Replacing 

Your Roof

Situated in coastal North Carolina, Down East experiences many impacts from strong winds and storms. High winds during these events can tear off shingles—or even entire roofs—leaving homes exposed to water damage and other costly impacts. Metal roofs often hold up better in storms and typically require less maintenance than traditional shingle roofs. No matter the material, a strong, well-maintained roof is one of the best ways to protect your home. Several programs are available to help homeowners with roof repairs and upgrades.

STRENGTHEN YOUR ROOF PILOT PROGRAM

Contact for Questions:

For questions about the program, call 1-844-NCROOFS (844-627-6637), email ncroofs@nciua.com, or fill out the Contact Us form at strengthenyourroof.com/ContactUs/ContactUs.

The Strengthen Your Roof program is a pilot grant initiative from the North Carolina Insurance Underwriting Association (NCIUA). It offers grants of up to $10,000 to help eligible homeowners replace their roof with a FORTIFIED Roof, a roofing standard developed by the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety (IBHS). FORTIFIED Roofs are designed to better withstand high winds, hail, and hurricanes. Key features include stronger edges to resist wind uplift, a sealed roof deck to reduce water intrusion if the outer covering is damaged, and ring-shank nails that provide greater holding power to keep the roof deck securely attached during extreme winds.

Who is eligible?

  • You must have a current NCIUA policy (effective on or before April 15, 2025) for one of the following:

    • Homeowners

    • Homeowners Windstorm or Hail

    • Dwelling

    • Dwelling Windstorm or Hail

  • Your property must be located in rating territories 110 or 120, which include parts of the Outer Banks and Barrier Islands. These areas are generally South and east of the Intracoastal Waterway, from the South Carolina line to Fort Macon (Beaufort Inlet), and South and east of Core, Pamlico, Roanoke, and Currituck Sounds to the Virginia line. This includes the parts of North Carolina commonly referred to as the Outer Banks.

Application and Construction Process

  • Visit www.strengthenyourroof.com and click “Check Initial Eligibility and Start an Application Now.”

    Or call 1-844-NCROOFS (844-627-6637) to speak with the grant team.

  • Submit a grant application through the Strengthen Your Roof website (requires creating an online account on the website).

    The application requires at least four photographs showing the front, back, left, and right sides of the home. 

  • The NCIUA Grant Team reviews applications for initial eligibility. IBHS then verifies whether the property qualifies for a FORTIFIED Roof.

    Additional documentation or photos may be requested during this phase.

  • Policyholders with approved applications request bids from contractors via the Strengthen Your Roof dashboard.

    Bids may be submitted by contractors from the program’s approved list, or by other contractors upon request and approval.

    Contractors upload bid sheets through the dashboard.

    The applicant selects a contractor to move forward and coordinates with the NCIUA Grant Team.

  • A certified FORTIFIED Evaluator conducts inspections before, during, and after the roofing project

    Evaluations confirm that materials and construction meet IBHS FORTIFIED Roof standards.

  • Upon completion of the roof, the Evaluator submits documentation to IBHS.

    Once the FORTIFIED Roof designation certificate is issued and uploaded to the dashboard:

    • The contractor submits the final invoice to the dashboard.

    • The policyholder submits a W-9 form to process the grant payment from NCIUA.

US DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE LOANS AND GRANTS

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) provides several funding programs to help cover the cost of home repairs, including roofs. Most are in the form of grants and eligibility varies. These programs can change over time, so it’s important to check funders’ websites for the most current information and application details.

USDA Single Family Housing Rural Disaster Home Repair Grant

The Single Family Housing Rural Disaster Home Repair Grant program, offered by the US Department of Agriculture (USDA), provides funding to very-low and low-income homeowners to repair homes damaged by disasters in 2022 (Presidential Disaster Declaration 3586, declared October 1, 2022, includes Carteret County). Grants are available year-round until funds run out. The maximum award is $44,000.

To learn more or apply, contact the local NC Rural Development Area Office in Kinston:

  • Director: Aaron Gaskins

  • Phone: 252-526-9799

  • Email: aaron.gaskins@usda.gov

  • Address: 2044-C Hwy 11/55 South, PO Box 6180, Kinston, NC 28501-0189

USDA Single Family Housing Repair Loans & Grants in Presidentially Declared Disasters Pilot

The pilot Single Family Housing Repair Loans & Grants in Presidentially Declared Disasters program provides loans and grants to repair homes damaged by Presidentially declared disasters that occurred on or after July 18, 2022. The maximum loan amount is $40,000 (20 year loan term at 1 percent fixed interest). The maximum grant amount is $15,000. Loans and grants can be combined for up to $55,000 in assistance.

To begin the grant or loan application process, contact the local NC Rural Development Office in Kinston (information to left) and provide the following: