Fire season can be a scary time for those living in California. As we’ve seen, wildfires can rage for weeks on end, causing untold destruction as they tear through fields, woodlands, and neighborhoods, and thousands of people are impacted by this each year in Ventura County alone. Your roof is one of the most vulnerable parts of your home when it comes to fires, especially if the rest of the structure is made covered with stucco or stone. Protecting your roof during fire season can be easier than you might expect, and this makes it well worth spending the time to get this sorted out before the fires start to blaze. Here are some simple tips to help you protect your roof.
Cleaning
Flammable debris often aids the spread of wildfires, making it easier for it to make it to your home. You should do what you can to make sure that your roof is free from debris, while also clearing things like gutters to make sure that they won’t catch on fire. It only takes a single ember to fall onto a pile of dry leaves to start an overwhelming inferno. You can often find professionals who can do this job for you.
Manage Trees
Trees provide excellent fuel for fires, but many people neglect the trees on their own property when they are thinking about fire protection. It’s always worth avoiding having trees towering over your home, but it can be hard to avoid this, especially if the tree in question is on someone else’s property. Trimming trees back and making sure that they are no closer than 8-10 feet above your roof can be a good way to limit the chance that hot embers will hit your home, and that tree branches won’t damage your roof by other disasters, like wind, as well.
Checking Vents
Every roof has multiple vents, including attic vents, gable-mounted vents, ridge vents, and soffit vents. All of these different types of vents are designed to help airflow through your home. While they serve an important purpose, these can be the perfect entrances for embers that threaten to damage your home. One way to protect your roof is by having your vents inspected during roof maintenance. You may want to consider replacing some of your vents with fire-resistant vents (see below).
Changing Materials
Certain materials are far more flammable than others, with some even being impossible to set on fire without the help of a furnace. Plastic gutters and wooden cladding are prime examples of materials that can make your fire problems much worse at home. Solving this can be as simple as changing the materials used on your home for something that isn’t going to cause issues with fire down the line. For example, Vulcan Vents and O’Hagin are two well-known companies that have developed fire-resistant vents, which are non-flammable, limiting the risk that fire will make its way into your home.
Here at Greatway Roofing, we’re proud to serve Ventura County and the surrounding areas. We understand that fire can be a real concern for homeowners in this part of the USA, and we work extremely hard to provide the right roofing services and advice to make sure you know how to protect your roof. You should never have to live in fear of something like fire. We offer free, comprehensive estimates, and our work is fully guaranteed. Talk to one of our friendly team members today at (805) 523-2550.