Fire Rebuilds
Rebuild faster with Stillwater Dwellings. Our prefab solutions offer fire-resilient designs, expert guidance, and compliance for natural disaster-prone areas and beyond.
Fast-Track Home Rebuilding with Fire Defense Solutions
For over fifteen years, we have been working with clients to build sustainable, dream homes. No matter where in the state your property is located, our experienced staff can help you to navigate the home design and build process while guiding you through working with your local jurisdiction. Many of our new homes are rebuilt in California’s fire hazard areas.
Our prefabricated system is becoming increasingly popular as the best solution for those who are looking to rebuild quickly. Many people feel they must choose between a fast rebuild, and a safe “fire defense” rebuild. With Stillwater, our clients don’t have to choose. We offer fast-track solutions that include fire defense planning specific to each site.
Rebuilding After The Woolsey Fire
In 2018, the Woolsey Fire swept through Malibu, consuming over 97,000 acres and more than 600 structures, leaving families to grapple with unimaginable loss. Among them were Bruce and Carla Bates, who lost their home to the flames. As the largest wildfire in the area’s history, it forced thousands to face the daunting task of rebuilding.
This is a story of resilience, as communities come together, determined to rise from the ashes and create a fresh start amidst the beauty of Malibu’s iconic landscape.
Our hearts go out to everyone affected by the recent Southern California fires, including the neighbors, families, and friends in our community and beyond.
Fast-Track Solutions
Clients can choose from over 50 pre-engineered floor plans. Additionally, every home featured in our gallery is available as a Fast-Track floor plan. This streamlined option includes three pre-selected interior Finish Packages, significantly reducing the need for extensive design decisions.
By choosing this approach, clients can save approximately six months in the process enabling quicker permit submissions and efficient site adaptation with minimal delays.
Rebuilding Doesn’t Have to Be Overwhelming
We understand the stress of starting over after a fire. Our team is here to guide you through a seamless rebuild process, bringing you home faster and with peace of mind.
Rebuilding After A Fire Guide
Stillwater Dwellings’ Fire Rebuild Guide offers clear steps to navigate insurance, budgeting, cleanup, and home design, helping you rebuild with confidence.
Insurance & Cleanup
Stillwater Dwellings helps homeowners navigate the home design and building process while maximizing insurance benefits for new builds, especially in fire-affected areas. We offer guidance on selecting the right builder and provide fast, fire-resilient rebuild solutions tailored to your needs.
Surveying, Code, & Builder Selection
After filing an insurance claim and arranging site clean-up, scheduling a land survey is essential. This ensures accurate property boundaries, assesses fire damage, and determines the ideal placement for your new home.
Budget & Design
Stillwater works with clients to align their budget with insurance coverage, ensuring funds are optimized for design, site prep, and construction.
Fire Defense Planning
As we assist in fire rebuilds, our team employs essential planning and architectural strategies to significantly improve the chances that Stillwater homes can withstand future wildfires. This includes designing defensible spaces with fire-resistant materials like patios, driveways, and low-growing fire-retardant plants. Our plans also address site-specific risks, such as up-slope fire dangers, ensuring that every home is thoughtfully designed for maximum resilience and safety.
Site Planning
Before floor plan design comes into play, the initial strategy is to design a buffer or defensible space of incombustible material around the home location. This buffer zone can be comprised of patios, driveways or low-growing fire-retardant plants. Special attention is paid to the potential for extremely dangerous up-slope running fire areas. Site layout includes the planning of driveways and turnarounds that are wide enough to make it easy for firefighters.
A Napa Fire Rebuild Story: Overcoming the Tubbs Fire
After the 2017 Tubbs Fire, a Stillwater client chose to rebuild her Napa home. This off-grid, ADA-accessible prefab design combines advanced solar efficiency with modern architecture, setting a new standard for fire rebuilds in California.
As part of our fire rebuild efforts, Stillwater Dwellings employs meticulous planning and advanced architectural strategies to significantly enhance the likelihood of successful and timely home completion. By leveraging our expertise in prefab design and construction, we streamline the rebuilding process, ensuring efficiency while adhering to the highest standards of quality and fire-resilient design.
Roofing
Stillwater’s standing seam metal roofing can be one of the front lines of prevention when it comes to wildfire defense. Our metal, flat roofing provides a “Class A” fire rating offering the highest resistance to fire. Special attention is also paid to the substrate (the material on which the roof sits).
Siding
Ember resistant exterior siding materials like cement board and stucco can be both preventative and be incorporated into various Stillwater styles.
Overhangs
Special attention is devoted to the design and materials on the underside of overhangs – also referred to as soffits. This applies to the under side of cantilevers, balconies, decks, and underfloor areas as well. These areas are where the flames will be trapped and temperatures will be the highest. It is necessary to provide fire resistant materials, protection enclosures and structural integrity to these locations.
Windows & Doors
Windows are the weakest link in defending your building envelope, but there are several methods to strengthen these areas. Double glazed, insulated and tempered glass each add extra layers of defense. The most secure options are concealed roll-down or side recessed metal fire doors with automatically fusible link closure. Glass panels can also be wire glass or fire safety glass that can stay intact even though cracked by the heat.
Stronger, Safer, and Built to Last.
Solar Energy Management
At Stillwater Dwellings, we work with you and our solar partners to design a solar solution from the very beginning stages of your project. Our goal is to provide you with all information about this element of your new home including timing and cost. We will help you find the ideal solutions that fits your needs while maintaining the aesthetics of your new home’s design.
Fire Suppression Systems
Many jurisdictions now require fire suppression systems such as sprinklers. These can tend to be unsightly, but with careful planning and innovations we help to minimize their visibility creating a safe space that is aesthetically pleasing. In some cases water tanks or fire hydrants may also be necessary.
Emergency Power
Electrical power can be out for weeks or months during a fire. California power companies are now proactively turning off parts of the grid during high fire alert days or during strong winds to prevent knocked-down power lines from causing a fire. Considering both solar and emergency generator solutions can help keep you up and running when power lines are down or after your has home weathered the fires.
Outdoor Living
Concrete and paving stone patios not only add an element of modern beauty, they are also helpful in fire defense. Another material to consider is Ipe wood (also called Brazilian walnut) which is a very dense wood and is naturally resistant to fire. Railings, patios, covers and pergolas can also be made of Ipe wood or metal. Detailed construction ensuring a tight fit to block the wildfire accompanying strong winds from blowing embers is critical.
Fire Rebuild FAQ’s
Get Answers to Common Questions About Rebuilding After Wildfires.
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Expert Guidance for a Fresh Start
At Stillwater Dwellings, we understand the challenges of rebuilding after a fire. Our team is here to provide expert guidance through every step of the process, from design and permits to construction. Reach out today to explore how we can help you create a beautiful, fire-safe home that fits your vision and supports your fresh start.