Fortified Additions & Homebuilding: Protecting Your Baldwin County Home with Sovine Construction
Fortified Additions & Homebuilding:
When building or expanding your home in Baldwin County, Alabama, ensuring it meets FORTIFIED Home™ standards is one of the best decisions you can make. Whether you’re constructing a new home or adding space to your existing one, Gold Fortified™ building techniques provide superior protection against hurricanes, high winds, and severe weather—a critical consideration for homeowners in our coastal region.
However, there’s one key detail that many homeowners aren’t aware of: If your home is already Gold Fortified™, adding an unfortified addition can cause you to lose your Fortified certification—potentially increasing your insurance costs and reducing your home’s storm resilience. That’s why it’s essential to work with a licensed Alabama Homebuilder like Sovine Construction (#28923) to ensure your new addition meets Fortified standards and your home stays protected.
What is a Gold Fortified™ Home?
The FORTIFIED Home™ program, developed by the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety (IBHS), is designed to strengthen homes against hurricanes, tornadoes, and severe weather. A Gold Fortified™ home goes beyond standard building codes, using:
✔ Reinforced Roof-to-Wall Connections – To prevent roofs from detaching in high winds.
✔ Impact-Resistant Windows & Doors – To protect against flying debris.
✔ Stronger Wall-to-Foundation Connections – To keep the structure intact during storms.
✔ Enhanced Sealing Techniques – To minimize water intrusion and damage.
These structural reinforcements significantly reduce storm damage, improve safety, and qualify homeowners for insurance discounts—making a Fortified home a smart investment.
Why Fortified Additions Matter
If you already own a Gold Fortified™ home and are considering an addition—such as a new bedroom, a second-story expansion, a sunroom, or a covered patio—it’s crucial that your addition is built to the same Fortified standards.
What Happens if You Add an Unfortified Structure?
🔴 You Could Lose Your Gold Fortified™ Certification – The IBHS requires that any structural changes maintain Fortified standards. If you add an unfortified room, your home may no longer meet the criteria, causing you to lose your certification.
🔴 Your Insurance Premiums May Increase – Many insurance providers offer discounts for Gold Fortified™ homes. However, losing your Fortified status could result in higher insurance costs.
🔴 Your Home Becomes More Vulnerable to Storm Damage – Adding an unfortified structure creates weak points in your home’s storm resistance, making it more susceptible to wind, water, and structural damage.
How to Ensure Your Addition is Fortified
✔ Hire a Licensed Alabama Homebuilder – Working with an experienced Fortified builder like Sovine Construction (#28923) ensures that your addition meets IBHS Fortified standards.
✔ Use Fortified Building Materials – This includes hurricane straps, reinforced roofing, impact-resistant windows, and advanced moisture barriers.
✔ Follow Fortified Construction Techniques – Ensure your new addition is properly tied into your existing Fortified structure, maintaining the same level of storm protection.
Sovine Construction: Baldwin County’s Fortified Home Experts
At Sovine Construction, we specialize in Gold Fortified™ homebuilding and additions, ensuring that every new construction or expansion meets the highest standards of safety and durability.
Our Fortified Building & Addition Services:
🏠 Custom Gold Fortified™ Homes – Built from the ground up with superior storm resistance.
🏠 Gold Fortified™ Additions – Seamlessly integrated bedrooms, kitchens, second stories, and more.
🏠 Fortified Outdoor Structures – Covered patios, pavilions, and screened porches designed to withstand severe weather.
🏠 Retrofits for Existing Structures – Upgrading older additions to meet Fortified standards and maintain certification.
By choosing Sovine Construction (#28923) for your Fortified home or addition, you’re ensuring long-term safety, lower insurance costs, and increased home value.
Build Smarter, Build Stronger – Choose a Fortified Addition
Expanding your home shouldn’t come at the cost of losing your Fortified status or compromising your home’s storm resilience. With Sovine Construction, you get the peace of mind that your addition is built to last, protects your investment, and keeps your family safe.
Ready to expand your home the right way? Contact Sovine Construction today to discuss your Fortified addition!