Although this spring has been wetter than normal throughout the U.S., as we continue into the summer, the rainfall expectations are low, especially in the western part of the country. Last summer, those same areas saw record wildfires that decimated neighborhoods. Even if you’re in a part of the country that is expecting normal rainfall amounts, you should still take precautions and protect your home from fire.
Create a Defensible Space
To cut down on the amount of combustible material that will burn on or around your home, officials advise creating a “defensible space” around the perimeter. This means removing dried leaves and other combustible materials from the area immediately around your home. Defensible space is used to slow or stop the spread of fire to prevent your home from being burned by direct flames or radiant heat. The wider the clearing and the lower the amount of combustible material, the greater the odds are your home will be able to survive an intense wildfire. Such a space also creates room for firefighters to defend your home.
Choose a Fire-Resistant Roofing Material
When it is time to replace your roof, consider a roofing material that is fire-resistant. Your roofer can answer your questions about this option. Depending on the manufacturers they represent, you should be able to choose any of the following materials with Class A fire resistance:
- Metal roofing
- Tile roofing
- Fiberglass composition shingles
- Asphalt shingles
As you’re choosing a roofing material, ask about new gutters, especially if yours are vinyl. Also ask about the best gutter guards for metal roofs if that’s your new roofing material as not all can be affixed to metal roofing.
Clean Your Gutters
Did you know that one of the areas cited by the University of California Homeowner’s Wildfire Mitigation Guide are gutters? When dry leaves and needles fall into your gutters, they provide ready fuel for fires. And not just wildfires – a spark from a nearby grill, fireplace or firepit can also ignite debris in your gutters, leading to a housefire. Clean gutters are crucial to the defensible space around your home.
If you’re tired of thoroughly cleaning your gutters twice a year, consider installing gutter protection products like those from Gutter Helmet®. Whether you’re looking for the best gutter guards for metal roofs, asphalt roofs or any other roofing material, we have the solution. Gutter protection products eliminate the chore of gutter cleaning and provide ongoing fire resistance. An added benefit is unlike some other gutter protection products made from vinyl, Gutter Helmet won’t ignite.
To learn more about the many benefits of Gutter Helmet, including the increased fire resistance gutter protection products provide, call (800) 824-3772 or contact us to be connected to your local authorized installer. Estimates are always free.
