Ahh, the beach life—where idyllic days are spent relaxing in the sun and sand, taking in the salty ocean breezes. But these desirable elements can also take their toll on your beautiful beach home. The humidity, sand, wind, and salt air can cause erosion, wood rot, mold, mildew, rust, and opaque, cloudy windows that block your view of paradise. Even homes that aren’t right on the beach cannot escape the harsh reality of an ocean environment. However, with regular upkeep and preventative maintenance, you can keep these culprits at bay, ensuring your beach getaway stays protected and pristine. By adhering to some basic routine maintenance tips, you can prevent much more costly repairs down the road and even increase the value of your property. So, follow us through this simple beach home maintenance guide to help you retain the beauty of your blissful oasis by the sea.
Paint Appeal
Over time, all homes require fresh paint. But beach homes take an extra beating with constant, intense sun, sand, and salty sea air. It is a given that, eventually, your paint will begin to fade and possibly blister, chalk, and crack, no matter what quality of exterior paint you choose. When living by the ocean, you can expect to prime and repaint your home every several years to keep it looking fresh and inviting.
In the interim, it’s also important to pressure wash your home every couple of years and check your exteriors for cracks and other damage. A build-up of salt, sand, moss, and even mold can cause stucco and wood to rot and deteriorate very quickly. Regular power washing can help maintain your home’s luster and prevent significant damage and costly repairs.
Deep Clean
And speaking of mold—and mildew—routine cleaning inside your beach home is an absolute must. Moist climates create perfect conditions for molds, fungi, and algae to thrive, and rooms without efficient ventilation are especially susceptible. Places like enclosed bathrooms and laundry rooms provide a breeding ground for mold and mildew, so, if possible, let these spaces breathe and air out your rooms frequently. It’s also critical that you regularly deep clean your floors and surfaces with anti-bacterial and anti-fungal cleansers. Carpeted areas are highly vulnerable to mold and mildew—plus, sand gets ground into the carpet fibers over time. Having these areas professionally cleaned at least twice a year is necessary on top of routine vacuuming.
Weatherproof Woods
Wooden decks and siding are particularly vulnerable in humid ocean environments and cannot go unprotected. To preserve their natural beauty and prevent rotting and molding, outdoor woods require weatherproofing varnish nearly every season. This protective layer will block moisture and humidity from quickly deteriorating your deck and other outdoor spaces. Plus, you will love the lustrous patina it gives your wood surfaces and how it immediately enhances the natural beauty of your wood grains.
Crystal Clear Views
This one is a no-brainer. You don’t want anything ruining your beautiful ocean views, but it is inevitable that, over time, sea salt will build up on the glass and cause ugly, foggy windows. We’ve all seen it while visiting the beach, and the look is less than desirable. So, don’t forget to schedule regular window washing in your beach home maintenance routine to keep your glass crystal clear and free from corrosive salt particles. After all, the view is the best part of beach living.
Mind Your Metals
Believe it or not, beach homeowners may want to steer clear of using metals on their dwelling’s exteriors. The combination of moist sea air and salt will eventually cause metals to rust. Think window frames, outdoor hardware, deck and stair railings, and exterior lighting fixtures. For your doors and window frames, you can also consider more durable materials and alternative solutions, such as fiberglass. If metal is preferred, powder-coated metals, aluminum, and stainless steel offer a more durable option. These metals are not by any means rust-resistant, but they will endure the test of time longer than other metal parts. Lightweight and fortified with alloys, aluminum offers a versatile waterproof building material widely used in many products, from window frames to airplanes. However, if you currently own a home with non-resistant metal features, you can paint them with a protective clear coat like Rust-Oleum® or another corrosion inhibitor.
Outdoor Performance
If you live at the beach, it is definitely worth it to invest in outdoor furniture made of weather-resistant, durable materials and fabrics like teak, treated wicker, POLYWOOD®, and Sunbrella®. You may also want to consider regularly shielding your furniture from the elements by storing them away when not in use and during the off-season. You can also cover your furniture to protect it from rain, but long-term coverage only invites trapped moisture, which consequently, leads to mold and mildew. Look for professionally engineered outdoor furniture that can withstand harsh weather conditions, corrosive beach wind, sun, and salt water. Just because it’s durable doesn’t mean it has to be unattractive. With an ever-growing awareness of stylish, eco-friendly home goods and materials, the selections have become highly sophisticated and virtually endless.
So, here’s to practicing good beach home maintenance and preserving your beautiful coastal home. If you’re still searching for your own coastal paradise—visit Beach-Homes.com, select your desired state, and discover the beauty of beach life.