There are fewer topics that have created more political divisiveness than climate change. Things are most definitely changing, as they always do, but the debate is about the impact we humans are having on the accelerated speed of those changes. A report released earlier this year and commissioned by the Ontario government warns of a quadrupling of extreme heat days (of over 30 degrees), livestock deaths, an impact on crop production, our water quality and availability. Other forecasts, such as those from the Toronto Regional Conservation Authority, predict earlier snow melts and more growing days, leading to higher pests and disease impacts to the food supply. It also predicts about 30 percent more rain, with double the intensity of rainfall during storm events, which could also cause food supply and other infrastructure issues. Much as all of this is deeply concerning, so is the impact of climate change on our homes.
To be better prepared, there are a number of steps to consider when designing, building, remodelling or just fortifying your home against the pending onslaught of changing weather conditions.
Step 1: Review your insurance
Policies come and go and are renewed each year, but often, the coverage details —new risk exclusions and inclusions, as well as upgrade options — change. For example, given the high precipitation risk we now experience, check that your policy covers for over-land flooding and sewer backup. These are key elements that have silently been falling off general policies over the last couple of decades, when rarely occuring storm events started to hit the region every five to 10 years. Ask if they have discounts if you install flood mitigation or other safety-related measures such as back-up power systems. In the event of a catastrophic loss, you want to ensure you are not left hanging out to dry.
Step 2: The biggest risk
Identify your lot location and siting of your home. Are you located in a valley that may be prone to flooding? On a hilltop that is exposed to lightning strikes or high winds? Is your home protected by trees, or close to large open fields or bodies of water? The specific site can give you some clues into what you might face first as an increased risk.
Step 3: General maintenance
Extreme heat, more rain, more intense storms, fast snow melt and high winds — on a regular day, our homes provide shelter from the elements. As weather intensifies, for us to maintain the health and comfort of our place of shelter, we need to be extra vigilant. Here are some basics:
Strengthen against flooding
Install backwater valves, sump pumps, back-up sump and power systems, exterior drainage (grade slope and eave cleaning) as well as sealing foundation cracks.
Prepare for high winds and storms
Install impact-resistant windows and doors, trim trees and secure patio furnishings.
Guard against extreme heat
Up-grade attic insulation, install efficient air source heat pumps instead of standard AC units. Triple-pane windows, awnings, window films and coverings/shades, as well as planting trees and increasing softscaping can limit the heat island effect, so common in urban areas.
Fortify against winter storms and ice
Heat trace cables, an ice and water shield at valleys and soffits, air sealing and insulating will all help reduce the impact of changing freeze-thaw cycles.
General building changes
If you are building new or undergoing a significant remodelling project and you want to prepare for the worst Mother Nature may have in store for your home, consider the following upgrades that don’t have to break the bank, but can go a long way in ensuring resiliency, comfort and health for you and your home.
Upgrade your roof to a class-4 impact-resistant shingle
These can withstand a two-inch steel ball dropped twice from 20 feet, will last longer, provide improved insulation value and could save you up to 33 percent on insurance costs. The product could cost you double the baseline, but will pay in the long term.
Improve your exterior air barrier and interior vapour barrier
High-wind-driven rains can mean water can infiltrate into your home’s wall cavity. A good one-way permeable peel and stick exterior air barrier will keep water out of the wall from the outside. A similar one-way permeable interior vapour barrier will allow moisture from inside to escape through the wall. Trapped moisture is a wall killer. This is a low-cost, high-benefit upgrade.
A backup power system with an automatic transfer switch
Either a generator or a reserve on-site power storage system. This would be something that would run your critical infrastructure (fridge and furnace/AC) at a minimum, for at least a week.
Look for government incentives
There are often municipal, provincial, or federal programs that offer rebates or incentives for climate-proofing your home, such as adding insulation, storm windows, or upgrading to energy-efficient systems.
Hurricane hanger ties
For a little more than a dollar each, these tie-downs are installed from the rafters to the walls and keep your home’s hat on when the winds howl. These are not required by code, but should be.
Final thoughts
You can believe we humans are the cause of climate change or not, but things are definitely different today than when we were as kids (we don’t just tell our kids that). They will be even more different 20, 40 and 60 years from now, too. Canadian weather patterns continuously alter from coast to coast to coast and as always, the more you plan in advance, the less likely you and your family will fall victim to those changes. The key is in the design and planning stage to ensure your rear-end is properly covered well in advance for that eventuality.
When planning your own home resiliency project, remember there is real value in working with a professional to design and build or remodel the space. Start your search at renomark.ca – the home of the construction professional, now represented all across Canada!