Sparks Don’t Catch Hold to Composite Shake Roofs
Real cedar roof shingles on a home don’t stand a chance in a wildfire. For many homeowners, their only hope of surviving the problem of blowing sparks comes if they have composite shake roofs.
According to the National Interagency Fire Center, there were more than 66,130 fires that burned in 2017. These horrific wildfires burned 9,791,062 acres. These numbers are a strong reason for homeowners to think twice about their roofs overhead.
Homeowners and Their Roofs
People in a wide range of states, from Washington to Oklahoma, and all states in between, will continue to be on edge this year — and with good reason. As wildfires pop up, even if they occur several miles away from a home, sparks carried on the wind can land on cedar roof shingles and start additional fires.
To help protect your home, follow the lead of California homeowner Dan Baer. “More than 50 homes burned in our area during one wildfire,” says Baer. “If the winds had been stronger, our home would have been included.
“Our old shake roof was a tinderbox waiting to ignite. Our new Bellaforté composite tiles are rated Class A for fire retardance, which gives us tremendous peace-of-mind.”
Available nationwide, DaVinci composite shake and slate tiles simply won’t ignite — even when a blow torch is applied directly to them. That reassuring quality brings comfort to many people.
Listen to Other Homeowners
In Nevada, homeowner James Brinton is pleased with his move from a wood shake roof to composite shake tiles.
“Our mountain-style home needed the extra protection offered by synthetic shake roofing tiles,” says Brinton. “The combination of the durability, look and safety features of the DaVinci roof convinced us this was a solid investment for our home’s future.”
Another Nevada resident, Mary Katherine Hirsh, feels the same way. After she was evacuated from her home in 2011 due to a firestorm sweeping through her Reno neighborhood, she decided her old wooden cedar roof shingles had to go.
“The idea that a stray cinder landing on my roof could ignite the entire home was scary,” says Hirsh, a Nevada resident. “I immediately started researching roofing options and focused in on fire-resistant composite roofing tiles from DaVinci Roofscapes.”
Don’t wait. If you live in California, Montana, Texas, Colorado, Arizona, Idaho, Washington, Oregon, New Mexico, Nevada or any of the other states experiencing wildfire situations, contact a roofing professional. Ask to talk about the many benefits of fire-, impact- and high-wind-resistant DaVinci Roofscapes composite shake roofing tiles.
Homeowner Resources
Finally, make sure everyone in your home is prepared and knowledgeable on fire safety issues. Here are some resources to explore:
- The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) has prepared a free Firewise Tips Checklist for homeowners that include valuable ideas for protecting your home and surroundings. There are also Safety Tips available from NFPA.
- The U.S. government also has a website dedicated to fire safety tips and planning.
- More fire safety preparation information can be found on the Climate 101: Wildfires website for National Geographic magazine.
- The Red Cross offers a comprehensive wildfire safety before-during-after tips section on their website.
- Just how important is it for a roof to resist igniting with an ember? According to the Texas Forest Service, some embers can travel more than a mile before landing. Burning embers and sparks traveling those distances can mean trouble for many homeowners. Interested in learning how to make your home safer from wildfires? Click HERE for the “Be Embers Aware” checklist from the Texas Forest Service.