Building Materials for a Fire Resistant House

No home is entirely fireproof. But if you build or remodel using the right materials, your place will have a far better chance of withstanding catastrophic blazes like the ones that recently ripped through Southern California. After San Diego County's 2003 fires, the largest in California history, researchers found that homes constructed or remodeled to comply with stricter fire and building codes fared three times better than those that did not. So if you live in a region of the country that's vulnerable to wildfires, or if you want to protect your property—and your family—from all those other fire hazards caused by drought, lightning, and simple human carelessness, check out the dozens of high-tech and innovative products that the editors at This Old House have compiled to help you build better and safer.