Despite the worsening effects of climate change, the uptake in climate-resilient homes among consumers and builders has been slow, according to experts. 

Climate-resilient homes vary by location and the most prevalent risks there. For example, in Calgary, a climate-resilient home may include an impact-resistant roof to protect against hail that is becoming more common in the area. In Toronto, a climate-resilient home may feature protections against flooding, which has worsened in the city in recent years.

Ryan Ness, the research director at the Canadian Climate Institute, told Real Estate Magazine that in the next 10 years, hundreds of thousands of new homes may be built in areas that are high risk for wildfires and floods, adding an average of $2 billion in damages from such perils. 

Ness said that both small towns and larger cities, such as those in the Okanagan in B.C., are at risk of wildfires, and major flooding risks are present in some of Canada’s biggest cities, including Winnipeg, where the Red River poses risks of overflowing. In Montreal and Toronto, old storm sewers can’t handle intense flash rainstorms, causing basements to flood. Plus, more and more development is being pushed close to forested areas prone to fires, according to Ness.

“As climate change continues to increase the risk to housing from floods, wildfires, and other climate-related extreme events, there needs to be more investment in reducing risk,” he said. “Whether it’s at the building level and making homes more resilient, or making sure we don’t build in risky places.”

Consumers not racing to adopt resilient features

Glenn McGillivray, the managing director of the Institute for Catastrophic Loss Reduction, agrees with Ness that homes should be more resilient. 

His organization looks into a wide variety of climate risks to homes, from severe winds and hail to snow and ice storms, and has recommended steps builders or homeowners can take to better protect their buildings.

For example, they recommend an impact-resistant roof and avoiding vinyl siding for homes susceptible to hail, such as in the Calgary area. However, McGillivray said that interest is low among both homeowners and builders in making their homes more resilient.

“People are not tripping over themselves trying to be the first to do this,” he said. “It’s really problematic. Not enough people are taking action to make their homes more resilient.”

Part of the reason may be the cost, even though McGillivray says it can save money in the long run. He said putting class 4 shingles on a roof, which are the most resistant to hail, would cost about an extra $1,500 to $2,000.

Weighing the ROI

McGillivray’s institute has found that homes that are more climate resilient sell for more on the resale market and can benefit from a lower insurance rate.

He noted that it is always cheaper to make a home more resilient during initial construction than to retrofit it, but said that there’s a healthy number of homebuilders who are not entirely on board with taking such steps over concerns that their prices won’t be competitive. 

Relying on insurance to cover the costs of damage may also not be the answer, McGillivray said. Some in Calgary have not been able to get insurance due to the risk of hail, he said.

One factor that could increase home resiliency is the federal government updating its building codes. McGillivray said the next iteration of the Canadian National Building Code is due in 2030 and will include some resiliency features for the first time ever, after a working group was struck to look into it. It will take time for the features to filter down to provincial building codes, though, according to McGillivray.

John Dempster is a living example of how motivation in making homes more climate resilient can be minimal, even after experiencing a close call.

The Re/Max real estate agent based in Drayton Valley, Alta, had to evacuate due to a wildfire in the summer of 2023. Luckily, his home did not get damaged, but even having a wildfire coming in hot hasn’t motivated him to make any changes to his home. He said that if he were asked about doing so a week after the wildfire, his answer might be different because the fear of the natural disaster would still be fresh. But now it isn’t front of mind, and he isn’t alone.

“I’ll be honest, nobody really asks the question,” he said of home resiliency. “Nobody’s going to go upgrade their siding or roof or do a lot of upgrades unless it’s absolutely necessary.”

He said that it is very difficult to get value out of resiliency upgrades compared to the cost of putting them in, and the cost isn’t recouped during resale.

“It’s interesting how time changes and people move on, they’re not as fearful anymore,” he said. “But it’s in the back of their minds for sure.”

Eric Stober

Eric Stober has over 10 years experience as a journalist and writer at publications big and small, including Global News, Toronto Life, Post City Magazine, Greencamp.com, the Toronto Star and The Grid.