Home renovators are focusing on kitchen and bathroom upgrades and interior aesthetics instead of making properties more resilient to natural disasters, Suncorp research has found.

Almost half of homeowners think Australia will see more natural disasters in the next 12 months but 80% of respondents in a survey admit to having little interest in spending money on resilience improvements.

Some 62% of homeowners opt for interior updates, 54% for kitchen upgrades, 53% for bathroom renovations and 49% for landscaping.

“We’re a country ravaged by cyclones, bushfires and floods, but the property market places greater value on luxury upgrades ahead of a strong resilient home,” Suncorp Insurance Product & Portfolio CEO Lisa Harrison said.

Suncorp has partnered with CSIRO, James Cook University and Room11 Architects to design and test a more resilient home.

The prototype design, inspired by the iconic “Queenslander”, has features tested at the Cyclone Testing Station at James Cook University and at the CSIRO-operated Bushfire Burnover Facility in southern NSW.

“We know not everyone can replicate our prototype,” Ms Harrison said. “We hope that Australians – whether building a new house, planning a reno or thinking about ways to add value to their existing home, can take away practical ideas from our research.”

The house includes features such as electrical wiring in the roof and power points at least one-metre above the floor to prevent problems during flooding, while it also uses waterproof internal wall linings.

Glazed elements are fitted into a frame designed to keep embers out while evenly distributing heat, while bifold mesh screens that can be opened or closed provide extra protection from bushfires and wind-driven debris.

“What we’ve seen over many years is our housing is poorly suited to fire and burns down for minor reasons,” CSIRO Research Leader of Bushfire Adaptation Justin Leonard said.

“Fire finds minor ways to get in and it’s the furniture that burns over many hours. It’s not about a house being unscathed; it’s about having a place to live after a fire – that’s the definition of resilience.”

The Suncorp research also finds that 41% of homeowners think building codes aim to ensure houses can withstand natural disaster impacts, whereas their main purpose is to ensure an occupant’s health and safety.

“We want to partner with governments and industry on ways this work can help to protect Australian homeowners,” Ms Harrison said. “We hope this work will also generate conversation about reviewing building standards as the severity and frequency of weather events increases.”

Suncorp says it has introduced a feature into home policies that will allow homes substantially damaged to be rebuilt stronger, with recommended resilience options, in addition to the customers’ sum insured.