Fire Resistant Materials

Roofs are the first line of defence after the Los Angeles fires—embers travel kilometres, and poor roofing traps cinders. Pick Class A materials: slate, metal, clay, or treated asphalt. Slate won’t burn and lasts 50–150 years; asphalt is cheaper but shorter-lived. This article compares test results, costs, lifespans, and sustainability and gives practical steps—vents, ember screens, certified installs—so homeowners in wildfire country can choose a roof that actually protects.

California’s Jan 2025 wildfires made one thing obvious: rebuilding the same way will just burn again. Earthen wall assemblies—rammed earth, cob, adobe—deliver multi-hour fire resistance, resist embers, and in some tests outperform conventional timber and steel assemblies. Cost run higher, codes lag, but for builders and homeowners in wildfire country, these materials offer real resilience. This piece walks practical steps, testing evidence, and the regulatory hurdles you nee