22
Dec

Please call today for a free estimate on fire mitigation in teller county, or any other brush clearing projects, (719)400-9104.

If you move into a wildfire area, you need to make sure you’re ready for anything. The best thing you can do is make sure your home is as wildfire resilient as possible. This isn’t just good for your own health, but essential to protect your property.

What Can You Do to Prevent Wildfire Spreading?

Some homes will survive out of luck. However, that’s the minority of homes. Most of them survive because of careful planning and maintenance, awareness of combustible materials around the property, and the incorporation of fire-resistant construction materials when building properties.

You can’t do much about the building materials now. If you worry about the materials used, you can look at when your property was built and how. If you don’t have ember-resistant construction materials, look into updating your home.

You can do something about the other two factors. It’s important to look into the vulnerable areas of your home and see what you can do to make your home as wildfire resilient as possible.

The Top Priorities

Roofs, vents, and vegetation are the biggest priorities to protect your property. These are the areas where embers will jump between, starting just the smallest spark that can grow considerably.

Your roof is a large horizontal surface, making it the most vulnerable area from all types of damage. You need to make sure the roof is made with fire-resilient materials, such as composition shingles, steel, or tile. Ensure gutters are cleaned out and maintained.

Vents are important to allow air to circulate around the home and to allow moisture to escape. However, embers will easily get through the vents. You need to make sure all combustible materials are removed from inside and outside the vents. Place metal mesh over the vents to help prevent the embers from getting through.

Next, you need to deal with the vegetation. Plants will burn during wildfires and cause the spread. Some are more of a problem than others, such as dead leaves and pine needles around the area. Make sure you remove all combustible vegetation from the area, and create three zones around your home to reduce the risk of fire spreading.

The Next Priorities

Once you’ve looked after the top priorities, it’s time to move onto the next sections of the home.

Decks are vulnerable to embers. If the wrong materials are used, they can lead to the fire spreading quickly and directly into your home. You need to make sure your deck is made of non-combustible materials. Also ensure your deck is cleared of all combustible materials, including the propane tank for the barbecue. Move all deck furniture off or get metal deck furniture to reduce the risk of spreading.

Next up is your windows. They can help to prevent ember entry, but they will break from the intensity of the heat. It’s important to have multi-pane tempered glass to reduce the risk of breakage. This glass will distribute the head load better.

Eaves and siding are problem areas. Ensure anything overhanging is removed as it will trap heat and increase the risk of spread. You’ll also want to use non-combustible materials on the outside of your home to discourage the spread of fire.

For more information about home fire mitigation in Teller county, or schedule an appointment for a free estimate, please call (719)400-9104, or e-mail office@coloradomastication.com.