When to Get a Forensic Inspection Before Rebuilding
A forensic engineering inspection can document the scientific basis of a disputed insurance claim. This article explains when that makes sense and what it produces.
Building Back Better: Upgrades Worth Making After a Fire
A from-scratch rebuild is the one chance most homeowners get to build a genuinely fire-resistant house. This article walks through the upgrades worth specifying, and what they cost.
Gutters, Eaves, and Soffits in Fire-Prone Areas
The roof-to-wall intersection is one of the most common wildfire ignition points. This article covers gutter guards, noncombustible soffit materials, boxed eave detailing, and realistic costs for upgrades.
Documenting Your Home Hardening for Your Insurer
Hardening only gets insurance credit if you can prove it. Here is exactly what to photograph, what receipts to keep, and how to organize it so your carrier — or a future carrier — can verify the work.
Finding a Contractor Experienced in Fire-Resistant Construction
How to identify, vet, and hire a contractor who genuinely knows wildfire-resistant construction, and how to spot the red flags that signal a contractor who will take your money without protecting your house.
Working With Your Insurer on Rebuild Specifications
Your insurer's idea of 'like kind and quality' is rarely the same as yours. This article walks through the specification fights worth having during a post-fire rebuild.
Mulch Choices in Fire Zones: What to Use, What to Avoid
Mulch is one of the most common ignition sources in WUI fires. This guide explains which mulches burn, which do not, and how to use them safely across defensible-space zones.
Rebuilding After a Wildfire: First Steps
If your home was destroyed in a wildfire, the first few weeks shape everything that follows. This guide walks through what to do, what to delay, and what to avoid.
New Construction in Fire Zones: What to Specify
If you are building a new home in a wildfire-prone area, the specifications you write into your plans are the difference between a house that merely passes code and one that genuinely resists fire. Here is what to specify.
The California FAIR Plan and Home Hardening
The FAIR Plan is California's insurer of last resort, not a regular policy. Here is what it actually covers, how hardening factors in, and the realistic path back to the voluntary market.