Firefighters putting out a burning house
Wood shingle roofs, when old and dried out, pose a large fire risk. A small spark or lightning can easily ignite the roof and the entire house can be destroyed in a matter of minutes. In many places, especially California, cities have banned the use of wooden roofs due to their fire hazard. If you live in an area with a forest fire threat, firefighters may deem your house too dangerous to protect. Using a fire retardant roof will increase the likelihood your home withstands a fire and will also help your insurance rating. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
Getting the Highest Level of Protection
1. Call your city's municipal fire office. Don't dial 9-1-1; just dial the regular office number and ask them what level of protection they recommend (Class A, B or C) for your roof in your specific area and what regulations you need to follow.
2. Call your homeowner's insurance agent and ask them what level your roof needs to be rated at to ensure your house is covered in the event of a house fire or wildfire.
3. Understand that a spray-on fire retardant will never protect against fire like factory shingles and a roof that is professionally installed to meet the highest Class A fire requirements.
4. Replace the roof if possible with factory tested fire-retardant, chemically treated shingles. Have them professionally installed with a fire barrier between the roof and the sheathing.
Using a Spray-on Chemical
5. Purchase enough fire retardant chemicals to coat your entire roof. Buy the amount of chemicals recommended by the manufacturer to cover your roof's square footage. Buy a portable, handheld sprayer and fill it with the chemicals.
6. Spray on the chemical so that each shingle is saturated. Spray at an angle, so the liquid will penetrate the cracks and underneath slightly.
7. Re-coat the entire roof either once or twice a year because these chemicals begin losing their protective values soon after being applied.
Tags: fire retardant, your roof, Call your, entire roof, professionally installed
