If you’re living in an area that is susceptible to wildfires, your best defense should be being prepared and planning ahead. It seems to be the case that wildfires are becoming more and more destructive every year. According to reports, thousands of homes are destroyed, and an average of 4 to 5 million acres of land is burned during the wildfire season that usually lasts from May to September.
If you’re living in the grasslands, mountains, or foothills of California, your home is surely at risk; and therefore, it is important that you plan ahead, and make essential preparations to make your home safe from wildfires. If you’re facing difficulties making sure your home is adequately prepared for the wildfire season, you can consider reaching out to our expert roofing contractors in Santa Rosa to fortify your home in the best possible manner.
Protecting Your Homes Against Wildfire Damage – Some Useful Tips
No home is fireproof, but by taking precautions, you can easily prepare it for the wildfire season. Here are some useful tips that you can use to protect your home and yards from a wildfire.
Create a Defensible Space Around Your Home
Creating a defensible zone around your home to slow down the wildfire is really a great idea. In order to set up a fireproof space, it is imperative that you view your home and yard area as a fuel source, and remove all items that could possibly act as a fuel for the wildfire. You can consider taking the following steps to create a defensible space around your home.
- Introduce native vegetation around your home.
- Remove all dry and dead trees and shrubs.
- Make sure to space trees at a minimum distance of 10 feet apart.
- Keep your shrubs and trees pruned. Make sure that the tree branches are at a minimum height of 6 feet from the ground, and the shrubs are not more than 18 inches high.
- Mow your lawn regularly, and maintain a proper irrigation system.
- Trim down tree branches to prevent them from reaching your roof or chimney.
- Make sure to store all flammable liquids in high-quality and approved metal cans.
Build Your Home with Non-Flammable Materials
The type of material that is used for building your home is another line of defense that can protect your home during the wildfire season.
- Make sure to use only non-combustible roofing materials.
- Install spark arresters in your home chimney is also a great idea to protect your home from flying embers.
- Cover the undersides of your deck with fire-resistant materials.
- Install tempered glass or double-paned glass for all exterior windows.
These are several useful tips that you can follow to safeguard your home against wildfires. For more information and tips on protecting your home during the wildfire season, you can contact ARS Roofing, Gutters & Solar at 707-584-5900, and request a consultation.