Chubb offers construction, renovation advice to homeowners in wildfire-prone areas

Homeowners in areas prone to wildfires should keep awnings and patio furniture away from the house, and those planning to build or renovate their homes should use dual-pane windows, Chubb Personal Insurance recommends.

“Metal frame windows are best,” Chubb said in a press release. “If vinyl clad, choose those with metal reinforcements at the tops and sides. Vinyl clad can melt and sag if not reinforced, opening gaps to the inside.”

The Warren, N.J.-based insurer also warns that sheds, fences, awnings, patio furniture, trash cans and welcome mats “are often made from flammable materials” and should be kept away from homes.

In the United States, Chubb provides wildfire education and property risk assessments to customers in 14 western states.

In the June 24 release, Chubb Personal Insurance catastrophe manager Kevin Fuhriman made several recommendations for homeowners in areas with wildfire risk, including:

• Install weather stripping around and under the garage door.
• Install flame- and ember-resistive vents.
• Do not use cedar shake and wooden shingles.

“The best options are concrete shingles and tiles, clay tiles and slate,” Chubb recommends. “Other options are metal roofs and fiber-cement shingles.”

• Use dual-pane windows with one pane of tempered glass, as well as metal screens “that will not ignite when falling embers strike.”
• For exterior walls, use ignition-resistant building materials such as stucco, fibre cement, corrugated steel siding or fire-retardant, treated wood, and extend materials from the foundation to the roof.
• Limit the size and number of windows that face large areas of vegetation.