How To Solve An Outdoor Living Space Issue With A Wildfire And Wildland Urban Interface Code-Compliant Solution

When Archadeck of Austin Senior Designer, Jim Schallon, first visited this West Austin family home in the Tudor Times square neighborhood near the new Apple campus, one thing was apparent – very apparent.

The rear door of this home led to a wood deck at grade with concrete — which is not code because you have to have a landing outside of a door, which was not the case here.

To reach the deck platform, you had to step out of the door and onto the slab.\

Leave it to Archadeck to remedy that problem in the process of building an exceptional screened outdoor living room.

A New Build That Is 100% WUI Compatible

To appreciate the significance of how this new screened room goes above and beyond in many ways, it is necessary to understand what the Wildfire and the Wildland Urban Interface Code is and how it impacts the design and construction of outdoor living spaces located west of Mopac and east of 183, Southwest of the river, and southeast of IH35.

Why Is It Necessary To Enforce The WUI Code?

Fire departments across the country are increasingly being called upon to respond to WUI fires, including brush, grass, forest fires, or other outdoor fires. You may believe that you don’t have a WUI issue, and that WUI fires only occur in western states, but more than 60,000 communities in the United States are at risk for WUI fires.

The Wildland Urban Interface (WUI) Code is a set of regulations and guidelines developed to address the increased risk of wildfires in areas where homes and other structures are built near wildlands or forests. The code includes requirements for building design, construction materials, landscaping, and other factors that can reduce the risk of wildfire damage.

The WUI Code aims to ensure that structures located in high-risk areas are built and maintained in a way that minimizes the potential for ignition and reduces the spread of fire. This includes measures such as using fire-resistant materials, maintaining a defensible space around the structure, and incorporating features such as fire-resistant roofing, vents, and windows.

The impact of the WUI Code on outdoor structures can be significant, particularly for those located in high-risk areas. Structures that are built in compliance with the code are more likely to withstand wildfire events and reduce the risk of damage or destruction. However, compliance with the WUI Code may also result in increased building costs, particularly for materials and construction methods that are designed to resist fire.

Overall, the WUI Code is an important tool for reducing the risk of wildfire damage to outdoor structures in high-risk areas. By promoting fire-resistant design and construction practices, the code helps to protect homes, businesses, and other buildings located in or near wildlands from the devastating effects of wildfires.

How To Build An Outdoor Living Room Screened Structure That Is WUI Compliant

Being America’s #1 designer and builder of outdoor living spaces and structures, we can certify that this project is fully fire-prevention compliant. If you are within 150 feet of a WUI area, this is the perfect screened room build.

For starters, instead of a wood deck, our foundation for this West Austin screened room is concrete.

Instead of framing this West Austin screened room in wood, we used aluminum.

For the roof cover, we used Class A fire-rated shingles.

As for the exterior of the structure, the entire build is wrapped in Hardie Siding. Hardie siding, also known as James Hardie siding or fiber cement siding, is a type of exterior cladding material made from a combination of cement, sand, and cellulose fibers. The resulting product is a durable, low-maintenance material that is resistant to fire, insects, and rot.

Hardie siding is known for its ability to mimic the look of traditional wood siding, while offering increased durability and resistance to the elements. It comes in a variety of colors and textures, including smooth, woodgrain, and stucco finishes, making it a versatile choice for a wide range of architectural styles.

Outdoor Living Room And Screened Rooms Structures That Are Always Up To Code

Excellence in all things in outdoor building is what Archadeck of Austin is all about. To explore how we can help you increase your leisure time outdoors, you are invited to call us at 512-886-8367. Even easier, to connect with us to schedule a complimentary design consultation, just click here. We look forward to hearing from you.