Top 10 Materials to Avoid in Wildfire Zones
When preparing your home for a wildfire, one of the most important steps is selecting the right building materials. Unfortunately, not all materials are created equal, and some can increase the vulnerability of your home during a wildfire. This blog will outline the top 10 materials to avoid in wildfire zones, helping you make informed choices when protecting your home.
When preparing your home for a wildfire, one of the most important steps is selecting the right building materials. Unfortunately, not all materials are created equal, and some can increase the vulnerability of your home during a wildfire. This blog will outline the top 10 materials to avoid in wildfire zones, helping you make informed choices when protecting your home.
Why Material Selection Matters in Wildfire Defense
The materials you choose for your home’s roof, siding, deck, and landscaping play a huge role in how well it can withstand the extreme conditions of a wildfire. Wildfires are unpredictable, and ember attacks, radiant heat, and direct flames are just a few of the risks to consider. Certain materials are highly flammable, which can contribute to the rapid spread of fire, putting your property—and potentially the whole neighborhood—at greater risk.
Let's explore the top 10 materials you should avoid when building or renovating your home in a wildfire zone.
1. Wood Shingles/Shakes
Wood shingles and shakes are classic roofing materials, but they are also one of the most flammable options. During a wildfire, embers can easily ignite wooden shingles, causing the fire to spread quickly. Even if a fire doesn’t directly touch the roof, the heat from nearby flames can still ignite wood shingles.
Recommendation: Opt for Class A fire-rated roofing materials like metal, clay tiles, or composite shingles.
2. Unrated Asphalt Shingles
Asphalt shingles are commonly used due to their cost-effectiveness, but they don’t provide adequate protection in a wildfire. Unrated asphalt shingles are particularly vulnerable to the heat and embers produced by wildfires, making them an unsafe choice for homes in fire-prone areas.
Recommendation: Choose Class A fire-rated composite shingles or metal roofing for better fire protection.
3. Vinyl Siding
Vinyl siding is an affordable option, but it is highly flammable and can melt or catch fire when exposed to heat. The melting vinyl can spread flames to your home’s interior, further damaging your property. It’s important to avoid vinyl siding, especially in Zone 0 and Zone 1.
Recommendation: Go for fiber cement board or metal siding, both of which are fire-resistant options.
4. Treated Wood (Untreated)
While treated wood can offer some level of protection against moisture and pests, it is still highly flammable and should be avoided in high-risk wildfire zones. When untreated, wood is even more susceptible to fire, and it can act as fuel during a wildfire, spreading flames rapidly.
Recommendation: Use fire-resistant materials like fiber cement board or fire-rated wood products.
5. Plastic or PVC Gutters
Plastic gutters may seem like a cost-effective solution, but they melt quickly and can easily catch fire when embers land on them. Plastic is one of the most flammable materials around your home, and it’s best to avoid it in favor of more fire-resistant options.
Recommendation: Install galvanized steel or aluminum gutters with metal gutter guards to prevent ember buildup.
6. Synthetic Turf
Synthetic turf might look appealing, but it is a non-natural material that can melt and catch fire quickly. The plastics and chemicals used in synthetic turf make it a significant fire hazard when exposed to intense heat.
Recommendation: Use natural, fire-resistant ground covers like succulents, grass, or wildflower meadows to maintain aesthetic appeal without compromising safety.
7. Plastic Window Frames
Plastic window frames, while lightweight and inexpensive, are highly flammable. When exposed to the intense heat of a wildfire, plastic window frames can melt or ignite, allowing embers to easily enter your home.
Recommendation: Choose metal or aluminum window frames that provide better protection from both heat and flames.
8. Wood Decking
Wooden decks are one of the most vulnerable areas of a home during a wildfire, as embers can easily settle underneath and ignite the wood. The flame can spread quickly, causing significant damage to your property and posing a risk to your entire structure.
Recommendation: Opt for fire-rated composite decking or metal decking to prevent fire spread from beneath the deck.
9. Traditional Wood Fencing
Wooden fences attached to your home can act as a bridge for fire to spread to your structure. The flammable nature of wood, combined with its ability to easily ignite from embers, makes traditional wood fencing a poor choice for wildfire defense.
Recommendation: Install metal, stone, or masonry fencing to create a fire-resistant barrier around your home.
10. Highly Flammable Mulch
Mulch is often used in landscaping but can be a major fire hazard, especially when it is made of wood chips or bark. These materials are highly flammable, and dry conditions can make them catch fire even more easily.
Recommendation: Replace wood mulch with gravel, stone, or decomposed granite. These non-combustible materials provide a beautiful, fire-safe landscaping solution.
Bonus: Full-Structure Fire Shielding
Even with the best materials in place, there are scenarios—like a neighboring home catching fire—where radiant heat and ember storms may overwhelm your defenses. That’s where full-structure fire shielding comes in.
Our solution is:
Waterless (no plumbing or sprinkler system needed)
Self-sufficient (no supervision required)
Rated to 3,000°F, with deployment designed to protect against ember storms and radiant heat
Final Thought:
While it’s important to use fire-resistant materials for every part of your home, it’s equally important to think about Zone 0 and Zone 1 when designing and landscaping your property. By avoiding highly flammable materials and focusing on non-combustible options, you can help ensure that your home is better protected from the dangers of wildfire.
The Zone Zero Fire Shield team hopes you find this information helpful.