Office of Wildfire Preparedness and Resilience

Home Hardening

What is Home Hardening?

Home hardening refers to the process of minimizing a home's vulnerability to wildfire by using noncombustible building materials and implementing measures to prevent embers from entering the home. It can be applied to new construction or for retrofitting an existing home.

Why is Home Hardening Important?

Wind-blown embers from wildfire often pose the greatest threat to homes. About 60-90% of homes lost during wildfire events are ignited by embers rather than direct flames. Upgrading your home's exterior with fire-resistant materials can significantly improve its chances of surviving a wildfire.

Tips to Harden Your Home:

Roofs, Gutters, & Eaves

Roofs

Replace wood shake or shingle roof with Class A roof (asphalt shingles, tile or cement shingles, or metal panels).
Keep clear of debris and vegetation.
Fill in gaps between the roof covering and the sheathing.

Gutters

Remove debris and vegetation on a regular basis.
Install noncombustible gutter covers to prevent accumulation of debris and vegetation.
Replace combustible gutters, such as vinyl, with noncombustible materials.

Eaves

Inspect open-eave areas for gaps where embers could enter into the attic.
Enclose under-eave area to create a soffited eave.

Vents

Replace old vents with flame and ember resistant vents or cover them with noncombustible metal mesh between 1/16-inch and 1/8-inch in diameter.
Keep debris away from vents.
Ensure all vents are properly sealed with no tears or openings.

Siding

Replace combustible siding with noncombustible materials, such as stucco, steel or fiber cement.
Repair all gaps and holes in the siding.
If full replacement is not possible, consider partial replacement by using noncombustible siding material for the bottom 2 feet from the ground.

Windows & Skylights

Windows

Upgrade to double-pane tempered glass windows.
Replace framing with noncombustible metal framing material.
Remove vegetation and other outside combustible materials by all windows.
Install screens on all operable windows.

Skylights

Remove vegetation from roofs, including on and adjacent to skylights.
Install glass skylights on sloped roofs.
Cover operable skylights with noncombustible metal mesh screen.

Decks

Remove vegetation such as leaves and pine needles from underneath and on top of the deck.
Upgrade combustible deck boards with noncombustible options.
If deck is on a slope, create defensible space downslope of the deck.

Fences