards | 57% |
Two points follow from the study. First, a FORTIFIED discount exists in Texas, but most homeowners should not assume their insurer offers one. Second, an insurer is unlikely to raise the subject, so the homeowner has to ask. The study predates the September 2026 bulletin, and no public count of new discount filings was available when this guide was written.
Which roof insurance discount can Texas homeowners count on: impact-resistant shingles or FORTIFIED?
The impact-resistant roof discount. Many Texas insurers offer a premium discount for roofing rated Class 3 or Class 4 under the UL 2218 impact test, and far fewer offer a discount for a FORTIFIED designation. Class 4 is the highest rating and usually earns the larger discount. Each insurer sets its own amount and decides which classes qualify.
The two are not competing choices. A FORTIFIED roof built with shingles that also carry a UL 2218 Class 3 or Class 4 rating can qualify for the impact-resistant discount on the strength of the shingles alone. Where the insurer also credits the FORTIFIED certificate, that credit is additional.
| How the two discounts compare | Impact-resistant roof (Class 3 or Class 4) | FORTIFIED Roof designation |
|---|---|---|
| What qualifies | Roofing rated Class 3 or Class 4 under UL 2218. Class 4 usually earns the larger discount | The whole roof system, verified by an independent evaluator and certified by IBHS |
| Availability in Texas | Offered by many insurers | Offered by few insurers (4 of 23 in TDI’s 2024 study) |
| Who sets the amount | Each insurer | Each insurer |
| Proof required | TDI Form PC068, the Impact-Resistant Roofing Installation Form, completed by the roofing contractor | The IBHS FORTIFIED certificate |
| Common condition | Some insurers require a signed cosmetic damage waiver | Varies by insurer |
| How long it lasts | Set by the insurer | Only while the designation is active |
Before accepting an impact-resistant discount, ask whether the discount requires a cosmetic damage waiver. See What Is a Cosmetic Damage Waiver on Your Roof? and Are Class 4 Shingles Worth It in Texas?.
What is a FORTIFIED roof endorsement, and do Texas insurers offer one?
A FORTIFIED roof endorsement is optional coverage that pays the added cost of rebuilding a roof to the FORTIFIED standard after a covered loss. Some insurers that write policies in Texas offer a FORTIFIED roof endorsement. Texas does not require insurers to offer the endorsement.
The endorsement and the discount are different things. A discount lowers the premium on a roof that is already FORTIFIED. An endorsement pays for the upgrade when a damaged roof is replaced, so the homeowner receives a FORTIFIED roof without paying the upgrade cost out of pocket.
| Type of incentive | What it does | Status in Texas (November 2026) |
|---|---|---|
| Discount | Lowers the premium on a home with an active FORTIFIED designation. Each insurer decides. | Not required. Few insurers offer one. |
| Endorsement | Pays the added cost of a FORTIFIED roof after a covered loss. The insurer offers the coverage and the homeowner chooses to buy. | Not required. Offered by some insurers. |
| Grant | Pays part of the cost of a FORTIFIED roof. Funded by a legislature or another organization. | No state grant. The FHLB Dallas FORTIFIED Fund showed $0 available as of July 1, 2026. |
A FORTIFIED endorsement on a Caden Roofing project
Caden Roofing has seen this coverage work. After the April 2026 hail storm, Caden Roofing replaced a roof in Turtle Rock Estates in Northwest Austin. The homeowner’s policy included a FORTIFIED endorsement, so the homeowner’s insurance company paid for the upgrade to the FORTIFIED standard as part of the roof replacement. The full project is documented in FORTIFIED Roof Replacement After Hail in Turtle Rock Estates.
The endorsement has to be on the policy before the loss. A homeowner who wants this coverage should ask the agent at renewal, not after a storm. Farmers, for example, lists a FORTIFIED Roof Upgrade among its optional home coverages, and availability varies by state and by policy.
The 2024 TDI study found that a majority of responding insurers support an optional endorsement that covers the added cost of upgrading a home to the FORTIFIED standard after significant damage. In 2025, House Bill 4532 would have required Texas insurers to offer the endorsement. The bill did not become law.
How do other states reward a FORTIFIED roof?
Several states pair three tools: a grant that helps pay for the roof, a required insurance discount, and a required endorsement offer. Alabama has used this approach the longest. Louisiana and Oklahoma have followed, and Oklahoma’s program is built for wind and hail, the same hazards Central Texas faces.
| State | Grant | Discount | Endorsement |
|---|---|---|---|
| Texas | None (proposed) | Not required | Not required |
| Alabama | Up to $10,000 | Required by law | Offered by most insurers |
| Louisiana | Up to $10,000 | Required by a 2024 law | Required since 2023 |
| Oklahoma | Up to $10,000 | Available | Varies by insurer |
- Texas: a September 2026 TDI bulletin encourages discounts. About 1% of surveyed wind and hail policies cover a certified home.
- Alabama: the Strengthen Alabama Homes program had funded 8,660 retrofits as of May 2025.
- Louisiana: Regulation 136 sets benchmark discounts by region and designation level, and insurers must comply by January 1, 2027.
- Oklahoma: Strengthen Oklahoma Homes funds the FORTIFIED Roof – High Wind and Hail designation and opened statewide on January 12, 2026. Program participants save about $750 a year on average, and more than 500 homes have been certified since 2025.
What the Alabama data shows
Hurricane Sally in 2020 was the first hurricane to strike an area with a large number of FORTIFIED homes, which made a real-world comparison possible. A 2025 study by the University of Alabama’s Center for Risk and Insurance Research, commissioned by the Alabama Department of Insurance, examined more than 40,000 insured homes in coastal Alabama.
- Claim frequency on FORTIFIED homes was 55% to 74% lower than on conventional homes.
- Claim severity was 15% to 40% lower.
- Loss ratio, meaning losses divided by premiums, was 51% to 72% lower.
- Claims from fallen trees were excluded. FORTIFIED is not designed to prevent tree damage.
The Alabama Department of Insurance reports that the private market now accounts for 83% of the state’s FORTIFIED homes. In the department’s account, grants and required discounts together led homeowners to choose FORTIFIED roofs without public money.
Other states are moving in the same direction. North Carolina offers grants of up to $10,000 in coastal areas, and its insurer of last resort includes a FORTIFIED roof endorsement at no charge. Mississippi’s wind pool does the same. Arkansas and Kentucky have enacted programs of their own.
What could change for FORTIFIED roof insurance in Texas in 2027?
Texas could adopt the same three tools other states use: a grant, a required rating credit and a required endorsement offer. None is law today. Each has been proposed, recommended or filed as a bill within the past two years.
| Possible change | Where it stands (November 2026) | What it would mean for homeowners |
|---|---|---|
| State grant for FORTIFIED roofs | Proposed by the Governor in July 2026: $400 million, up to $10,000 per home. A similar bill passed the Texas House 120 to 21 in 2025. The House Insurance Committee heard testimony on the program in October 2026. | A grant of up to $10,000 would exceed the added cost Caden Roofing sees on a typical Austin roof ($3,900 to $6,000 on 30 squares). |
| Required consideration of mitigation in rates | TDI has recommended changes to state law that would require insurers to consider wind, hail and wildfire protection when setting rates. | A FORTIFIED discount would no longer depend on which insurer a homeowner has. |
| Required FORTIFIED endorsement offer | Filed in 2025 as House Bill 4532. Did not pass. Louisiana has required the offer since 2023. | Homeowners could add upgrade coverage before a storm with any insurer. |
| Roofing contractor licensing or registration | Raised in TDI’s September 2026 response to the Governor and at the October 2026 House committee hearing. | Texas does not license roofers today. A state program would give homeowners and insurers a way to verify a contractor. |
Oklahoma shows how quickly a program can take hold once funded. Its grant program began in 2025, opened statewide in January 2026 and had certified more than 500 homes by September 2026. Texas has not funded a program, and the outcome of the 2027 session is not known. Caden Roofing will update this guide as bills are filed and acted on.
How long does a FORTIFIED roof insurance discount last?
A FORTIFIED discount lasts only as long as the designation is active. A FORTIFIED certificate is valid for five years and can be renewed after a re-inspection. Starting January 1, 2027, IBHS limits how long an asphalt shingle roof can remain eligible.
| Situation | Eligibility under IBHS Technical Bulletin FH-2026-03 |
|---|---|
| New asphalt shingle roof installed and designated at the same time | Up to 15 years from the initial designation date |
| Existing roof with a documented installation date | Up to 15 years from the roof’s installation date |
| Existing roof with an unknown installation date | One term of up to five years. No renewal until the shingles are replaced. |
IBHS states that the limit is an eligibility rule for the FORTIFIED program and does not establish how long a shingle roof lasts. The Asphalt Roofing Manufacturers Association has publicly disputed the research behind the limit. For a homeowner, the practical point is the same either way: on a shingle roof, any insurance discount tied to the FORTIFIED designation has a maximum life of 15 years.
Does a FORTIFIED roof pay for itself through insurance savings in Texas?
In most cases today, not through insurance savings alone. In Caden Roofing’s experience, the FORTIFIED standard adds $130 to $200 per square in Austin as of 2026, or $3,900 to $6,000 on a 30-square roof. At the discount levels Texas insurers reported in 2024, recovering that cost takes longer than a decade.
| Scenario | Annual savings | Years to recover $3,900 to $6,000 |
|---|---|---|
| 9% discount on a $3,500 annual premium (the average FORTIFIED Roof discount in TDI’s 2024 study, applied to the approximate statewide average premium) | About $315 | 12 to 19 years |
| Average savings reported by Oklahoma grant program participants | About $750 | 5 to 8 years |
| Insurer offers no FORTIFIED discount | $0 | Not recovered through the premium |
These figures are illustrations, not quotes. Many insurers apply a discount only to the wind and hail portion of the premium, and the amount varies by insurer and by home. The second row shows what a funded state program with broad insurer participation has produced elsewhere.
Caden Roofing’s position: a FORTIFIED roof makes sense for a homeowner who values multiple layers of protection built into the roof, and makes the most financial sense when the homeowner’s insurance company confirms a discount in writing or the policy includes a FORTIFIED endorsement. Caden Roofing offers FORTIFIED as an option on a roof replacement and prices the roof both ways so the homeowner can compare.
What should you ask your insurance agent about a FORTIFIED roof?
Ask before the roof is replaced, and ask for the answers in writing. An insurer’s answers determine whether a FORTIFIED roof changes the premium.
- Does my insurance company offer a discount for an IBHS FORTIFIED Roof designation? How much, and on which part of the premium?
- Does my insurance company offer a discount for a UL 2218 Class 3 or Class 4 impact-resistant roof? Is the amount different for each class? Can both discounts apply to the same roof?
- Does either discount require a cosmetic damage waiver?
- What documents are required: the IBHS certificate, TDI Form PC068 (the Impact-Resistant Roofing Installation Form), or both?
- Does the discount end if the FORTIFIED designation expires or is not renewed?
- Does my policy include, or can I add, an endorsement that pays to upgrade the roof to the FORTIFIED standard after a covered loss?
How does Caden Roofing install and certify a FORTIFIED roof?
Caden Roofing is an IBHS FORTIFIED Certified Roofing Contractor. On a FORTIFIED project, Caden Roofing builds the roof to the IBHS standard, coordinates with the independent FORTIFIED evaluator and handles the certification paperwork. The designation typically arrives about a month after installation, depending on the evaluator. The homeowner then provides the certificate to the insurance company. On a roof with Class 3 or Class 4 shingles, Caden Roofing also completes TDI Form PC068, which the insurer requires for the impact-resistant discount.
Considering a FORTIFIED roof in Austin? Call Caden Roofing.
Caden Roofing will inspect the roof and price the replacement both ways, standard and FORTIFIED, so the decision rests on real numbers.
Call (512) 364-0278, email [email protected], or request an inspection online.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a Texas grant for a FORTIFIED roof?
No state grant exists as of November 2026. The proposed Texas Roof Fortification Program requires legislation. The FHLB Dallas FORTIFIED Fund, which serves income-qualified homeowners through member banks, showed $0 in available funds as of July 1, 2026. No website can accept an application for a Texas state roof grant today.
Does TDI’s 2026 bulletin guarantee a FORTIFIED discount?
No. Commissioner’s Bulletin B-0008-26 encourages insurers to offer discounts for loss mitigation. The bulletin sets no amount and does not require any insurer to offer a discount.
Can a FORTIFIED discount and an impact-resistant shingle discount apply to the same roof?
That depends on the insurer. A FORTIFIED roof built with UL 2218 Class 3 or Class 4 shingles meets the usual requirement for an impact-resistant discount. Whether a separate FORTIFIED credit is added on top is each insurer’s decision.
Does a FORTIFIED certificate transfer when a home is sold?
Yes. IBHS issues the designation to the property, so the certificate stays with the home. The buyer’s insurance company decides whether to credit the designation.
Will a FORTIFIED roof keep an insurance company from nonrenewing a policy?
No rule guarantees that outcome. Insurers make nonrenewal decisions on the roof’s condition and other underwriting factors. See what to do when an insurance company is dropping you because of your roof.
Related reading
- FORTIFIED Roof in Austin: What It Is, What It Costs, and What It Won’t Do
- Are Class 4 shingles worth it in Texas?
- What is a cosmetic damage waiver on your roof?
- Should I file a hail damage roof claim?
- All roofing guides for Austin homeowners
Sources
- Texas Department of Insurance, Commissioner’s Bulletin B-0008-26, Premium discounts for loss mitigation (September 16, 2026)
- Texas Department of Insurance, Response to Governor Abbott’s directive (September 14, 2026)
- Texas A&M University at Galveston for TDI, Market Incentives Study – Resilient Structures, Executive Summary (November 15, 2024)
- Texas A&M University at Galveston for TDI, Market Incentives Study – Resilient Structures, Final Report (November 15, 2024)
- Texas Legislature Online, House Bill 1576 (89th Legislature, 2025), bill history
- Texas Legislature Online, House Bill 4532 (89th Legislature, 2025), introduced text
- Texas Policy Research, Abbott’s Roof Grant Proposal Renews Debate Over Texas Affordability (July 23, 2026)
- Texas Policy Research, Governor Abbott Directs TDI to Target Texas Home Insurance Costs (August 2026)
- The Texan, Abbott’s $400 Million Roof Fortification Plan Takes Shape in Texas House Committee Hearing (October 2026)
- IBHS FORTIFIED, 2025 FORTIFIED Home Standard and Technical Bulletins, including FH-2026-03
- Roofing Contractor, IBHS Sets 15-Year FORTIFIED Limit for Shingle Roofs (October 2026)
- Alabama Department of Insurance, FORTIFIED homes performed better during Hurricane Sally than traditional construction, study shows (May 19, 2025)
- Louisiana Department of Insurance, Louisiana Fortify Homes Program
- Louisiana Revised Statutes 22:1483.2, Fortified roof endorsement; mandatory offer
- Smart Home America, Louisiana resources, including Regulation 136
- Oklahoma Insurance Department, Strengthen Oklahoma Homes statewide expansion (January 12, 2026)
- Oklahoma Insurance Department, Strengthen Oklahoma Homes Grant Program Completes 100th Home (December 8, 2025)
- Smart Home America, State grant programs for FORTIFIED roofs
- Federal Home Loan Bank of Dallas, FHLB Dallas FORTIFIED Fund
- Farmers Insurance, Farmers Flex Personal Home options, FORTIFIED Roof Upgrade
Fareed Tulbah is the owner of Caden Roofing in Austin, Texas. He has personally inspected more than 8,000 roofs and has supervised every Caden Roofing installation since 2009. Caden Roofing is an IBHS FORTIFIED Certified Roofing Contractor, an Owens Corning Preferred Contractor and a GAF Certified Contractor.
