Upgrade to fire-resistant building materials during routine maintenance

When replacing roofing, siding, decking, or fencing as part of normal maintenance, choose fire-resistant alternatives. Incremental upgrades during planned replacement cycles cost little more than combustible options and dramatically improve survivability.

Why It Works

Class A roofing (metal, tile, asphalt composition) resists ember ignition, while wood shake roofs are the single greatest structural vulnerability in wildfire zones. Similarly, fiber cement siding and composite decking eliminate fuel from the building envelope without sacrificing aesthetics.

Tips

• Roofing: Class A asphalt shingles cost the same as combustible alternatives; metal roofing adds $1-$3/sq ft but lasts 2-3 times longer
• Siding: James Hardie fiber cement ($5-$10/sq ft installed) is noncombustible and looks like wood
• Decking: Composite decking (Trex, TimberTech, $8-$12/linear ft) resists ember ignition vs. wood ($3-$8/linear ft)
• Fencing: Replace the first 5 feet of fence attached to the house with metal or masonry — wood fences are common fire pathways to structures
• Vents: Replace plastic soffit vents with metal ember-resistant vents ($8-$15 each) during any roof work
• Check if your state offers wildfire hardening tax credits — California's AB 38 requires disclosure of defensible space compliance at sale