Fire Resistant Siding Can Protect Your Home From Wildfires

1. Ignition Resistant
2. Combustible
3. Non-Combustible

Siding is an essential component of your house and is the first layer of defense for protecting the weather-resistant barrier, sheathing, framing, and sheetrock. The highest quality siding material combined with professional installation will protect against water and fire damage. Over time, any siding will deteriorate with time, but keeping up with maintenance and siding repairs will save you money in the long run.

Fire-resistant is not the same as fireproof. The difference between the two is, fire-resistant means that the siding can withstand the damages for a duration of time before ultimately needing to be attended to. Fireproof construction means all components and materials on the outside of the house, including the vegetation management plan, provide comprehensive defense against a wildfire. 

Common combustible products include solid wood, plywood, oriented strand board, other compressed wood-fire products, and siding made from vinyl and other plastics are not able to withstand the heat of a wildfire.

While replacing your current siding, and other parts of the house with non-combustible material is the best choice to make your home fire-resistant. Another method you could use to combat fires would be to treat the wood with an exterior fire-retardant chemical. It is a way to protect your siding as the wood has to undergo a standard flame test and a specified procedure of wetting and drying wood cycles.

So, what kind of fire-safe siding do we recommend? If you need a siding replacement, our choice is James Hardie Siding, especially if you are looking at products to keep your home safe and protected from wildfires as well as dry rot. Most James Hardie siding has not shown that it ignites or spread fires and is considered one of the best materials in The Pacific Northwest to reduce siding water and fire damage.

• James Hardie products will not ignite when exposed to direct flame or contribute to fuel, the heat will transfer through the siding.
• Instead of having your siding burn as soon as flame touches it, the siding can be exposed and resist burning the interior wallboard for one hour buying time till it gets attended to.
• Even though James Hardie products are installed with nails, like most masonry products, they are made primarily out of cement. This is important because it performs similar to brick, stucco, and stone which means the fiber cement portrays similar fire and moisture resistance.
• Fire resistance requires the correct assembly of the wall coupled with the proper installation of James Hardie Fiber Cement Siding can prevent excessive heat, hot gases, or flames.

• A mix of cement, sand, and wood fibers which results in high fire resistance
• Many products are Classified A, meaning they can stand several hours of heat before melting and damaging your property
• Recommendations include: James Hardie, Nichiha, and Allura

• Able to handle wind, rain, hail, and sleet, most metal siding is non-combustible and fire-resistant
• However, metal siding has gaps which can allow for the fire to get behind and penetrate combustible materials
• Recommendations include: Kingspan, Longboard, and Rollex

• Veneer over wooden frames reduce the risk of fire
• Brick does not have caulked joints, which can help keep the flames away from the combustible materials on the inside of your walls
• Recommendations include: Z-Brick, Brick  It, and Tru-Brix

• When appropriately installed, stucco can achieve a one-hour fire rating
• This fire-resistant material will heat up to an hour during a fire before the flames begin to spread and get into the interior walls
• Recommendations include: Dryvit, STO, and Senergy

• Wood can be treated with chemical flame retardant spray to improve its fire resistance
• This only protects the wood though; fire can still enter through the study cavity of your home and the joints if the siding assembly
• The exterior trim and roof soffit will not be safe just because the siding is treated, so you will have to install a separate fire-resistant material
• Recommendations include: Master Flame, Flamex, and Phos-Chek

• Not recommended for fire-resistance
• Made from manufactured plastic, which will melt very quickly as soon as it is exposed to high heat
• Melted vinyl exposes the internal walls and studs, allowing the flame to spread rapidly throughout the home
• Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) does not recommend installing vinyl siding on homes in areas that are at high risk for fires
• We do not recommend vinyl siding for homes in the Northwest

Fireproofing your home is essential, especially if you live in an area where wildfires are; California, Oregon, and Washington. It takes more than just your siding; you have to be aware of your walls, roof, and interior. So, when thinking about preparing for wildfires in your area make sure you gather all your important belongings, fireproof your home starting with the siding and layer beneath it, and then look around the perimeter for any landscaping you can do for a fire-safe vegetation plan.