Study Finds Low-Cost Wildfire Protections for New Homes

A study from the University of Colorado Boulder found that adding basic wildfire protections to a new home costs approximately $2,200, which is less than 1% of the overall construction budget. Simple upgrades, such as replacing plastic vents with ember-proof designs or swapping vinyl gutters for aluminum, added between $940 and $1,440 to construction costs. A higher level of protection was found to add about $15,600, or 4.2%, to construction costs.

The research provides cost models for integrating wildfire resilience into residential construction. These findings suggest that basic protective measures can be implemented without significantly increasing the price of new housing. The study also highlighted the importance of maintaining a clear 'defensible space' around the home.