When you live in an area where forest fires and natural fires are a possibility, you need to make sure your home is protected. Your siding choice could be the difference between having your home catch fire and having it survive. Obviously, you should not side a home with wood plants or shakes in a fire-prone area. But what types of siding do work well in areas with forest fires? Take a look.

Fiber Cement

If you want that classic wood look, but you don't want your house to go up in flames, then fiber cement siding is probably your top choice. Most brands are textured to look like wooden planks — some more significantly than others. Fiber cement does contain wood, but it also contains so much cement that the wood is protected. This siding material is incredibly impervious to fire and has earned some of the top fire ratings. Fiber cement also comes in a wide range of colors, and it does not need to be painted or scraped.

The downside to fiber cement is that it's heavy. You need a team to install it, and they'd best be strong. It also tends to be one of the more expensive siding options.

Stucco

If you don't mind the flatter, simpler look of stucco siding, then this can be a great choice for fire resistance. Although you usually see stucco in that pale, whitish cream color, it does come in other colors — mostly natural tones. Stucco won't catch fire, and it's a decent heat barrier, so it will give the interior of your home some heat protection if there's a fire nearby.

The downfall of stucco is that it requires maintenance. You'll need to have someone out to fill the cracks every couple of years, at least.

Vinyl

Vinyl siding won't catch fire from a spark or a nearby flame. However, it does tend to melt and distort. Often this means that after a fire passes through the area, your home is okay, but your vinyl siding needs to be replaced. The advantage here is that vinyl is quite affordable in comparison to fiber cement and stucco. It's also easy to install. If you live in an area where fires are possible, but not probable, it may offer enough protection for your peace of mind.

Now that you know more about your options, start shopping around for siding. There are several good options when fire resistance is your goal.

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