
Building Wildfire-Resistant Homes: A Practical Guide to Safety and Cost-Effective Solutions
Currently, more than 33% of all homes in the country are located in the wildland-urban interface, which describes areas where undeveloped wildland meets human development. The wildland-urban interface is at a higher risk of wildfires. A large portion of Southern California is situated in the wildland-urban interface.
Over the past 10 years, more than 35,000 homes and commercial structures have been damaged or destroyed by wildfires. The risk of a fire developing has increased in many areas because of changing weather patterns and high winds.
These issues can be mitigated by constructing and retrofitting homes for wildfire resistance. While many existing homeowners believe that the costs associated with retrofitting their properties for wildfire resistance are too high, there are ways to manage the expenses.
Growing trends and research indicate that focusing on wildfire resistance when constructing or renovating homes can significantly reduce the risks that communities in the wildland-urban interface deal with. The following guide offers a closer look at some cost-effective and safe solutions on how to build wildfire-resistant homes.

Understanding Wildfire-Resistant Building Codes
Jurisdictions are allowed to create their own wildfire-resistant building codes. There are, however, three statewide and national building codes that guide developers when constructing wildfire-resistant buildings in California. These standards include the following:
- California Building Code Chapter 7A
- National Fire Protection Association’s Standard for Reducing Structure Ignition Hazards from Wildland Fire
- International Wildland Urban Interface Code
The purpose of these documents is to inform developers of the construction requirements for different components of a building or home, such as the roof, landscaping, and exterior walls. When using these codes to create a building, you’ll have access to several options that can help you reach the statewide standards.
Most requirements involve materials and their ability to resist fire spread. Local and state regulations shape home safety by making it easier for developers and homeowners to identify materials and components that should be used when constructing or retrofitting a home.
Cost of Building a Wildfire-Resistant Home
If you’re considering developing a home in California, the costs depend on the type of structure you wish to build. For example, you’ll spend around $26,000 on the materials needed to construct a basic home in Southern California. Building a wildfire-resistant home will cost around $2,000-$3,000 extra. Developing a home to meet optimal wildfire resistance requirements can increase your budget by more than $27,000.
If you want to keep your existing home, a simple retrofitting will cost you around $15,000. Keep in mind that each component in the assembly has a different cost. For an enhanced home that’s resistant to wildfires, you can expect to pay the following prices:
- Roof: $7,310
- Under-eave area: $1,180
- Exterior wall: $12,250
- Attached deck: $4,880
- Near-home landscaping: $3,270
The roof includes materials for vents, edges, gutters, and covering. The costs associated with an exterior wall cover everything from siding and windows to vents and trim. If you believe that the cost of constructing the optimal wildfire-resistant home is too high, the long-term return on investment (ROI) should cover some of these expenses. You’ll benefit from higher durability and energy efficiency.
Key Features of Wildfire-Resistant Homes
From the roof to the exterior wall, building a wildfire-resistant home requires paying special attention to certain components.

Roof
Traditional roofs are vulnerable to wildfire damage because of the large surface area they typically have. When searching for the ideal roof covering options, choose Class A materials. All Class A products are wildfire-resistant.
For example, asphalt fiberglass composition shingles are designed to resist ignition. It’s also a good idea to obtain fire-rated underlayment, durable materials, and ember-resistant vents. Consider materials like clay tile or standing seam metal for your roof. The roofing edge can be made with a metal gutter guard or fiber-cement fascia.
Exterior Walls
Choose fire-resistant materials for the exterior walls of your home. For example, metal trim, tempered glass windows, and fiber-cement siding hold up well to embers and flames. During a wildfire, the exterior walls will be vulnerable to radiant heat exposure and embers, which is why it’s important that you use the best materials.
In Southern California, consider designing your home with a three-coat stucco solution instead of a wood composite product. Avoid plastic louvered vents when designing your home. The vents you select should be rated for flame and ember resistance. While many of these materials are more expensive than their traditional counterparts, metallic garage and pedestrian doors are cheaper.
Decks
If you have a deck attached to your home, it will be vulnerable to under-deck flames and embers. When your deck catches fire, the side of your home may also be exposed to flames and heat. You can reduce the buildup of vegetation and debris by enclosing the under-deck space.
There are several materials you can use to build or retrofit a deck depending on where you live. In Southern California, you might want to consider metal mesh or noncombustible decking materials. If you choose a plastic composite decking material, pair it with a steel structural support system and metal deck boards. The metal mesh can be placed around the under-deck area to keep leaves and other vegetation out.
Landscaping
You can also enhance your home’s fire resistance by making changes to the landscaping. During a wildfire, flames can quickly spread around a home by gaining access to near-home combustible materials, which include everything from plants and vegetative debris to fences and mulch. Limiting the availability of combustible materials within five feet of your home can mitigate the spread of a wildfire.
If you have bark mulch, consider replacing it with pea gravel. Before placing this material around your home, install some landscape fabric in your yard. You can safely cover this fabric with pea gravel. You’ll also benefit from using noncombustible mulch, which is more durable and lasts longer than standard mulch.
Retrofitting Existing Homes for Wildfire Resistance
If you’re ready to retrofit your existing home to meet wildfire-resistant standards, use the building codes linked above to guide your project. You’ll need to focus on the following areas when improving your home’s resistance:
- Roofing
- Near-home landscaping
- Deck
- Exterior walls
- Under-eave area
For example, placing noncombustible mulch around your home can significantly increase its resistance to wildfires. Take simple and affordable actions like installing ember-resistant vents and cleaning your gutters. Ember-resistant vents cost anywhere from $50-$200.
The costs associated with retrofitting your home can range from $2,000-$15,000. Building a fire-resistant home from scratch will end up costing you anywhere from $400,000 to $5 million. Adding wildfire resistance when building a new home can increase your overall costs by around $18,000-$27,000.
If you decide to retrofit your home, consider a comprehensive retrofitting for maximum protection. For example, structural changes and expensive materials will keep you safer.

Special Considerations for Manufactured Homes
If you live in a wildfire-prone area, it’s recommended that you purchase a manufactured home, which is a type of prefabricated residence that’s assembled directly in a factory. The parts that are prefabricated will be sent to the site of your home, which is where you can put them together. Manufactured homes are often placed on metal piers or concrete blocks to ensure their longevity.
The main advantage of buying a manufactured home is that it’s more affordable. The manufactured home costs wildfire is around $85 per square foot, which is considerably lower than the $168 price tag for building a home from scratch.
If you buy a manufactured home, consider making some cost-effective modifications to improve its resistance to wildfires. You can add fire-resistant roofing and ember-resistant vents without spending too much. Retrofitting a manufactured home should be between $2,000-$10,000. It’s usually more expensive to retrofit a site-built home.
Community-Wide Approaches and Policy Support
Local governments are responsible for adopting wildfire-resistant construction codes. California is one of only four states to require wildfire-resistant standards for new construction. Local governments can improve the adoption of these standards by updating their policies.
Along with building wildfire-resistant homes and retrofitting existing ones, community-wide mitigation efforts like fuel reduction and vegetation management are needed in areas that are part of the wildland-urban interface.
Some governments offer financial incentives, grants, and programs to homeowners who retrofit their properties or build wildfire-resistant homes. For example, you can obtain rebates in California when you purchase certain materials. Installing fire-resistant roofing materials like tile and metal should give you access to a rebate.
The California Wildfire Mitigation Program provides grants to homeowners who live in high-risk wildfire zones. You can use this type of grant to cover some of the costs associated with ember-resistant vent installation and defensible space creation.
If you’re a customer of Southern California Edison, you might qualify for a fire zone rebate. You can request a rebate of $150-$200 if you install an electric portable power station or a portable power generator.
Conclusion
California has recently experienced a spate of life-threatening wildfires, which is why it’s crucial that residents construct and retrofit homes to be wildfire-resistant. You can retrofit your existing home without spending tens of thousands of dollars.
By taking proactive steps to enhance your home’s resistance to wildfires, you’ll be safer and gain long-term resilience. In the coming months and years, communities and policymakers must prioritize wildfire-resistant housing to reduce risk and costs.

Jason Somers, President & Founder of Crest Real Estate
With over 15 years of professional experience in the Los Angeles luxury real estate market, Jason Somers has the background, judgement and track record to provide an unparalleled level of real estate services. His widespread knowledge helps clients identify and acquire income producing properties and value-ad development opportunities.
Learn more about Jason Somers or contact us.