In regions around the world, climate change is already raising water levels on shorelines and making wildfires annual, seasonal events. On a political level, it may feel like people cannot solve a very large, complex, and daunting problem on their own. The climate change issue continues to affect the planet each year, and more and more often it affects your community and home.
But there are a few things homeowners can do to make their homes more resilient to climate change’s harmful effects.
Ample Insurance Coverage
Homeowners shouldn’t make the mistake of assuming that just because they have home insurance, they’re insured against all climate change-related risks. Insurance companies may be within their rights to find wiggle room, depending on your level of coverage, to say that your policy does not cover damage from the loss.
It’s important to understand your fire insurance coverage to confirm that you have protection for your structure, personal belongings, and additional living expenses. Hiring an insurance lawyer can also streamline the claims process and help negotiate a higher settlement in the event that you run into issues with your insurance claim, and you feel like they have mishandled your claim.
Your specific location will impact the likelihood of a forest fire or flood, so you should factor this into your process when obtaining an insurance policy for your home. Understanding your insurance policy in detail and choosing ample coverage will give you peace of mind if you know there are elevated risks of climate events in your area.
Metal Roofs
Some building materials are more fireproof than others. Metal roofs can help prevent some of the worst effects of a fire compared to those made of tile or asphalt. Metal is also highly reflective, helping to deflect radiant heat away from the roof.
Aluminum or zinc alloys are more fire-resistant than galvanized steel or copper. How the metal on the roof is installed is also very important. For example, standing seam metal roofs lock together and create a continuous sheet of metal.
No material is 100% fireproof, but being mindful of which you choose to use for your home and how you use them can really make a difference in helping to protect your home against certain risks and climate events.
Directing Water Away from the House
Make sure your eavestrough directs water away from your home, rather than just depositing the water off the roof but at the base of your house. Larger than normal rainstorms are increasingly common and it’s important to minimize the amount of water near your foundations.
Ensure your eavestroughs are clear and that a path for the water leads it safely away. You may be unable to stop the rain from falling on your home, but you can direct it away. This is a simple and easy project you can do, which will have a potentially large impact on protecting your home.
Permeable Outdoor Surfaces
Hard, impermeable outdoor surfaces like pavement and roofs do not absorb water. Instead, rain travels along their surface to storm drains, and this runoff may cause your locale’s sewer systems to overflow or back up during big storms.
Having more porous surfaces, such as gardens and lawns, that let water absorb naturally into the ground can help reduce runoff and help your municipality manage large storms. Some cities offer incentives to help you pay to increase your home’s permeability. You should consider all efforts that you can make to your own lawn to help with the absorption of water from excessive rainstorms.
Soil, mulch, and even stones or bricks arranged in grids help increase your landscaping’s permeability. There are also driveway materials that allow moisture to seep through what looks like a hard, impenetrable surface.
