Qualifying Dwellings and Foundations

What’s underneath your home can determine whether it’s eligible for a FORTIFIED designation.

In this episode of The FORTIFIED Factor, our AI Experts, informed by Knockout Inspections, break down qualifying dwellings and foundation requirements under the 2025 FORTIFIED Home Standard. We explore which homes and foundation types can qualify, what can make a foundation ineligible, and why the requirements can differ depending on the FORTIFIED designation being pursued.

Learn how slab-on-grade, stem wall, pier and piling foundations fit into FORTIFIED eligibility, why unrestrained dry-stack masonry or stone is a problem, and how an engineered retrofit may provide a path forward for an otherwise ineligible foundation. We also explain the important role of positive anchorage and how those requirements change between FORTIFIED Roof, Silver, and Gold.

Plus, we cover special eligibility considerations for HUD-code manufactured homes under the 2025 Standard and why photographs and documentation from a Certified FORTIFIED Evaluator are so important.

Whether you're a homeowner, contractor, roofing professional, insurance professional, or simply want to better understand what makes a home resilient and severe-weather ready, this episode helps explain why a FORTIFIED home starts from the ground up.

Have questions about your home's eligibility or foundation? Contact Knockout Inspections at 855-GO-FOR-KO (855-463-6756) or visit fortifiedhome.com.