Improvement 2.0 - Roof to Wall Attachment

Roof to wall attachments are the connections that attach the trusses or rafters in the attic to the walls of the home. This reduces the possibility that all or a portion of the roof will lift off the home during a hurricane. While roof to wall attachments can often be upgraded without replacing a roof, the cost of replacing the roof may be eligible for funding if necessary to complete the recommended improvement.  

This improvement can be completed in a few ways:

• Remove the bottom section of the sheathing (plywood, for example) and install a new clip or wrap or add additional nails as the case may require. A convenient time to address this is during re-roofing.
• Remove the exterior soffits of the home to expose the roof to wall section to install a new clip, or install additional nails as needed that will help strengthen the attachment and qualify for the insurance credit.
• If the attic space is adequate and accessible, it may be possible to add the additional nail(s) or to even retrofit a clip from inside the attic

It is essential that regardless of the way the attachment is installed, it is done to EVERY truss or rafter to be eligible for windstorm mitigation credit. It is important to ensure that a contractor specializes in improving roof to wall attachments for insurance discounts as they relate to the Form OIR-B1-1802. 

If new connectors are installed, they must be approved for roof to wall retrofit, installed according to the manufacturer's instructions, and meet the following minimum conditions: 

• Secured to truss/rafter with a minimum of three (3) nails; AND
• Attached to the wall top plate of the wall framing, or embedded in the bond beam, with less than a ½" gap from the blocking or truss/rafter and blocked no more than 1.5” of the truss/rafter, and free of visible severe corrosion.

Some examples of these attachments are clip connections, single-wraps, and double-wraps.