Securing home insurance in a fire zone

By Viotell Metal Concepts.  

Starting with your roof materials and grounds maintenance, here are some tips for preparing for fire season. 

It’s almost wildfire season again, and that means many people need to make sure they are prepared for the worst-case scenario. If you live in a fire zone, it is especially essential that you take steps now to make sure you and your loved ones are prepared and protected.  

One imperative step to take is to ensure your homeowners insurance has the coverage you need in the event of a wildfire. Unfortunately, the insurance market is particularly challenging because of all the natural disasters, including wildfires, that have taken place over the past few years. It can be extremely frustrating, but there are steps that you can take as a homeowner to make your home more likely to get or keep a good policy. 

Your roof plays a bigger role than you might think. And not just having a roof but having the right kind of roof. 

Here at Viotell Metal Concepts, we are committed to helping homeowners understand the risks at hand and make the best decisions for their safety and insurance needs. Here are some of the most important factors to consider when trying to get your fire-zone home insured. 

Start with the right roofing material 

Insurance companies don’t just want to know if your roof looks nice. They want to know it won’t go up in flames if there’s a fire nearby. That’s where material choice matters. 

Metal roofing is usually the first thing we bring up. It has the highest fire rating, and it doesn’t ignite. It’s also great for winters, so it pulls double duty. A few of our clients even received rate cuts from their insurers after upgrading to metal. 

For homes with a more rustic or Spanish-style design, clay or concrete tile is a great fit. These materials can take serious heat and hold up well over time. We’ve worked on quite a few tile installations, and they’re still going strong years later. 

Slate is another solid choice. It’s literal stone. Doesn’t burn, doesn’t wear out quickly. It’s pricey, but for long-term peace of mind, it’s one of the best investments you can make. 

If you like the look of wood shake but don’t want the fire risk (and most insurers don’t either), there are composite materials now that do a great job mimicking the look without the danger. Some of them have a Class A fire rating too, which checks the box for safety. 

Homes with low-pitch or flat roofs can benefit from something like PVC roofing. It doesn’t get talked about enough in residential roofing, but it holds up well under heat and is less likely to ignite if embers land on it. We’ve seen more homes go this route lately, and for good reasons. 

Roofing is just one part of it 

The roof matters a lot, but it’s not the only thing under the microscope. 

Maintenance plays a bigger role than you’d think. We always remind homeowners to keep debris off their roofs and out of their gutters. Needles, leaves and twigs are like kindling. When an adjuster drives by or looks at satellite photos, that buildup is something they notice. 

There are also fire-retardant coatings that can be applied to some roof types. It’s not something everyone thinks about, but it can add another layer of defense. If you’re not ready for a full roof replacement, this might be worth exploring. 

Finally: defensible space. You can have the most fireproof roof in the state, but if you have brush or dry landscaping pressed up against your home, that risk jumps quickly. Clear it out. Insurance companies are looking for that now, sometimes even from satellite images, before they approve a policy. 

Conclusion 

If your home is in a wildfire-prone area and your insurance company is raising red flags, start with the roof. Go with fire-resistant material. Keep it clean. Show that you’re maintaining your property. 

We’ve helped dozens of homeowners upgrade their roofs to something safer, something smarter. In a lot of cases, those changes made it easier for them to get insured or keep their policy from getting dropped. 

If you’re unsure what the best next step is, don’t guess. Contact us. At Viotell Metal Concepts, this is what we do. And we do it with the whole picture in mind, not just the roof. 

Let’s get your place ready before the fire season hits again. 

Original article source: Viotell Metal Concepts