FORTIFIED Roof is a nationally recognized standard designed to strengthen homes against severe weather, such as high winds, hail, and heavy rains.
CertainTeed, a major North American maker of sustainable building materials, has launched a new collaboration with the Insurance Institute for Business and Home Safety (IBHS), reaffirming its commitment to robust and long-lasting construction. As a result of this endeavor, CertainTeed now provides a comprehensive roofing system that meets the stringent requirements of the IBHS FORTIFIED Roof program.
FORTIFIED Roof is a nationally recognized standard designed to strengthen homes against severe weather, such as high winds, hail, and heavy rains. It goes beyond typical building codes by offering a unified system of products and installation methods that have been proven to increase a home’s resilience and reduce potential damage.
As part of its commitment to innovation and home resilience, CertainTeed is launching two new roofing components developed to fulfill FORTIFIED Roof criteria.
- CertaSeam Roof Tape: This roof deck joint tape is intended to seal deck seams and prevent water penetration during high-wind situations. This vital component is essential for achieving a FORTIFIED Roof designation.
- Swiftstart SA Starter Shingle: A self-adhering, water-resistant rolling starter that provides quick installation and reliable protection. It improves the overall weathertightness of CertainTeed’s roofing systems.
A wide variety of CertainTeed roofing products meet the FORTIFIED Roof standard. Each component is designed to function together, resulting in layered defense and high-performance protection in any climate. This comprehensive system includes the recently introduced CertaSeam Roof Tape for sealing roof deck joints, as well as a variety of waterproofing underlayments such as WinterGuard PRO, WinterGuard Sand/Granular, and water-resistant options such as Grace Vycor Ice and Water Shield, Grace Vycor Ice and Water Shield HT, RoofRunner, and DiamondDeck. The SwiftStart SA Starter Shingle gives an extra layer of edge protection.
The FORTIFIED Roof Hurricane or High Wind criterion can also be met by a variety of shingles, including Landmark TL, Landmark TL Solaris, Landmark Premium, Landmark PRO, Landmark, Belmont IR, Grand Manor, Carriage House, and Presidential Shake IR. The Landmark ClimateFlex and NorthGate ClimateFlex meet the requirements for an extra Hail supplement to their FORTIFIED rating. CertainTeed offers 12″ filtered and unfiltered ridge vents, as well as rolling ridge vents, to ensure appropriate attic ventilation. To complete the system, appropriate hip and ridge caps such as Shangle Ridge, Shadow Ridge ClimateFlex, and Cedar Crest IR contribute to long-term performance and robustness.
“CertainTeed is proud to align with the IBHS FORTIFIED standards, ensuring our roofing systems deliver long-term durability and unmatched performance for all homeowners,” said James White, Senior Product Manager, Residential Roofing at CertainTeed. “Our expanding portfolio of FORTIFIED-compliant products reflects our commitment to preventing avoidable storm-related losses and supporting homeowners in building more resilient homes to achieve our goal of making the world a better home.”
FORTIFIED homes are scientifically shown to be more durable than those built to normal codes. In addition to peace of mind, homeowners in over a dozen states may receive financial benefits such as insurance discounts, grants, and tax credits. These benefits are now accessible in Alabama, Louisiana, North Carolina, Oklahoma, and Mississippi. Other states, such as Connecticut, Florida, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island, and Texas, may offer comparable incentives for homes with qualified modifications. Beginning November 1, 2025, contractors must be FORTIFIED Certified to perform qualifying installations in participating programs.
Whether building new, re-roofing, or retrofitting, the FORTIFIED Roof standard helps ensure that homes are better protected against both everyday weather and severe storms. CertainTeed’s high-performance materials help contractors and homeowners fulfill these standards and build stronger, safer houses.
Please visit www.certainteed.com to discover more about CertainTeed’s industry-leading products. For additional information on IBHS FORTIFIED Roof, please go to FORTIFIEDHome.org.
