American Prime General Construction is a certified FORTIFIED Roofing Company. Here is what a FORTIFIED Roof is, what it takes, and what it can do for you.
What is a FORTIFIED Roof?
FORTIFIED is a voluntary construction and re-roofing standard created by the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety (IBHS), a nonprofit research organization that tests how homes fail in severe weather. A FORTIFIED Roof goes beyond a standard re-roof with specific upgrades that help keep wind and wind-driven rain out of your home.
It is not a product and it is not a brand of shingle. It is a set of installation requirements — and the work is checked by an independent FORTIFIED Evaluator, not by the roofer. When IBHS approves the documentation, your home receives a FORTIFIED Roof designation certificate, valid for five years.
What is different from a standard re-roof
Re-nailed roof deck
Every sheet of decking is fastened with 8d ring-shank nails at 4-inch spacing so the deck stays attached in high winds.
Sealed roof deck
The seams in your decking are sealed with an approved tape-and-underlayment, two-layer, or self-adhered membrane system, so water stays out if shingles blow off.
Locked-down edges
Drip edge fastened every four inches, plus starter strips adhered at eaves and rakes — where wind damage usually starts.
High-wind rated shingles
Shingles rated ASTM D3161 Class F or ASTM D7158 Class H, installed with six nails per shingle per the manufacturer’s high-wind instructions.
Tested vents and new flashing
Ridge and off-ridge vents tested to TAS 100(A), and new corrosion-resistant flashing at every wall, valley and penetration.
Optional Hail Supplement
For North Texas hail, add shingles rated “Good” or “Excellent” in IBHS hail impact testing, plus impact-rated skylights or solar where present.
Why homeowners choose it
Proven by research
The requirements come from IBHS full-scale testing of what actually fails on roofs in high winds — not from a manufacturer’s marketing department.
Verified, not promised
An independent evaluator documents the work and IBHS reviews it before any certificate is issued. Nobody takes our word for it, including us.
Possible insurance savings
Some Texas insurers offer FORTIFIED discounts. Amounts vary by carrier, so ask your agent first.
Texas insurance update. On September 16, 2026 the Texas Department of Insurance issued Commissioner’s Bulletin B-0008-26, asking residential property insurers to develop actuarially supported premium discounts for loss mitigation and naming IBHS FORTIFIED Home™ as a qualifying resilient construction standard. The bulletin also asks insurers not to burden homeowners with redundant inspection forms when they already hold an official designation. Discounts are set by each insurer and are not guaranteed. Call your agent before you decide.
From inspection to designation certificate
Straight talk on cost
- A FORTIFIED Roof costs more than a standard re-roof because of the extra labor and materials. Your estimate shows the difference as a line item.
- On an insurance claim: a standard policy pays to replace your roof like-for-like. The FORTIFIED upgrade is usually an added cost to you unless your policy includes a FORTIFIED or upgrade endorsement. Your deductible still applies.
- The independent evaluator charges a separate fee for the evaluation. That fee is theirs, not ours.
- Insurance discounts depend on your carrier and are not guaranteed.
Our warranty
- 10-year transferable labor warranty on roofs with 4/12 slope and steeper (1-year under 4/12).
- Manufacturer’s limited lifetime warranty on shingles.
- APGC Warranty Certificate issued at closeout, alongside your completion documentation.
Check our credentials before you hire anyone
- Company
- American Prime General Construction Inc. — Status: Compliant
- Credential
- Joseph Miller — certified FORTIFIED Wise Roofing Contractor
- Provider ID
- R012523
- Standard
- 2025 FORTIFIED Home Standard (High Wind), with optional Hail Supplement
- Verify
- Any roofer or evaluator at fortifiedproviders.com
American Prime is also a veteran-led general contractor, BBB A+ rated and accredited, and fully insured. Joseph C. Miller II is additionally a BEI Certified Forensic Inspector for asphalt shingle roof systems.
FORTIFIED Roof: common questions
What is a FORTIFIED Roof?
A FORTIFIED Roof is a re-roof built to a voluntary standard created by the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety. It adds specific requirements beyond a normal re-roof — a re-nailed and sealed roof deck, locked-down edges, high-wind rated shingles installed with six nails, and tested vents and new flashing. The work is verified by an independent evaluator before IBHS issues a designation certificate.
Does American Prime issue the FORTIFIED certificate?
No, and no roofer can. The designation is issued by IBHS after an independent FORTIFIED Evaluator — a third party, not us — documents the work and submits it. We build to the standard, take the required photographs at each stage, and sign the Roofing Compliance Form. The certificate comes from IBHS.
Will a FORTIFIED Roof lower my insurance premium in Texas?
It may. In September 2026 the Texas Department of Insurance issued Commissioner’s Bulletin B-0008-26 asking residential insurers to develop actuarially supported discounts for loss mitigation, and it named IBHS FORTIFIED Home as a qualifying standard. That is encouragement, not a mandate — each carrier sets its own discount, and some offer none. Ask your agent what your carrier gives before you commit.
Does a FORTIFIED Roof cost more?
Yes. The re-nailing, the sealed deck, the six-nail pattern and the tested components all add labor and materials. Your estimate shows the FORTIFIED upgrade as a separate line so you can see exactly what the difference is.
Will my insurance pay for the FORTIFIED upgrade after a hail claim?
Usually not by itself. A standard policy pays to replace what you had, like for like. The upgrade is typically an added cost to you unless your policy carries a FORTIFIED or ordinance-and-upgrade endorsement. Your deductible applies either way, and no contractor may pay or waive it under Texas Insurance Code Chapter 707.
What is the Hail Supplement and do I need it in North Texas?
The Hail Supplement adds shingles rated Good or Excellent in IBHS hail impact testing, plus impact-rated skylights or solar where present. In the DFW hail corridor it is worth pricing — ask your agent whether your carrier’s discount changes with or without it.
How long is the designation good for?
Five years. After that the roof can be re-evaluated for a new certificate.
Can I verify that you are actually certified?
Please do. Our Provider ID is R012523 under Joseph Miller, certified FORTIFIED Wise Roofing Contractor, and you can look up any roofer or evaluator at fortifiedproviders.com. Verify anyone before you hire them, including us.
Do you serve my area?
We are headquartered in Richardson and work across the DFW Metroplex, including Plano, Frisco, McKinney, Allen, Garland, Rowlett and Rockwall, plus Sherman, Waxahachie and Temple. If you are not sure, call the office and ask.
We will check whether your roof is a candidate, give you a written FORTIFIED Roof estimate with the upgrade shown as its own line, and point you to an independent evaluator. No charge, no obligation.
American Prime General Construction — Richardson, Texas — [email protected]
FORTIFIED, FORTIFIED Home and FORTIFIED Roof are trademarks of the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety (IBHS). Designation requires approval by IBHS based on documentation submitted by an independent FORTIFIED Evaluator. American Prime General Construction does not issue, approve or guarantee any FORTIFIED designation.
Requirements on this page are summarized from the 2025 FORTIFIED Home Standard; the Standard governs. Insurance discounts are determined by each insurer and are not guaranteed. American Prime General Construction is a general contractor and is not a public insurance adjuster; we do not adjust, negotiate or settle claims on your behalf.
American Prime General Construction is an insured general contractor. Texas does not license general contractors or roofing contractors. Trade work requiring a state license is performed by Texas-licensed professionals working under American Prime as the overseeing general contractor. Our roof inspections are contractor inspections, not TREC home inspections.