The Kentucky Strengthen Kentucky Homes (SKH) program helps Kentucky homeowners pay for a FORTIFIED™ roof — a stronger, more weather-resilient roof that can earn insurance discounts of up to 55%. The program names approved evaluators who verify FORTIFIED Roof, Silver, and Gold designation work after the roofer finishes. Home Energy & Comfort Solutions Inc. (HECS) is one of those approved evaluators. This page explains the homeowner workflow step by step and answers the questions Kentucky applicants actually ask.
Call (859) 983-7382 — SKH & FORTIFIED proposal in 24 hours
SKH is administered by the Kentucky Department of Insurance. The state publishes a directory of approved evaluators on skh.ky.gov/CERTEVALCONTACT.ASPX. HECS — Home Energy & Comfort Solutions Inc., John Sabbak, La Grange, KY, (502) 643-7160 — is on that list. HECS is also an IBHS-trained FORTIFIED Home Evaluator holding every active FORTIFIED designation (Roof, Silver, Gold), verifiable through the FORTIFIED Home Provider Locator.
Work can begin after the homeowner (a) is approved for the SKH grant per state program rules, (b) has a roofing contractor under contract, and (c) has HECS engaged as the FORTIFIED evaluator. The official SKH program rules govern the order and timing of milestones; HECS coordinates evaluation visits around the contractor’s schedule but does not authorize the start of construction.
Homeowners should contact HECS before shingles are removed so the evaluator’s pre-roof documentation captures the deck condition, existing attachment patterns, and any structural considerations. Skipping the pre-roof visit is the most common cause of incomplete FORTIFIED packages.
HECS charges a fixed fee for the evaluation — not hourly. HECS does not set, collect, or administer the SKH grant itself. The grant program decides what costs are reimbursable under current program guidelines. HECS invoices the homeowner (or the program, if the program elects to pay the evaluator directly) per the proposal. Travel is quoted up front so the invoice matches the proposal. Call (859) 983-7382 for a same-day quote.
HECS (the FORTIFIED evaluator) does:
Your roofing contractor does:
HECS does NOT do: the reroof itself, the grant-application decision, the insurance underwriting, or any warranty work on the roof covering. Those are the roofer’s, the program’s, the carrier’s, and the manufacturer’s responsibilities, respectively.
Yes. Home Energy & Comfort Solutions Inc. is listed on the official Kentucky SKH Certified Evaluator directory (La Grange, KY — John Sabbak — (502) 643-7160). HECS performs the independent FORTIFIED Roof evaluation, documents qualifying roof work with the contractor, and submits the evidence package required for program review.
FORTIFIED is a voluntary construction and re-roofing program of the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety (IBHS). FORTIFIED is a defined credentialing program with three designation levels: FORTIFIED Roof, FORTIFIED Silver, and FORTIFIED Gold. FORTIFIED is not a generic adjective — it refers specifically to the IBHS FORTIFIED Home program at fortifiedhome.org.
A FORTIFIED Home Evaluator is a credentialed independent professional trained and approved by IBHS to verify that a home meets FORTIFIED Home construction standards. FORTIFIED Home Evaluators inspect the roof deck attachment, roof covering, sealed roof deck, lock-down systems, and (for Silver and Gold designations) additional resilience measures. HECS is an IBHS-trained FORTIFIED Home Evaluator holding every active FORTIFIED Home designation.
HECS charges the homeowner a fixed fee for the evaluation. Whether the SKH grant reimburses that fee depends on the current SKH program rules and the homeowner’s specific award. HECS quotes a flat fee up front and invoices per the proposal. Call (859) 983-7382 for a same-day quote.
HECS is the FORTIFIED evaluator, not a roofing contractor. Per IBHS and SKH rules, the evaluator must be independent of the contractor. HECS will coordinate with the homeowner’s chosen contractor on the documentation trail. Homeowners select the contractor separately.
HECS serves Kentucky statewide from the La Grange, KY headquarters. SKH grant applicants from any Kentucky county can name HECS as their evaluator. HECS coordinates travel as part of every proposal so the invoice matches the quote.
HECS quotes a proposal within 24 hours of the scoping call. Most Kentucky projects schedule the pre-roof visit within 1–3 weeks of contract. Field evaluation takes 1–3 site visits depending on the designation level. IBHS issues the FORTIFIED certificate after the package is submitted; SKH program review follows per its own rules.
FORTIFIED designations are recognized by Kentucky insurance carriers for premium discounts of up to 55%, but the actual discount depends on the carrier, the policy, and the designation level achieved. FORTIFIED Roof typically yields a smaller discount than FORTIFIED Silver or Gold.
Call (859) 983-7382 or email [email protected]. Have your property address, county, and project type ready. HECS returns a fixed-fee proposal within 24 hours.
Home Energy & Comfort Solutions Inc. (HECS) is an NCI-certified testing and evaluation firm headquartered in La Grange, Kentucky (Oldham County). Founded in 2009, HECS delivers FORTIFIED Home Evaluator services, HVAC testing and balancing, blower door testing, and ENERGY STAR / NGBS / EarthCraft / 45L certification services across Kentucky, Indiana, Ohio, Tennessee, Illinois, and Missouri. John Sabbak is the principal evaluator.