Maintenance of beach houses - let’s talk about it! As wonderful as living near the sea is, the sun, sand and salt can be a menace to your home. They are the main reasons behind windowsills that are rusting, cloudy windows, or moldy carpets. Even if your home is a little further than an oceanfront home, it needs regular upkeep and preventative maintenance to keep it in its best condition.
1. Mildew or mild prevention
Mildew and mold are common occurrences in moist environments and has the potential to form on any surface. If you close up your home for long periods of time, or have bathrooms without proper ventilation, they are both perfect breeding grounds for mold to grow. You should make sure to air out your beach home often to prevent this. Another important thing to do is to keep up a cleaning schedule. Wipe down all surfaces regularly with a cleaning solution, or even an anti-fungal solution. Don’t forget about your deck and roof, these areas are also susceptible to mold. The combination of sun and humidity could make algae or mold on these surfaces – get them cleaned professionally on the regular.
2. Pressure washing
A sticky layer of sand, salt, and mold may accumulate over time on the exterior surfaces of your home. If you don’t do anything about this, the grime can cause your beach house’s materials to rot or rapidly deteriorate – which can be expensive to fix! So it is best to prevent, and the best way to prevent is getting in the habit of power washing the exterior surfaces of your home!
3. Pest control
As much as we love staying near the beach, so do termites, rodents, and roaches. Damp, warm, and dark areas draw them in, and they create nests in places that are difficult to reach. In order to make sure that your home doesn’t become their home, call in professionals for regular inspections.
4. Metal parts caution
If it is possible, we would recommend avoiding having any metal parts on the exterior of your home. The salt and sea air combine and lead to metal rusting. Alternative materials such as fibreglass, stainless steel, or aluminium would be best.
5. Varnish wood
Wood that is unprotected is especially vulnerable to the moist climate that comes with living near the sea. The can quickly and easily develop mold and rot. Over time, you might see some swelling and warping. If you apply varnish to the wood every season, you will provide a protective layer to block the effects of high humidity. Even better – varnish enhances the natural beauty of wood.
6. Exterior paint preserving
Intense sun, salty sea air, and sand will eventually lead to, even the most expensive, paint to fade. If you don’t do anything about it, the paint will also blister or chalk. You can delay this by priming and painting your home every couple of years.
7. Roof inspections
Beach areas usually face a lot of extreme weather changes. The varying weather conditions can take its toll on the roof, so make sure to regularly check it for any damage.
