Protect Against California Disasters With Home Renovation

California is the most populous state in the country, and certainly one of the most visually spectacular. From the Pacific Ocean to the Sierra Nevadas and the Sonoran Desert to the Redwood Forest, people come here to feel closer to nature. But unfortunately, living in beautiful California comes with a number of risks, because the state is susceptible to a lot of natural disasters. So if you are beginning a home renovation project, you might want to consider outfitting your house against some of the most common threats in your area. Here are the risks you face as a California homeowner, and a few simple ways that you might be able to protect your property.

Earthquakes

The massive San Andreas fault line runs right through the spine of California, and poses perhaps the greatest danger to residents of the state when compared with other geological features. Those who lived through the San Francisco earthquake of 1989 or the Los Angeles earthquake of 1994 know the damage that can be done. The first home renovation you want to do is make sure that you have earthquake insurance on your home, so that you will not lose your shirt in the case of a natural disaster. The next thing you want to do is make your house safer with a few small renovations. Start with window replacement: change out those old windows and replace them with shatter-proof, double-paned glass. This will also allow your house to conserve energy better. Next you want to make sure than any heavy appliances or electronics like refrigerators, television sets, and fans are buckled down so that they do not move or fall. Have someone come in to your house to figure out whether or not the foundation is solid.

Wildfires

The slow approach of a wildfire is one of the scariest things that a homeowner can experience. Unlike sudden disasters, there is a sense of helplessness as the danger nears. It seems like something should be done to stop it! But all you can do is make sure that your house is as protected from damage as possible. First you will want to replace your siding and roof with non-combustible materials. Current California law states that all new houses built in danger zones must have asphalt or concrete tile shingles, but if your house is older it may be out-of-date. Consider the vegetation on your property. Smaller plants like bushes, shrubs, and grass that sit very close to the building can aid a fires spread, while larger, barkier plants on the perimeter of your property can actually buffer it. Window replacement is important here, as well: once again, double-paned windows are in order.

Mudslides and landslides

In order to protect your house from a mudslide or landslide, you are going to need to commit to some physical labor once the danger is nigh. People in your town need to come together to install sandbags to divert floodwater, and protective ditches can be dug around especially vulnerable properties to try to stop the flow. In order to protect the trench from being eroded by rain or floodwaters, you should cover it with plastic sheeting.