How To Protect Your Home From a Wildfire

The prevalence of severe wildfires is a growing concern in the United States, especially in California. For many residents in the Golden State, it is paramount that they protect their homes—one of the most important investments people make in their lives—and their families. Wildfires can destroy homes, and while you can’t prevent them from happening, there are some ways that you can minimize the damage and keep your home safe.

Safeguard Your Roof

The roof is the most at-risk in a wildfire because of its size and orientation. That’s why it is important to clean your roof and gutters regularly to remove any debris that can easily ignite, such as dead leaves and pine needles. You will also want to perform regular roof inspections and maintenance, replacing any broken, loose, or missing shingles or tiles where embers (burning pieces of wood) can enter.

The best thing you can do to fortify your roof, however, is to install or replace it with a Class A-rated roof that has noncombustible coverings. Asphalt shingles and metal are all fire-resistant materials that are rated to withstand severe fire exposure. You’ll also want to replace eaves with short overhangs and flat edges, since wildfires might cause embers to travel and latch onto your roof’s edges and eaves, resulting in a fire.

Seal Your Home’s Exterior

Since utility connections often go through the exterior walls of your home, you’ll want to seal any gaps in your exterior walls with fire-resistant caulk, mortar, or fire-protective expanding foam.

Create Defensible Space Around Your Home

Reduce or remove any flammable vegetation (such as ornamental juniper, Leyland cypress, Italian cypress, rosemary, and eucalyptus) and clear away combustibles within 30 feet of your home’s exterior. Instead, use noncombustible materials such as gravel, brick, or concrete.

Enclose Your Foundation

By enclosing the foundation of your home, you’re greatly lowering the chance that embers will get underneath it.

Plan for Water Access

Install external sprinkler systems that have a dedicated power source or a water tank, if no power source is available. You’ll also want to connect garden hoses that are long enough to reach any area of your home.

Plan for Emergency Responder Access

Make sure that street names and numbers are clearly marked and visible in the event that firefighters need to find your home. Your driveway should also be wide enough and have enough vertical clearance to allow a fire apparatus and other first responder vehicles to access your home.

Turn to Wine Country Roofing

If you want to invest in a top-of-the-line roofing system that will provide protection against wildfires in the Santa Rosa, CA, area, turn to the long-trusted professionals at Wine Country Roofing. We are a local, family-owned and operated company that has been providing and installing industry-leading roofing systems since 1991. We offer roofs by industry-leading manufacturers like GAF and CertainTeed—both of which offer the very best in fire protection. Our highly knowledgeable professionals can use their expertise to help you navigate our selection and find the best roofing system for your fire protection goals. Plus, we will stand behind your new roof with robust manufacturer warranties, so you can have peace of mind that your investment is secure.

Contact Wine Country Roofing today to learn more about our selection of fire-resistant roofing systems in the Santa Rosa, CA, area.