On the Gulf Coast, the question every beach home buyer asks is what happens when a storm comes. Every Beach Bungalow at Camp Margaritaville Resort Crystal Beach is built to the IBHS FORTIFIED Home Gold standard and goes through FORTIFIED certification, and we are one of very few builders on the Texas coast building to that level.

What is FORTIFIED?

FORTIFIED is a program of the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety (IBHS), a nonprofit research organization that tests how homes stand up to severe wind and rain. FORTIFIED sets construction standards at three levels, Roof, Silver and Gold, and a home earns its designation only after an independent evaluator verifies the work. You can read the standards at fortifiedhome.org.

Level one: FORTIFIED Roof

The roof is where most storm damage starts, so FORTIFIED begins there. According to IBHS, a FORTIFIED Roof includes:

  • A sealed roof deck, so water stays out even if roof covering is lost. IBHS says sealing the deck can reduce water damage by up to 95%.
  • Ring-shank nails installed in an enhanced pattern, which IBHS says nearly doubles the roof’s strength.
  • Stronger edges, with a wider drip edge and a fully adhered starter strip.
  • Roof coverings and attic vents tested to resist high wind and wind-driven rain.

Level two: FORTIFIED Silver

Silver builds on the roof requirements by protecting the rest of the home’s envelope, including windows, doors and other openings where wind and water can get in.

Level three: FORTIFIED Gold

Gold adds an engineered continuous load path: the roof is tied to the walls, and the walls are anchored to the foundation, so the whole home works as one structure against wind pressure. That is the level every Beach Bungalow is built to.

What it means for owners

  • Peace of mind. Your beach home is built to a tested, independently verified standard rather than code minimums alone.
  • Less downtime. A home that comes through a storm with less damage gets back to hosting guests sooner.
  • Insurance. Some insurers recognize FORTIFIED homes. Ask your insurance agent how a FORTIFIED Gold designation is treated on your policy.

Want to see it up close? Ask to walk a home under construction on Seaside Drive, or meet the builder behind the homes.

See the Beach Bungalows in person

The model home is open for tours Monday through Friday 9 to 4 and Saturday 10 to 3 inside Camp Margaritaville Resort Crystal Beach. Schedule a tour, browse available homes, or read why buyers choose the Beach Bungalows. Call or text (409) 684-4065.

Offered by Exquisite Properties LLC, TREC #597870. Equal Housing Opportunity. Prices, plans and specifications are subject to change.