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How to harden your home: roofing, gutters and vents that reduce ember risk
Summary
Presenter gave specific home-hardening recommendations—noncombustible roofing, screened vents with 1/8-inch or smaller mesh, regular gutter cleaning, and steps to prevent embers from entering attics and crawl spaces.
The presenter walked homeowners through practical 'home-hardening' steps to reduce the chance that embers will ignite a structure. On roofing, they recommended noncombustible materials (metal, asphalt composition, concrete or clay tile) over wood shakes when reroofing and warned that embers landing in gutters or on piled debris can find a path into roof sheathing. "If you've got wood shakes or shingles, there is a potential for that to ignite," the presenter said.
To prevent ember entry, the presenter demonstrated fire-resistant screening options for attic, gable, ridge and crawl-space vents and recommended mesh openings no larger than 1/8 inch (0.125 in). They also urged frequent gutter cleaning and removing leaf and needle accumulation around eaves and crawl spaces, noting that small, sustained embers plus accumulated debris can generate enough heat to ignite building materials.
