How To Harden Your Home | Ask This Old House

[@kaseyc5078]

Guy had to have been nervous screwing in the screws with Tommy watching him

[@nickiecass8808]

That’s precisely what I thought when I saw his face!

[@spydirty2530]

He stripped that third one 😂

[@jon-erikbutcher3609]

@@spydirty2530lol yeah that one ain’t coming back out easily.

[@NathanOliver222]

I was soo nervous! Lol

[@1wadup]

Tom has a history on video of skipping on screws 9 times out of 10. He doesn’t seem to like Robertson or Torx fasteners.

[@b_uppy]

Succulents like ice plant assist in fire suppression. Their high water content protects and provide a barrier where planted.

[@silvermine2033]

Great information. Thank you!

[@ryansoo4000]

So where do you find that metal ember screening? Is there a particular manufacturer or brand available that passes fire codes?

[@MH-qq3kj]

Should have added to make sure you have defensible space around the structure!

[@b_uppy]

That's where planting succulents is a help. Knew someone that hated oceplamt and struggled to remove it, but when fire came through it saved her house. Also destroyed much of the ice plant, but it did its job that day.

[@peterdongara2639]

I would like to see a show on security outside shudders that saved a house in Anaheim Hills in 2008. Along with the screening. A fire with wind can easily blow through windows and in comes the fire.

[@cheffy101]

This may be a silly question, but what is gonna stop all that plywood siding from lighting up? Seems like the whole house is essentially a tinderbox so what good are some vents gonna do?

[@cadpanacea]

That's what I'm talking about.

[@cheffy101]

@@cadpanacea Just seems like false hope. I expected them to install some sprinklers on the roof or clad the whole house in non flammable siding and roof tiles. That’s what I would do short of moving.

[@MrRloucks]

Same principle as locking your door will not keep your door from being kicked in by a determined person. Taking steps to prevent fire embers from entering your house could prevent your house from burning but will not stop a determined forest fir from doing so.

[@cheffy101]

@@MrRloucks So i guess the vents has me confused. We dont have those on houses in new england. I guess that would make sense to make them more resistant but my point is whats gonna stop an ember from hitting that plywood siding and just lighting it up. The asphalt shingles should be fine with a few embers but even that will start to burn after a certain point. Its like building a house next to the ocean without hardening it from wind, water and erosion.

[@TommyFromMc]

@@cheffy101 I agree that embers could light up that wooden outside wall but part of me wonders if it’s solely something that effects home insurance rates. You can say you are fire hardened so maybe there isn’t as high of a premium.

[@cadpanacea]

We need a follow up video after the fire season.

[@ronbennett7885]

That's part 2, How To Replace Your Home After Forest Fire. Hint, the most challenging part is cleanup due to environmental regulations and get a building permit due to updated codes and zoning issues.

[@nadinejohnson2189]

🕊Beautiful, my kind of quality safe 🏡 Thank you 🏆

[@cherylcampbell7495]

I lived in Oceanside and Bonsal caught fire. The horses were running everywhere to flee. Oceanside was also affected so close to me.

[@davekao]

T1-11 plywood siding, asphalt shingles, wooden fence and wood residence next door, and attached wooden deck with giants gaps in the decking. What could go wrong?

[@greentjmtl]

If fire is close enough to light up your siding you are already screwed anyway.

[@TheMVCoho]

The T1-11 got me too. It was super dry. California gotta love it.

[@Madaboutmada]

100% truth. If you're living in a metal Quonset hut, these are the tools that would work well.

[@rafaelsays175]

The fire season 😮

[@peterrebhahn1113]

The problem with gutter guards is that they WILL result in more water deposited at the foundation because in a big downpour the water just skids off. The people who demonstrate these products at trade shows use the nifty display model that shows water trickling down shingles and through the perforated mesh that keeps leaves out. And they're not lying -- in a light or moderate rain they work fine. In a downpour the volume of water is so heavy it just bounces and skids off, lands at the foundation, and in a few hours you've got water in your basement if you have no drainage system and sump pump. Leaf-free gutters are the second most oversold home improvement out there -- after replacement windows.

[@InconsistentManner]

not that anyone would read this to change the title of the video... but you say "harden your home" in a video title many people are going to think "harden for security" not wild fire.

[@bobjones9727]

How much good does it do to re-vent your house when you have a composite roof? Seems that a re-roof to metal would be money better spent.

[@nateoliver7323]

90% of structure loss during a wildfire event happens way before any fire arrives. Burning embers from miles away can enter the structure and cause ignition from the inside. Fire and ember safe vents, help to prevent this.

[@martindurkin8837]

Has TOH done any videos on making the home more secure from break-ins?

[@TheMVCoho]

The title had me thinking that.

[@dougschadel8094]

They should have metal roofs out there

[@traktion9]

That's exactly how these fires spread those shingles are pure tar ready to light up.

[@mattv5281]

Most (all?) asphalt shingle roofs are Class A fire rated. They didn't burn. It's better to invest your money elsewhere than in a metal roof.

[@nytom4info]

FIREPROOF PAINT!!!

[@ronbennett7885]

Thought they were going change the siding to something more fire resistant. Also, that roof doesn't look like it would hold up too well against even a small brush fire. As others mentioned, these superficial improvements are likely more for insurance reasons than anything else. Better than nothing, but may lead to false security for the homeowner. Siding and roof should be replaced.

[@Scubamike4499]

NO gutter guards stand up against wet leaves sticking to them. After that, water goes over. Just clean them by hand

[@avidcollector869]

What about hardening against criminals, I live in L.A.

[@kbh95207]

not necessarily the channel for this comment, but I understand your sentiment. I'm from Stockton =/

[@TrumpAmerica-2024]

stop voting for democrats

[@darylclark8906]

Who makes the Gutter guard used here?

[@TheMVCoho]

Not sure of brand names but, I literally had a guy trying to sell me one that look exactly like that at a home show a week ago so they are nationwide, not fire just fire country.

[@sfinger]

"last step, strip the screw for reasons."

[@seanmeyer2068]

Stops the fire from unscrewing it and getting in.

[@BiggMo]

6:51 the home in Paradise looks to be stucco, a cement based product also fire resistant, unlike this homeowners rough faced wood siding. Rough lumber catches fire easier than smooth…

[@johnsee7269]

I think she/they need a brick house with a tile roof; sprinklers on top and sides with an alternative water source... Stucco is probably a good alternative...

[@gpslightlock1422]

Wood walls and a tar roof. I don't get it.

[@Its_crazyadamla]

Ok next show us how to make your house Tornado proof....

[@Scubamike4499]

Sign that says: "No tornadoes allowed" Done 😂

[@ToxicSpork]

That house is gonna go up like a matchbook

[@donc-m4900]

Step one, move to New England.

[@TrumpAmerica-2024]

step one, stop voting democrat.

[@destinyhart7532]

Agreed 👍

[@bobjones9727]

The only way to be sure your house is "fire" resistance is to paint it blue... including the roof.

[@peehandshihtzu]

A coat of paint might not hurt that place either.

[@ryanroberts1104]

Can't get any harder than a good insurance policy!

[@Lughnerson]

Until the company cancels or raises rates to unaffordable levels like they did in Florida.

[@ryanroberts1104]

@@Lughnerson Only dumb people make their home in the place god decides to destroy ever year over and over and over... People who choose to live in high risk areas (and it is a choice) should have to pay a LOT more for insurance, because they are more likely to claim it by a lot. Thus the rest of us who live in good places are not paying for their ignorance through insurance. If you think you need to "harden" your house, you live in the wrong place, and you chose to live there, and you're probably well off.

[@willdogsdroid]

How to harden your home? Whisper naughty things into the gutters.

[@courgettee]

in are family we just keep the house soaked down - no need for these fancy vent

[@Piper_PA]

I know right

[@TheMVCoho]

California is just weird on every level, not just crazy left winger polotics. "Hardening" from fire....house it literally old super dry T1-11 siding!

[@Defnotdoge]

rodents can get under the deck and have a protected place to live with that ember mesh blocking out predators. Rodents then create their own problems which can also lead to safety hazards. Be careful

[@akoznasovajusername]

Every silicone/caulk cracks after a while.

[@allentoyokawa9068]

Brick house; ceramic roof; problem solved

[@cherylcampbell7495]

This is such a gimmick.😂😂

[@Piper_PA]

Plain bs

[@hedonisticzen]

Paint it blue so the lasers don't get it. 😅

[@Denbig.]

Just give it a mean face and tell the fire to go away or else.

[@k.pikovnik]

You can tell a lot about somebody's choice of shoe...

[@1STGeneral]

And their mom jeans

[@johnames6430]

LMAO at her woke side buzz cut, I hope this is an old video

[@troyqueen9503]

I smell bull 🐂

[@IWantAKouki]

First

[@jimsafe4724]

Now you just have to paint your roof blue !