Checklist for Safe, Insurable Exterior Property

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Check the exterior of your home to make sure that it is safe in hazardous weather and for guests and family who visit or play in your yard. To be sure that the outside of your home is safe and insurable, review the exterior for overall safety. Aside from alarm systems, deadbolt locks, and smoke detectors, it's important to maintain good exterior lighting and safe pathways. If you are new to an area and need to learn more about its natural hazards, the Institute for Business & Home Safety maintains a website where you can access safety lists and precautions by zip code. Risk-Reduction Tips In Wildfire Zones Remove trees from striking distance of the house and other structures. Have a class 4 fire-resistant roof cover and fire-resistant soffits. Install fine wire mesh in soffit openings to prevent burning embers from entering the attic. Remove vegetation from around the house. Consider tempered glass for windows. Check roof coverings for fire ratings. Class A-rated roofing materials can protect against severe fire exposures. In Earthquake and High-Wind or Hurricane Zones In an earthquake area, verify that gas lines have flexible connections. Have a specialist anchor chimneys and other unreinforced masonry in quake areas. In high-wind areas, install windows that are impact resistant and able to handle air-pressure changes. If renovating a home in an earthquake-prone area, choose a licensed contractor experienced in seismic retrofitting. Bolting a home to its foundation can help it handle a quake's lateral forces. "Soft story" construction like decks and garages beneath closed-in areas need to be shored up. Roofs and gutters should be checked to ensure they can withstand the elements, protect your home, and not be pulled loose by high winds. Consider a shutter system for windows. It should be installed by trained individuals who can be sure it performs as designed and tested. In a high-wind area, wood shingles for siding should be thicker, denser, more impact-resistant, and less likely to split. If installing a metal roof, talk with the roofer about its impact resistance if it is of a thicker gauge, 26 or more, or of a bent or seamed style. Install roof shingles that can handle wind speed rating for the area. H-rated shingles, for example, are rated for 150 mph. In areas that get hail, install a class 4 impact-resistant roof cover. Garage doors are at risk in high winds. They typically cover a large area and are made with lightweight materials, so consider a heavier-weight product with substantial track strength.

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