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Jun

For questions about fire mitigation on your property in Lakewood, call (719)400-9104.

The exterior siding to your home will make a difference to the home burning quickly or not. It’s not as important as your windows and roofing, so you’ll want to make them the priority when it comes to costs. When you have the money, it’s worth upgrading your exterior siding to prepare for wildfires.

The siding is going to be beneficial if a house or shed just 20ft away catches fire. The crown fires will affect the roof more than the side of the house. So, if you’re on the urban edge, having siding that is ignition resistant is worth considering.

The Worst Choices for Exterior Siding

Vinyl siding is one of the most popular options for sidings, but it’s the worst when it comes to wildfire protection. This material will melt quickly in the heat, falling away from the home even in the lower temperatures. Within a minute of high heat, that siding is cone.

Wood could be a good choice, but you will need to make sure it’s properly constructed and treated. Bevel clapboard sidings are the worst of the woods because the fire will get into the joins. You’ll need to use tongue-and-groove or shiplap joints to offer better protection.

Opting for Class B or More

There are different ratings for products when it comes to wildfire protection. Class B isn’t the best, but it is good for exterior sidings. The material is fire-resistant in a way that will encourage the flames to remain low. You’ll need fire-resistant coatings to ensure the Class B wood products remain protected.

If the siding has already been stained or painted, you’re limited in your options. You’ll be best pulling down the siding and starting again.

Watch Out for Scams

There are a lot of scams out there. You’ll hear a lot about ceramic coatings for your exterior sidings. They’re considered thicker than regular paint and will protect better. That’s not the case. If you see anything that says “Never paint your home again” or “25-year guarantee” with little information, look the other way. A lot of the warranties are unenforceable as they’re with the contractor and not the parent company of the siding.
There isn’t a fireproof exterior paint. The best thing to do is to clear out the combustible items in Zone 1 to keep your home protected.

You’ll want to watch out for brick, stone, and stucco. While they look good, they can often require extra base coats and they are labor intensive. They don’t offer many extra benefits compared to wood that has been treated properly, so they may not be worth the cost and effort. There are some artificial stone options or thin brick sidings that could work, but you’ll want to check on all the materials used.

Colorado Mastication is fire mitigation company specializing in defensible space creation, lot clearing, brush clearing, fence line clearing in Lakewood and surrounding areas.