Daunted by the idea of rebuilding? LA County's new guide helps you make smart (and firewise) decisions

Many people who’ve lost their homes in the L.A. fires are now starting the rebuilding process. But how do you find the best way to do that when there’s so much information out there?

A new L.A. County online guide hopes to answer that by walking property owners through all the details, helping them make fire-resilient and sustainable choices.

The guide covers a lot of stages, from how to find a certified contractor to how small your home’s vents should be. We combed through the guide and pulled out some of the most digestible rebuilding tips.

Things to consider

One focus of the guide is how to reduce the risk of embers igniting on your property.

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For example, it suggests installing metal mesh screens that can enclose parts of your roof (such as eaves) to prevent embers from wedging themselves into your home’s nooks and crannies. You can also use these on vents to block embers from getting inside.

Installing denser windows is another tip. Windows typically blow out during a fire because of the high heat, but the county says double or triple-paned windows with tempered glass are more resistant. As a bonus, they can also help reduce heat loss and cold drafts.

For your home’s overall design, sometimes fire-resistance just comes down to material choices. An example can be found with your roof. Materials are graded into classes A, B, and C based on three characteristics:

• How well does it resist fire spreading into the attic? 
• How well does it resist flames traveling on the roof itself?
• Will it create burning embers?

According to the county, clay tiles, standing seam metal, asphalt fiberglass composition shingles and certain concrete tiles all meet the “A” grade level.

For your exterior, one of the county’s recommendations is to create a 5-feet buffer of clear space around your house. This is known by regulators as “zone zero.” It's expected to become a state mandate later this year, so you’ll likely have to do it anyway if you’re in a high fire risk zone. You can also use fire-resistant plants in your landscaping, placed in ways that create natural fire breaks and prevent flames from laddering.

Another tip is focused on what to do if your property is exposed to strong Santa Ana winds. The county says you should take extra precautions to harden your build, for example by using cement instead of wood for your fence and installing those layered windows.

Finding rebates 

Fire-resistant and sustainable building does take money, but there are ways you can get it back. Local, state and federal incentives exist to make paying for these updates in the long-term more affordable.

The county guide has a list of available discounts and rebates that depend on the type of change you make. For example, the state’s “Safer from Wildfires” regulations require insurance companies to provide discounts to property owners who’ve completed specific fire mitigation measures.

Most of the incentives are focused on eco-friendly upgrades, such as opting for solar power and setting up an independent energy storage system at home. But there are some that help you recoup money for cooler roofs and drought-tolerant/fire-resistant landscaping.