Resiliency is getting more attention than ever — and for good reason. But for many home builders, it’s always been a top priority. For Matt Baer of Baer Works, a residential builder in Tucson, Ariz., durability translates into a good night’s sleep.
“If a window blows out at two in the morning, guess who’s getting a call?” he says.
Increasingly, homeowners across the U.S. are concerned about extreme weather. Residential clients care about resiliency and wonder how a changing climate might impact their investment. According to recent research by Zillow, 86% of recent home buyers say it’s very important that a home have at least one climate-resilient feature.
Resiliency is no longer a niche concern. Depending on their location, today’s homebuilders must consider the potential impact of wildfires, drought, flooding, extreme weather, and prolonged power outages on the homes they build. By way of illustration, Eric Rauser, owner of Austin, Texas-based Rauser Construction, points to the number of clients who ask for redundant power systems.
“Previously, it was rare that someone wanted a generator that runs the whole house,” Rauser says. “Now it’s every house that we do.”
Across the United States, contractors are seeking ways to enhance resilience without compromising aesthetics. Here are some of the materials and approaches they’ve adopted.
Envelopes and Exteriors
A high-performing envelope is foundational to any resilient structure. Air sealing, insulation, and robust materials determine how well a home handles heat, cold, and everything in between.
“Using quality materials is not only better from a construction standpoint, but it also keeps energy bills down and make the house more efficient,” says Peter Crain, president of Trestle Homes in Minneapolis.
A tight envelope rarely makes a home more beautiful, but it does pay long-term dividends. Crain is increasingly excited by the application of continuous insulation wraps, which reduce thermal bridging through the studs and other gaps. Punctures in the wrap lessen overall effectiveness, however, so he is careful to make sure that framers are trained to install the material correctly.
In the southern U.S., extreme heat and wind can significantly impact a home’s exterior. Traditional materials such as wood quickly degrade and require ongoing maintenance, says Rauser, so he’s among the builders eager to explore alternatives, including stone, metal, and even ceramic tile.
“My patience with using wood on the exteriors of houses here and hoping sealant will survive Texas sun has reached its limit,” he says.
Roofing
Today’s roofs must do more than stop rain. Modern assemblies must withstand wind shear, hail, wildfire sparks, extreme snowfall, and torrential downpours—all while maintaining structural integrity.
“When it rains in the desert, everyone’s happy except me,” Baer jokes, “because I know someone’s roof is leaking.”
To mitigate this, builders are turning to multi-layer waterproofing, elastomeric coatings, and specialized roofing assemblies that prioritize performance over tradition. There’s also a growing shift toward metal and high-gauge steel roofs — materials that may cost more up front but offer longer-term resilience.
Warding off the impacts of extreme weather doesn’t just mean changing materials, either. Design alterations may be required. In Tucson, the monsoon season brings powerful gusts of wind that can sweep up exterior walls and push the soffits of flat roofs upward.
“I’ve seen roofs blow right off,” Baer says.
Collaborating with the architect, he says, is the best way to modify a design to be more wind-resilient.
Windows and Doors
Window and doors are often a defining feature of a home’s aesthetics. As the most vulnerable elements in a home’s envelope, however, these openings also bear the brunt of wind, heat, and water intrusion. That makes product selection and installation one of the most critical resiliency decisions a builder can make.
Even with today’s stronger double- and triple-pane windows, builders working in high-wind zones need to pay close attention to product selection. Laminated glass and thicker assemblies may be required—especially those with high design pressure (DP) ratings that indicate how well a window or door can withstand wind loads and structural stress. These ratings are verified through standards established by the American Architectural Manufacturers Association (AAMA) and the Window and Door Manufacturers Association (WDMA). Products rated DP 50 or higher—particularly those tested at sizes beyond the industry minimum—offer the highest level of protection.
Crain, of Trestle, also takes time to explain the value of quality window and door hardware, robust seals, and simplified glazing strategies that limit moving parts. For homeowners building in high-wind zones, this also means avoiding large operable panels or choosing recessed installations that better protect from the elements.
When it comes to window and door assemblies, Baer is careful to evaluate the track record for hinges, locks, and rollers.
“As far as dollar investment, it makes the most sense [for my clients] to purchase something that’s going to last,” he says.
Battery Power and Backup Systems
Power outages caused by heat waves, deep freezes, or grid failures are increasingly common—and unacceptable to most clients. Whole-house backup systems are quickly becoming a standard part of modern home builds.
“All of our projects have a generator or are primed to add one in the future,” Rauser says.
It’s not just about surviving a storm—it’s about maintaining livability. In Texas, for example, freezes can lead to power outages in winter, affecting indoor heat. Meanwhile, in summer, short brownouts often impact AC supply. A backup power system, Rauser says, provides reliable client comfort.
Backup systems are now integrated early in the design phase, with clear planning around electrical service locations, load prioritization, and long-term serviceability. Whether it’s a diesel generator, solar battery storage, or hybrid systems, redundancy is increasingly a new benchmark.
Flood Mitigation
Flood-related damage caused by flash floods and overwhelmed drainage systems is a growing concern in both urban and rural settings. Even small design choices such as roof pitch, drainage paths, and scupper sizing can dramatically affect whether a home weathers a storm or suffers major damage.
Builders like Crain are also employing underground water storage and percolation systems to control runoff and reduce site impact. Under the front lawn of a residence he built for his own family, Crain installed two large tanks to collect stormwater.
Rainwater catchments have been part of several Austin home projects Rauser has worked on. In one project, all of the metal roofs send water into a central location where it can be processed and used for potable household uses and watering plants.
Resilient construction requires integrating materials and technologies in ways that make structures last. But homes that stand for decades or even centuries also have another feature that contributes to their durability: their design. A home’s longevity depends on the occupants’ commitment to caring for the structure—which is often related to their affection for its aesthetic qualities.
“If a home is beautifully designed, people will want to take care of it,” Rauser says. “It will last a lot longer than a house that’s not beautiful.”
