12 Strategies to Protect Your Home from Fire, According to Industry Pros

Maintain the Roof and Gutters

Each spring and fall, clear dry leaves, pine needles and other debris from your gutters, roof valleys and chimneys. This will prevent embers from catching them on fire.

“This is one of the most frequently skipped fire protection measures,” says roofer Daniel Cabrera. “And there are no costs involved, except for some time.” Or, if you feel more comfortable, you can hire a pro, which will likely cost $300 or more, depending on the size and complexity of your roof.

Add Screens to Block Embers

Even if a fire is a mile away, windblown embers can reach your home and fall through vents and other gaps, where they then start fires on the inside. To help prevent this, add mesh screens to possible entry points, such as holes around utility pipes, as well as vents in the soffits, gables and roof.

“The goal is not to block ventilation, but to make sure the attic can breathe without giving embers an easy way in,” says Riley.

Create Defensible Space

Clear all flammable materials within five feet of your home. That includes pruning bushes and trees, removing weeds, firewood and dry leaves and replacing mulch with gravel or pavers. Also, look at what’s touching your house.

“Wood fences, decks and pergolas can act like a fuse leading right to the structure,” says Riley. “Even a small noncombustible break between a wood fence and the house can help.”

Upgrade Siding

If you’re planning a remodel, consider adding fire-resistant siding such as fiber cement, stucco, brick, stone or masonry. “

Fiber cement is one of the most practical options for a lot of homeowners because it gives you the look of wood siding without using a combustible wood product,” says Riley. Of course, it’s also important to choose a material suited to your geographical location, weather and aesthetic tastes.

Check Siding Installation

Similarly to roofs, fire-resistant siding can also be compromised by shoddy craftsmanship during the installation. If you’re having new siding installed, check to make sure it’s free from gaps, exposed wood trim, poorly detailed seams and bad transitions around windows, doors and eaves.

“Those can create weak points even when the siding product itself is fire-resistant,” says Riley.

Upgrade Roofing

When it’s time to get a new roof, choose a Class A fire-rated roofing material.

“The roof is the largest single exposed surface on a house, hence fire-resistant roofing is the biggest change in terms of fire protection,” says Cabrera. “It’s especially essential for owners who have wood shake roofs to replace their roof first.”

Typical Class A materials include metal, clay and concrete tiles, slate, asphalt shingles and some synthetics, but be sure to ask specifically for Class A-certified brands.

Check Roof Craftsmanship

A fire-rated roof is only part of the picture. It’s also vital to have a high-quality installation, complete with well-orchestrated underlayment, decking, flashing, vents, penetrations and roof edges.

“If those details are wrong, the fire rating on the brochure does not mean nearly as much,” says Riley. “The difference is using a contractor that has been in business for a long time and actually knows what they’re doing.”

Maintain Smoke Alarms and Fire Extinguishers

Install smoke alarms and fire extinguishers in key areas around the house, especially the kitchen, garage and bedrooms. Test smoke alarms once a month, and change batteries at least once a year.

“And learn how to use fire extinguishers before an emergency occurs,” says restoration expert Josh Miller. “Also, a common misconception is that extinguishers last forever. They should be inspected regularly and replaced or serviced as needed.”

Use Fire-Resistant Building Materials

When remodeling interior spaces, choose wall, insulation and flooring materials with higher fire resistance, including opting for intumescent paint, which expands to form a protective char when exposed to heat or flames.

“Prioritize high-risk areas such as kitchens and utility rooms,” says Miller. Also, swap hollow doors for solid core ones with self-closing hinges, and resist the habit of propping them open.

Use Fire-Resistant Furniture and Curtains

Soft furnishings can ignite fast, and most people underestimate how quickly that happens, says home decor expert Matt Little. Swapping standard drapes and upholstery for fire-retardant-rated (FR-rated) models could buy your family several extra minutes before a room fully ignites.

“I started replacing drapes room by room, and I noticed how much faster a safe exit could become when the room isn’t engulfed within two minutes,” he says.

Seal Indoor Gaps

“Wall cavities are invisible fire highways that run straight up through your interior walls,” says Little. “They feed flames upward faster than any exposed surface in your home.”

To help slow this down, block gaps in interior walls with fire-stop foam or mineral wool. Bajda also recommends sealing gaps around pipes and wires with fire-rated caulk. “Most people skip this step completely, but it only costs about $10 a tube, and closes the holes that let smoke spread fast,” he says.

Inspect Indoor Systems

Routine maintenance and inspection of appliances and electrical and HVAC systems can catch potential hazards early. For added security, have an electrician audit your wiring and circuit loads.

“Wiring faults, overloaded circuits and degraded insulation inside walls are among the most consistently underestimated fire risks I find on electrical inspections, and most homeowners have no idea the problem exists until a circuit trips or they notice a smell near a switchboard,” says plumbing and electrical expert Kameron Khan.

FAQ

What are the best fire-resistant building materials for siding and roofing?

For roofing, look for Class A fire-rated materials, such as asphalt shingles with fiberglass mat, metal roofing, tile, slate, concrete or clay tiles and some synthetic products. For siding, good choices are fiber cement, stucco, stone and brick and other masonry.

Are there fire-resistant insurance discounts or building incentives available?

Yes, depending on the carrier, some offer significant discounts for fire-resistant roofing and siding materials, interior and exterior fire protection features and defensible space improvements.

“In many wildfire-risk markets, they also increasingly determine whether standard insurance is available at all, rather than simply how expensive it is,” says insurance expert Brad Spurgeon. But, ”before you spend money retrofitting, speak with your insurance carrier or independent agent [to learn] which mitigations apply to your policy and area.”

About the Experts

Nicholas Riley is owner of Driftwood Builders Roofing, a 5-star-rated GAF Master Elite roofing contractor in Austin.

Lo Choe is a licensed fire and electrical safety contractor with more than 27 years of experience, and owner of Aura Fire Safety in the San Francisco Bay area.

Daniel Cabrera is owner and founder of Roof Direct San Antonio, and has 16 years of experience installing roofs.

Brad Spurgeon is owner and CEO of Brad Spurgeon Insurance Agency Inc. (BSIA Inc.), which has specialized in homeowners, windstorm and flood insurance along the Gulf Coast of Texas since 1986.

Josh Miller, CFE, CR, is president of Rainbow Restoration, a Neighborly company, and has been in the restoration industry for more than 20 years.

Chris Bajda is an e-commerce entrepreneur and managing partner of GroomsDay.

Kameron Khan is founder and managing director of SilverWater Plumbing in Sydney, Australia, and is licensed for residential and commercial electrical installations and fire safety compliance.

Matt Little is founder and managing director of Festoon House, and has eight years of experience designing high-load electrical systems.

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