Do it yourself
Your DIY Zone 0 guide.
Most homeowners can handle 4–6 of the 12 Zone 0 items themselves in a weekend. Here's where to start, what to buy, and when to call a pro.
Easy wins — under $200, no contractor needed
Clean gutters, roof, and eaves
Rake, leaf blower, gloves, and a stable ladder. Pine-needle and leaf accumulation in gutters is one of the most common ember-ignition points.
Time: 2–4 hoursDifficulty: ★★★Replace coir doormats with fiberglass
Every entry door. Coconut/coir mats are a known ember-catch — fiberglass or rubber mats survive ember exposure without igniting.
Time: 30 minutesDifficulty: ★★★Remove combustible mulch within 5 ft
Pull bark mulch and wood chips from the 5-foot perimeter, replace with 3/8-inch decomposed granite or river rock.
Time: Half day per sideDifficulty: ★★★Move firewood, propane, lumber 30+ ft from home
Relocate stored combustibles to the outer Zone 2 or off-property. A simple metal storage cart helps if you have nowhere obvious to put it.
Time: 1–2 hoursDifficulty: ★★★Where to buy
Weekend projects — $200–$1,500
Replace decorative wood mulch with gravel or pavers
Full perimeter swap. Sheet down with weed cloth, lay 2-inch gravel or 12x12 concrete pavers as desired.
Time: 1–2 weekendsDifficulty: ★★★Install 1/8" vent mesh
Cover attic, foundation, and eave vents with 1/8-inch corrosion-resistant metal mesh from the inside. Outside-applied mesh is allowed but less durable.
Time: 1 weekendDifficulty: ★★★Install metal/masonry break in wood fence at house
Cut the wood fence back ~5 ft from the wall, replace that section with a metal panel or concrete pier. Keeps the fence functional without giving fire a direct line to your siding.
Time: 1 weekendDifficulty: ★★★
When you should call a pro.
Full fence replacement
If you have wood fencing along an entire side of your home, a fence contractor will be faster, code-compliant, and often cheaper end-to-end.
Tree work over 10 ft
Branches over a roof or near a chimney require an ISA-certified arborist for safety and insurance. Do not climb to do this yourself.
Significant landscape redesign
If you’re re-grading, installing a French drain, or rebuilding planters, a landscape contractor will plan the whole project around Zone 0 from the start.
Vent retrofits requiring structural work
Soffit and eave vent rebuilds often need exterior siding to be opened up — a job for a general contractor or roofer.
Need help with the harder items? Find a contractor → or finance the work →