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Siding (cladding) is an important aesthetic attribute for houses, but it also has a key role as part of a protective enclosure to help shed rain, while permitting excessive vapor to move through and out of the house.
Trees often get a bad rap because of the potential to spread fire in the crown, but that is seldom a hazard to structures. There are exceptions, however. Major concerns from trees are those that they spread embers around a neighborhood.
Roof and crawl space vents are required by most building codes. The function of the vents is to remove excess moisture from those spaces. Moisture can enter the crawl space from the soil or through the foundation wall from the surrounding landscape.
If the glass in a window breaks during a wildfire, embers and flame can easily enter your home. Similarly, if your window frame ignites, it is possible that the resulting fire would burn through the frame material and ignite other material inside your home (for example, a curtain).
Stephen L Quarles CE Advisor - Durability of Wood-Framed Buildings Specialties: Performance of wood and wood-based materials in buildings Unit: Contra Costa County Region 3 Location: Cooperative Extension County Offices UC Richmond Field Station, 1301 S. 46th Street, Bldg.
