Low-Cost Ways to Harden Your Home 

See also The Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.

1. When it is time to replace your roof, replace it with a Class A fire rated roof. OFSM Wildland Urban Interface (WUI) Products

2. Block any spaces between your roof covering and sheathing with noncombustible materials (bird stops).

3. Install a noncombustible gutter cover on gutters to prevent the accumulation of leaves and debris in the gutter.

4. Cover your chimney and stovepipe outlets with a noncombustible corrosion resistant metal mesh screen (spark arrestor), with 3/8-inch to 1/2-inch openings.

5. Install ember and flame-resistant vents. OFSM Wildland Urban Interface (WUI) Products

6. Caulk and plug gaps greater than 1/8-inch around exposed rafters and blocking to prevent ember intrusion into the attic or other enclosed spaces.

7. Inspect exterior siding for dry rot, gaps, cracks, and warping. Caulk or plug gaps greater than 1/8-inch in siding and replace any damaged boards, including those with dry rot.

8. Install weather-stripping to gaps greater than 1/8-inch between garage doors and door frames to prevent ember intrusion. The weather-stripping must be compliant with UL Standard 10C.

9. When it’s time to replace your windows, replace them with multi-paned windows that have at least one pane of tempered glass. OFSM Wildland Urban Interface (WUI) Products

10. When it’s time to replace your siding or deck, use compliant noncombustible, ignition-resistant, or other OFSM Wildland Urban Interface (WUI) Products.

11. Cover openings to operable skylights with noncombustible metal mesh screen with openings in the screen not to exceed 1/8-inch.

12. Install a minimum 6-inch metal flashing, applied vertically on the exterior of the wall at the deck-to-wall intersection to protect the combustible siding material

*This list was developed as a best practices guide and to assist homeowners to ensure their home is more ignition-resistant from wildfires. Low cost can be subjective. Some of these items are based on upgrading to more stringent materials when that feature is up for replacement due to normal maintenance or lifespan, i.e. roofs. 

Low-Cost Ways to Create Defensible Space and Enhance the Effects of a Hardened Home

1. Regularly clean your roof, gutters, decks, and the base of walls to avoid the accumulation of fallen leaves, needles, and other flammable materials (see Defensible Space | CAL FIRE for more details).

2. Ensure that all combustible materials are removed from underneath, on top of, or within five feet of a deck.

3. Remove vegetation or other combustible materials that are within five feet of windows and glass doors.

4. Replace wood mulch products within five feet of all structures with noncombustible products such as dirt, stone, or gravel.

5. Remove all dead or dying grass, plants, shrubs, trees, branches, leaves, weeds, and pine needles within 30 feet of all structures or to the property line.

6. Ensure exposed firewood is stored at least 30 feet away from structures or completely covered in a fire-resistant material that will not allow embers to penetrate. Additionally, make sure you have 10 feet of clearance around your wood piles.

7. Be sure to store combustible outdoor furnishings away from your home when not in use.

8. Remember to properly store retractable awnings and umbrellas when not in use so they do not collect leaves and embers.

*This list was developed as a best practices guide and to assist homeowners to ensure their home is more ignition-resistant from wildfires. Low cost can be subjective. Some of these items are based on upgrading to more stringent materials when that feature is up for replacement due to normal maintenance or lifespan, i.e. roofs. Updated 2/17/2022.