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Talk to me about gold fortified homes on AL coast

Posted on 4/5/26 at 9:38 pm
Posted by LSUFanHouston
NOLA
Member since Jul 2009
40853 posts
Posted on 4/5/26 at 9:38 pm
Specifically southern Baldwin County. Is this a legit thing? Or just a marketing gimmick?

Lots of new construction touts the homes are gold fortified, that they can withstand more wind stress and insurance is significantly cheaper.

In the very very beginning of thinking about buying a home there, or really anywhere between there and Navarre.
Posted by tide06
Member since Oct 2011
22775 posts
Posted on 4/5/26 at 10:18 pm to
I mean FL requires what’s referred to as S FL storm code to be used for all builds in coastal wind zones.

From my reading this is just taking that and enhancing it somewhat.

Will they survive better than non-reinforced homes? Absolutely.

Are they easier and cheaper to insure than non reinforced homes? Absolutely.

Will they survive a cat 4-5 or a storm surge? Probably not.

The best built homes where I am on 30A are now either concrete first floors or in some cases multilevel concrete block builds, but the reality is nothing is a guarantee if it’s a direct hit from a major storm.
Posted by TigerChick2018
Mobile, AL
Member since Jun 2018
387 posts
Posted on 4/6/26 at 5:11 am to
I live in South Alabama. It’s a gimmick. It means your new roof certification is a new roof by whatever standard they determine. It also means that when your limited time “gold roof” expires you pay money to get it recertified (no inspection necessary).

Will this certified roof fare better than a non certified roof? Probably not.

How do I know this? I have one. It expired. I received the recertification letter. I threw the letter away.
This post was edited on 4/6/26 at 5:13 am
Posted by Pezzo
Member since Aug 2020
2982 posts
Posted on 4/6/26 at 7:14 am to
sounds like it s a racket to keep collecting inspection fees every "x" amount of years.

I'm not keen to the facts, but is this some classification of a fortified roof that is supposed to be somehow better than the already fortified roof?
This post was edited on 4/6/26 at 7:16 am
Posted by LSUFanHouston
NOLA
Member since Jul 2009
40853 posts
Posted on 4/6/26 at 9:00 am to
quote:

It also means that when your limited time “gold roof” expires you pay money to get it recertified (no inspection necessary).


Hmm how would it expire? That absolutely seems gimmicky

Did you notice a reduction In insurance premiums / easier to get insurance?
Posted by Chad504boy
4 posts
Member since Feb 2005
178336 posts
Posted on 4/6/26 at 9:30 am to
quote:

and insurance is significantly cheaper.



always said by the one's selling the "gold fortified homes "
Posted by couv1217
Baton Rouge, LA
Member since Sep 2007
3562 posts
Posted on 4/6/26 at 10:09 am to
Guy talking about gold roof is completely wrong. There’s roof fortified, silver, and gold.

Roof is just the roof
Silver is roof, doors, windows, etc
Gold can pretty much only be established when building a new home as it involves silver plus foundation, tying into foundation, etc

Yes it has to be recertified every 5 years
Posted by TigerChick2018
Mobile, AL
Member since Jun 2018
387 posts
Posted on 4/6/26 at 1:21 pm to
Nope.
Posted by WilsonPickett
St Amant, LA
Member since Oct 2009
1701 posts
Posted on 4/6/26 at 9:29 pm to
Our home in Perdido Key is gold fortified construction. Took a direct hit from Sally with only damage to the screens on the patio. I didn’t build it, I purchased it a little over a year ago. Our home owners insurance is only $2500/yr on the home because of the golf fortified construction. Nearly half of my homeowners insurance at our home in BR area.
Posted by T-Jon
Member since Jan 2012
142 posts
Posted on 4/6/26 at 9:52 pm to
It’s sort of a gimmick. It’s technically a higher standard of structural design, which is good. Your Insurace will be cheaper, which is also good. You have another inspector reviewing the construction, which can be good. You will pay for it, which is arguably worth it.

It’s definitely not better than hiring a structural engineer (in conjunction with an architect) to design and inspect the construction of your house. However, your stupid insurance company will probably give you lower rates for the gimmick than for a truly professional design.
Posted by LSUFanHouston
NOLA
Member since Jul 2009
40853 posts
Posted on 4/6/26 at 10:39 pm to
quote:

Our home in Perdido Key is gold fortified construction. Took a direct hit from Sally with only damage to the screens on the patio. I didn’t build it, I purchased it a little over a year ago


When was it built?
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