In the Rocky Mountains, building resiliency means managing multiple climate risks at once. Homes must withstand wildfire exposure, extreme cold, heavy snow loads, and year‑round moisture challenges, often within the same structure.

In this episode of Building Science Digest, host Galen Burrell sits down with Teran Foster, Director of Building Science and Innovation at Cornerstone Management Services in Big Sky, Montana, to explore how builders design for durability in high‑risk mountain environments.

The conversation highlights how wildfire mitigation strategies must work alongside cold‑climate design principles, and why getting the building assembly right is critical when risks begin to overlap.

From ember exposure and roofing systems to vapor control and moisture management, the episode offers a practical look at how these challenges interact in the real world.

Whether you are designing in wildfire‑prone regions or cold climates with heavy snow and moisture exposure, this episode provides insight into building systems that can perform under pressure.

Key Topics Covered

– How embers, not flames, drive most wildfire‑related building losses

– The role of roofing systems in both fire protection and ice dam prevention

– Why vapor control is critical in cold, high‑altitude climates

– How overlapping climate risks impact building design decisions

– The importance of system‑level thinking in resilient construction