Patriot Roofing Inc. Offers Tips on How to Prevent Serious Damage From California Wildfires

San Diego, CA (PRWEB) November 7, 2007 -- With thousands of California residents already besieged by the recent onslaught of forest and brush fires, thousands more still have the opportunity to help minimize the potential devastation to their homes. Advance planning and preparation can help protect your home and minimize the damage caused by fires.

"There are many things you can do to safeguard your home from serious damage due to wildfires, storms and even earthquakes," says Dave Mann, President of Patriot Roofing, Inc, a San Diego Roofing Company (http://www.patriotroofing.com/index.html). "Taking just a few precautionary measures can go a long way to helping homeowners minimize the damage that can occur from these kinds of natural disasters."

The following fire protection (http://www.patriotroofing.com/FireProtection/) checklist is provided by Patriot Roofing, Inc., a member of the Tile Roofing Institute (TRI), the leading resource and proponent of concrete and clay tile roof systems.

Short-Term Tactics

Defensible Space: Defensible space is the area around a home, which is planted and maintained to provide a buffer zone against wildfire, and to provide firefighters access and room to protect the home. The width of acceptable defensible area depends on the steepness of the slope and the type of vegetation adjacent to the home. The steeper the slope and the heavier the vegetation the wider the defensible space needed. Under optimum conditions the minimum width should not be less than 30 feet. In some extreme instances this width could be as much as 300 feet. Fire departments and local nurseries can provide more detailed information and a list of fire-resistant plants for landscaping needs.

Home Maintenance: Maintaining the exterior of your home can greatly reduce the risk of fire. Roofs and gutters should be cleaned regularly. Trees and shrubs should be kept pruned, and dried vegetation and debris should be cleared away from foundations and underneath decks.

Smoke Alarms: Interior smoke alarms are one of the most inexpensive ways to protect family and home from fire. Smoke detectors should be installed on every level of the home, next to bedrooms and tested monthly.

Long-Term Tactics:

Roofing: The roof is the most vulnerable part of any home during a wildfire. The majority of fires start when embers ignite non-fire-resistant roofing materials, such as untreated wood shakes. Independent testing sponsored by the Committee for Firesafe Dwellings has concluded that concrete or clay tile roofing is safer than traditional roofing materials such as shingle, shake or metal. Concrete and clay tile roofing products are Class A fire-rated and tend to be more durable than other materials. Product warranties range from 50 years to the life of the structure. Concrete and clay tile roofs should be installed in accordance to the printed installation recommendations using approved fastener and assembly systems, and should conform to local-area building codes and/or trade practices. Damaged roofs should be replaced with a non-combustible Class A roofing system.

Eaves: Eaves should be enclosed with fire-retardant soffits, non-combustible materials or one-hour fire resistant construction. Fire advancing on a home can easily be trapped under the eaves and other overhangs until it gains access to the attic or other interior spaces. Attic vents should be relocated from under the eaves to gable or roof areas. Prefabricated attic vents for gable roof applications are available.

Windows: Radiant heat can pass through windows and ignite combustible materials inside the home. Double- or triple-paned windows not only help to insulate a home and reduce heating and cooling expenses, they also act as a barrier to fire penetrating the interior of a home.

Chimneys: Chimneys should include an approved spark arrester and be located at least 30 feet from tree limbs. Regular maintenance and cleaning is also important.

Sprinklers: Automatic, quick-responding residential fire sprinklers have proven to be more than 90 percent effective in residential fires by controlling them while they're still small and in many cases extinguishing them. When a wildfire is threatening a home, sprinklers have helped deny it any foothold. This is partially accomplished by keeping combustible interior construction features and furnishings wet and cool. In recent years, residential sprinkler systems have become an affordable option for homeowners.

Siding: Fire-retardant siding is one of the best investments homeowners can make to protect their home while greatly enhancing its appearance. There are many fire-resistant siding materials on the market including brick cladding and concrete shingles.

For more information about tile roofing or to view a homeowner checklist for wildfire preparation, visit www.patriotroofing.com or www.tileroofing.org.

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