FORTIFIED Roof™ Contractor in Texas for High Wind & Hail Protection
Ja-Mar Roofing & Sheet Metal is listed in the official FORTIFIED Provider Network as a roofing contractor serving Texas with FORTIFIED High-Wind and FORTIFIED Hail provider qualifications. That means our team can install qualifying roof systems to the FORTIFIED Roof standard and coordinate the documentation required for an official designation.
Developed by the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety (IBHS), FORTIFIED is a voluntary construction and re-roofing standard designed to make homes more resilient against severe weather. For Texas homeowners dealing with hail, straight-line winds, wind-driven rain, and powerful thunderstorms, the program focuses on strengthening the parts of the roof that often fail first.
Certified for FORTIFIED High-Wind & Hail Roofing
The FORTIFIED Provider Network currently lists Ja-Mar Roofing & Sheet Metal as a roofer serving Texas with both Hail and High-Wind certified provider credentials. Ja-Mar is also identified there as a GAF Master Elite® roofing contractor.
What Is a FORTIFIED Roof?
A FORTIFIED Roof is not simply a roof with upgraded shingles. It is a roof system built around specific installation details that IBHS research has identified as important during severe weather. The standard addresses the roof deck, edges, attachment, roof covering, and other vulnerable details so the roof works as a stronger system.
Stronger Roof Edges
Wind damage often begins at the roof perimeter. FORTIFIED requires specific edge details, including a wider drip edge and fully adhered starter strip, to make it harder for wind to get underneath the roof covering and begin peeling it away.
Sealed Roof Deck
If shingles, metal panels, or another roof covering are damaged or removed by wind, a sealed roof deck helps reduce the amount of rain that can enter through the seams between roof-deck panels.
Better Roof-Deck Attachment
FORTIFIED calls for enhanced roof-deck fastening using ring-shank nails and specified fastening patterns. The goal is to help the roof deck stay attached to the structure under high wind loads.
Tested & Rated Roof Coverings
FORTIFIED Roof can work with shingles, metal, tile, composite, and low-slope roofing, but the roof covering must meet the testing and rating requirements that apply to the selected system and weather designation.
Roof Cover
Why FORTIFIED Roof Makes Sense for Texas Homes
Texas roofs can face hail, strong thunderstorm winds, straight-line wind events, wind-driven rain, and rapid weather changes in the same season. FORTIFIED focuses on how the roof system stays attached and manages water when the weather becomes severe, rather than relying on the roof covering alone.
For homeowners interested in additional hail protection, FORTIFIED also offers an optional Hail Supplement with specific impact-performance requirements for shingles and other roof-cover types.
Can Different Roofing Materials Be Used for a FORTIFIED Roof?
Yes. FORTIFIED Roof was designed to work with several common roof-cover types. The important part is that the selected product and installation meet the applicable FORTIFIED testing, rating, and site requirements.
Asphalt Shingles
Qualifying shingles must meet the required wind ratings. For projects seeking the optional Hail Supplement, asphalt shingles must also meet the applicable IBHS hail-impact rating requirements current at the time of installation.
Metal Roofing
Metal roof panels must be tested for the design pressures required at the specific property. Projects seeking the optional Hail Supplement must also meet the applicable impact-rating requirements.
Tile & Composite Roofing
FORTIFIED can accommodate qualifying tile and other roof-cover systems when the products and installation meet the testing and design requirements established for the property.
Low-Slope Roofing
Qualifying low-slope roof systems can also be part of a FORTIFIED Roof when they meet the required design-pressure and installation criteria.
How a Home Receives an Official FORTIFIED Designation
A roof does not receive an official FORTIFIED designation simply because a contractor follows the construction details. The process also requires an independent FORTIFIED Evaluator to document key parts of the project and submit that documentation to IBHS for review.
Assemble the FORTIFIED Team
The homeowner selects a certified FORTIFIED roofing contractor and an independent certified FORTIFIED Evaluator. Ja-Mar can coordinate with the evaluator throughout the roofing project.
Plan the Roof to the Current Standard
The roofing scope is built around the FORTIFIED requirements that apply to the home, roof design, roof-cover type, and selected High-Wind or Hail pathway.
Install & Document Critical Details
As the roof is installed, the evaluator documents required materials and installation details that may no longer be visible once the finished roof is complete.
Evaluator Submits the Project
The independent evaluator compiles the required documentation and submits the project to IBHS for review.
IBHS Reviews & Issues the Designation
If IBHS determines that the required FORTIFIED standards and documentation have been met, the property receives its official FORTIFIED designation certificate.
FORTIFIED Projects Now Follow the 2025 Home Standard
FORTIFIED updated its residential standard in 2025. Projects permitted on or after November 1, 2025 must meet the 2025 FORTIFIED Home™ Standard. In locations where roof permits are not required, roofs installed on or after that date must meet the 2025 standard.
This matters because a FORTIFIED project should be scoped and documented to the standard in effect for that project—not simply to an older checklist or prior training document.
The FORTIFIED Designation Is Issued to the Home
There is an important difference between working with a FORTIFIED roofing contractor and having a FORTIFIED-designated home. The contractor installs the roof to the required standard, but an independent evaluator must verify and document the project. IBHS then reviews the documentation and determines whether the property receives an official designation.
A FORTIFIED designation is proof that the required upgrades were documented, independently evaluated, and reviewed by IBHS.
FORTIFIED designations are generally valid for five years. A certified FORTIFIED Evaluator can perform the required re-designation inspection when the designation period ends.
FORTIFIED Roof FAQs for Texas Homeowners
Common questions about FORTIFIED roofing, Ja-Mar’s provider status, independent evaluation, hail protection, and the designation process.
Is Ja-Mar Roofing & Sheet Metal a certified FORTIFIED roofing provider?
Yes. The official FORTIFIED Provider Network lists Ja-Mar Roofing & Sheet Metal as a roofer serving Texas with both FORTIFIED High-Wind and FORTIFIED Hail certified provider credentials.
Does a FORTIFIED roof require an independent evaluator?
Yes, if the homeowner wants an official FORTIFIED designation. A certified FORTIFIED Evaluator documents critical parts of the installation and submits the project to IBHS for review.
Does FORTIFIED mean my roof cannot be damaged by hail or high winds?
No roofing system can guarantee that severe weather will never cause damage. FORTIFIED is a resilience standard designed to reduce vulnerabilities and improve how the roof and home perform during severe weather.
Can a metal roof qualify for FORTIFIED Roof?
Yes. FORTIFIED Roof can use qualifying metal roofing when the panel system meets the required site-specific design pressures and other applicable program requirements. Separate impact requirements apply when seeking the optional Hail Supplement.
Can a FORTIFIED designation help with homeowners insurance?
A FORTIFIED designation may make a property eligible for insurance discounts, mitigation credits, reduced deductibles, or other incentives in some markets. Availability varies by insurer, policy, and location, so homeowners should confirm potential benefits directly with their insurance agent or carrier.
How long is a FORTIFIED designation valid?
FORTIFIED designations are generally valid for five years. A re-designation inspection is required to renew the designation for another term.
Considering a FORTIFIED Roof for Your Texas Home?
Talk with Ja-Mar Roofing & Sheet Metal about your roof, the FORTIFIED High-Wind and Hail requirements, and what is involved in pursuing an official FORTIFIED designation.
