The doors could soon close on new construction of wood-framed homes. At least that is what many regulators are pushing to make happen. After decades of wood-framed houses being pummeled by wildfires, windstorms, and earthquakes, there is now increasing pressure on builders to invest in more robust residential construction methods.
California is at the forefront of this shift. This summer (2025), the state adopted and is now enforcing a new Wildland-Urban Interface (WUI) Code, based on the 2024 International Wildland-Urban Interface Code (IWUIC). These regulations are designed to make homes far less vulnerable to wildfire by addressing every potential ignition point, from the first five feet around a home, known as Zone 0, to its walls, windows, vents, and roof systems.
The changes are forcing builders and homeowners to confront an uncomfortable truth: wood-framed homes, which have traditionally been cheaper to build, are no longer viable in high-risk areas. As a result, attention is rapidly turning toward concrete homes that naturally meet many of these new requirements and offer a durable, fireproof alternative.
Because wood-framed homes are no longer viable in high-risk areas, attention is turning toward concrete homes which naturally offer a durable, fireproof alternativeNonquit Homes
The Problem
While it may seem like the new codes are a direct response to the fast-moving wildfires that ripped through Los Angeles County in January 2025, their adoption is more of an escalation of measures that have been evolving for more than two decades.
However, the LA fires do offer a perfect illustration of the potential solution: a photo of the one house that stood virtually untouched amid the charred remains of the fire in Malibu — a concrete home built entirely with noncombustible materials, from the roof to the foundation.
WUI codes make it clear that anyone still constructing wood-framed homes are building a liability. The risk is so high that insurance companies are pulling out, and regulators are tightening the rules. The only path forward is to build with materials that don’t burn.
The stakes couldn’t be higher. California experienced 8,024 wildfires in 2024, burning over one million acres and destroying more than 1,700 structures. Even homeowners who weren’t directly in the fire’s path were impacted as insurers canceled policies across the state, citing rising risk and escalating rebuilding costs.
Under the new WUI regulations, simply complying with minimum standards will add significant costs to wood-framed homes. Builders must now incorporate fire-rated roofing, ember-resistant vents, boxed eaves, tempered dual-pane windows, and noncombustible siding: all layered onto a core structure made of combustible lumber.
Wood homes were never designed to face flying embers or direct flame contact. Every upgrade added is like a patch on a weak system. With concrete, you start with a structure that’s inherently noncombustible, so meeting WUI standards becomes a baseline rather than a challenge.
This innovation allows small crews, as few as three or four workers, to assemble an entire home quickly and affordably.Nonquit Homes
From the Ground Up
With concrete, the building approach goes beyond code compliance. For example, some companies are now engineering a new residential building method where every component of the home is designed to resist fire, inside and out.
These homes start with tilt-up, prestressed concrete wall panels. Unlike traditional precast systems that require cranes, the company’s panels are poured on-site and moved into place using forklifts. This innovation allows small crews, as few as three or four workers, to assemble an entire home quickly and affordably.
From there, every detail is chosen for its fireproof properties:
- Roofs are constructed entirely of metal with sealed joints to prevent ember intrusion.
- Windows and doors use fire-rated tempered glass and noncombustible frames.
- Eaves and vents are fully enclosed and ember resistant.
- Interiors feature zero drywall or metal cabinetry, eliminating typical interior fuels.
Inside the walls, this process integrates thick layers of insulation, creating an airtight, energy-efficient envelope. This addresses one of concrete’s historical weaknesses, poor thermal performance, while eliminating the need for separate insulation or interior wall systems. The result is a structure that stays cool in summer, warm in winter, and inherently resistant to insects, moisture, mold, fire, and wind.
Everything about these concrete homes is designed for resilience. They don’t just stop embers at the exterior. Even if a wildfire surrounds the property, there’s simply nothing inside to burn.
Inside the walls of these concrete panels is a thick layer of insulation. This addresses one of concrete’s historical weaknesses, poor thermal performance, while eliminating the need for separate insulation or interior wall systems.Nonquit Homes
Cost & Design
For decades, cost has been the biggest barrier to widespread adoption of concrete homes. Wood-framed houses were cheaper to build, and crews were already trained to work with lumber. However, that equation is rapidly changing.
Lumber prices have soared, and the added expense of WUI-required upgrades is making wood-framed homes far less affordable. Even Habitat for Humanity recently announced a shift to concrete construction for some projects, citing wood’s rising costs as unsustainable.
Another common misconception about concrete homes is that they resemble stark bunkers or lack curb appeal. However, modern design improvements prove otherwise. Tilt-up panels can be finished in virtually any architectural style with a wide range of exterior options: brick, stone, stucco, or even patterned and textured concrete. This gives homeowners complete freedom to match neighborhood styles or personal preferences.
Inside, the integrated insulation provides a smooth surface for custom finishes, while open floor plans and natural light ensure these homes feel modern and inviting.
These homes start with tilt-up, prestressed concrete wall panels that do not require cranes. Instead, the panels are poured on-site and moved into place using forklifts.Nonquit Homes
Building to Survive Wildfires
As wildfires grow more destructive and insurers retreat from high-risk markets, the future of homebuilding is clear: houses must be built to resist fire, not simply repaired after a disaster.
California’s new WUI code is just the beginning. Similar regulations are expected to spread across wildfire-prone regions throughout North America. Utah has already followed California’s lead, implementing WUI codes there as well.
Builders who adapt now can expect to stay ahead of the curve, while those clinging to outdated wood-framed methods will face rising costs, stricter oversight, and declining insurability.
This is not just a wildfire issue. Regulators and insurers in areas of the country prone to hurricanes and tornadoes are also pushing regulations targeting wood-framed structures.
Concrete homes aren’t just a technical solution; they’re a lifeline.
