GAF President's Club · GAF's Highest HonorIBHS FORTIFIED Certified Installer
A roof only earns the FORTIFIED designation when a certified contractor builds it and an independent evaluator verifies it. Patriots' Roofing is that certified installer, and a GAF President's Club award winner on top of it, so your roof meets the storm standard and the highest installation tier at once.
Licensed & InsuredNC #85568
An IBHS FORTIFIED certified installer is a contractor trained and authorized to build roofs that actually earn the FORTIFIED designation from the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety. As of November 2025, a roof can only carry FORTIFIED status when a certified installer builds it and an independent third-party evaluator inspects and verifies the work. Patriots' Roofing holds that certification, so the designation is documented and real, not a marketing claim.
What "certified installer" actually changes for you
FORTIFIED is a building standard developed through years of real-world storm research and full-scale wind testing. It targets the points where roofs usually fail first: the deck, the edges, and the seam where water finds its way in. Before November 2025, the line between a true FORTIFIED roof and a roof that simply looked sturdy was blurry. Now it is clean. The work has to be done by a certified installer and signed off by an independent evaluator, which means the homeowner gets a verified result instead of a verbal promise.
- Only a certified installer can build a roof that earns the FORTIFIED designation.
- An independent third-party evaluator inspects the build and confirms it meets the standard.
- That verification is what unlocks the real benefits: the designation itself, the North Carolina roof grant, and insurance premium discounts where available.
- A roof that is merely "fortified-like" earns none of those. It just looks the part.
The work behind a verified FORTIFIED roof
Certification is not a sticker; it is a method. Our crews follow the FORTIFIED nailing and sealing details to the letter, then document the build at each stage so the evaluator can confirm what was installed and how.
- A sealed roof deck, often a fully taped or self-adhered underlayment layer that keeps water out even if shingles are stripped by wind.
- Ring-shank nails on a tighter, code-plus pattern that holds the deck to the framing under uplift.
- Reinforced edges and properly fastened drip edge, the first thing a storm tries to peel.
- Stage-by-stage photo documentation handed to the independent evaluator for verification.
Certified installer and President's Club in one crew
Patriots' Roofing is one of the few contractors that is both an IBHS FORTIFIED certified installer and a GAF President's Club award winner, GAF's highest honor and a tier fewer than half of Master Elite contractors reach. You get a roof engineered to the FORTIFIED storm standard and installed to GAF's top quality tier, with one family-owned crew accountable for both.
Three Reasons Certification Protects You
The Roof Truly Earns It
A certified installer plus an independent evaluation is the only path to a real FORTIFIED designation. No certified installer, no designation, no matter how the roof looks.
Grants and Discounts Unlock
The NC roof grant and insurance premium discounts are tied to a verified FORTIFIED roof. Verification from a certified installer is what makes you eligible.
Documented Performance
Every stage is photographed and reviewed by a third party, so you hold proof of a storm-rated build, not a salesperson's word.
GAF President's ClubAward Winner
Built for the Coast, Verified for the Insurer
From the Outer Banks to Lake Charles, the storms that take roofs off are the same ones a FORTIFIED build is designed to survive. Because Patriots' is a certified installer, the strength we engineer into the roof is the strength an independent evaluator confirms on paper, which is the version your insurer and grant program recognize.
- Sealed deck keeps water out even after shingle loss in high wind.
- Edge and fastener upgrades resist the uplift that starts most failures.
- Independent verification turns a strong roof into a documented, discount-eligible one.
- Learn more about the full FORTIFIED program and how it applies to your home.
How a Certified FORTIFIED Roof Comes Together
- Free roof assessment. We inspect your existing roof and confirm whether FORTIFIED certification is the right fit for your home and your goals.
- Designation plan. We map the build to the FORTIFIED standard you want and explain the grant and discount paths it can open.
- Certified installation. Our certified crew installs the sealed deck, upgraded fasteners, and reinforced edges to FORTIFIED detail.
- Stage documentation. We photograph each phase so the build is fully evidenced for the independent evaluator.
- Independent evaluation. A third-party evaluator reviews the work and verifies it meets the FORTIFIED standard.
- Designation and paperwork. You receive the verified FORTIFIED designation and the documentation needed for grants and insurance.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I have to use a certified installer to get a FORTIFIED roof?
Yes. As of November 2025, a roof can only earn the FORTIFIED designation when a certified installer builds it and an independent third-party evaluator verifies the work. A roof that is simply built "fortified-like" does not qualify. Patriots' Roofing is an IBHS FORTIFIED certified installer.
What does the independent evaluation involve?
A third-party evaluator, separate from the contractor, reviews the documentation and confirms the roof was built to the FORTIFIED standard. This independence is the point: it protects you by verifying the result rather than relying on the installer's say-so. We document each stage so the evaluation goes smoothly.
Why does certification matter for grants and insurance?
The North Carolina roof grant and insurance premium discounts are tied to a verified FORTIFIED roof. A roof that only claims to be fortified earns none of them. Because a certified installer's work passes independent verification, your roof becomes eligible for the real benefits. See our NC roof grant page for details.
What makes a FORTIFIED roof different from a standard one?
A certified installer follows specific details: a sealed roof deck, ring-shank nails on a tighter pattern, and reinforced, properly fastened edges. Together they keep water out and hold the roof down in high wind. The exact specification depends on your home, which we cover in the free estimate.
Is Patriots’ Roofing certified for both FORTIFIED and GAF?
Yes. We are an IBHS FORTIFIED certified installer and a GAF President's Club award winner, GAF's highest honor, earned by fewer than half of Master Elite contractors. As Master Elite, we can also offer the 50-year GAF Golden Pledge limited warranty with an unlimited wind rating. Your roof meets the storm standard and the top installation tier at once.
Build a Roof That Earns the FORTIFIED Designation
Talk to a certified installer who can verify the result, not just promise it. The estimate is free and there is no pressure.