Living close to the ocean or owning a beachfront house is a dream for many people. The happy feeling you get by breathing fresh air, looking at the horizon, the sound of waves crashing on the shore, or walking along the beach while waves kiss your feet is unmatchable. There are pros and cons of living in a beach home but if you do decide to own a property near the sea, you will need to know about some tips to maintain your house for its longevity.
Tips To Maintain Beach Front Houses
It wouldn’t be wrong to say that a beachfront house is the embodiment of luxury living. The real estate value of such properties is usually higher than that of units located in other parts of the city, primarily, due to the proximity to the sea. A lot of people invest in such properties to enjoy amazing views of the sunrise and sunset and, of course, avail better resale value. While the sea refreshes your soul, it is not the same for your home, in fact, it can wreak havoc on your house if you lag on maintenance. Oceanfront houses require more attention as compared to other properties because of the moist and salty air.
The maintenance cost of such properties is relatively higher but the lifestyle you can maintain by living by the sea will be second to none. Here are a few tips that will protect your house from early erosion and save you the trouble of shifting to another place.
Metallic Items
If you have got any items made up of metal, these will be among the first few items to catch rust. This is because the air around the sea has a higher moisture level that reacts with metal surfaces to cause corrosion. You may also find layers of built-up salt crystals on these surfaces, which is caused due to salt content in the sea breeze. Both these things need to be attended to right away; failure to do so can result in damaging the entire surface.
If you see any traces of rust on the metal object, use sandpaper to get rid of it. You will need to do it until the last layer of rust has been removed. Once you rub off the rust, use a metal primer to coat it so that your metal product can last longer. The primer will provide it with a coating that will prevent the surface from reacting with moist air. For the crystal layer, use fresh water to remove any crystal build-up. For a beachfront property, copper tools and products are widely recommended because the material can withstand a humid atmosphere.
Wood Items And Furniture
Like metal objects, wood also does not take moisture very well. It does not rust, rather it tends to rot. Also, it’s important to remember that sustained moisture around wood can lead to a breeding ground for mould. Most of the furniture inside a house is made up of wood and if you have outdoor wooden furniture too, you will have to be extra vigilant and careful.
There are various ways of using wood in a house. Apart from furniture, your luxuriously built seafront house might have wooden flooring. These floors are tiles or planks of wood that are fixed on the floor. If any part of these floors is rotten, all you will need to do is change that part and treat it. For beach houses, commonly used wood is plastic wood which, as the name itself suggests, is made up of recycled plastic but gives a wood-like look. This is ideal for houses exposed to moist weather conditions.
There are ways to waterproof wooden furniture so that it is protected and becomes more durable. One way of protecting wooden furniture is by applying oil on the surface which when absorbed by the wood will make it water-resistant. Other methods to protect wood is by using sealants or staining it.
Outdoor Accessories
Although far less valuable in comparison to your house, outdoor accessories and tools are essential items for any house. These include gardening tools, outdoor furniture or BBQ grills, etc. These items will not have all year use so you might develop an urge to cover them and put them in a storeroom. Don’t do it! Covering them will form moisture underneath the wrapping and incubate mould and mildew. This will be bad for your tools as well as the health of your entire house. Instead of covering them up, use multi-purpose protection sprays that will fight against mould and rust.
Painting The House
You will see signs if your house exterior needs to be repainted. The frequency of these signs will increase if you have a house near the ocean. Painting your house does not only make it look bright and colourful but also protect it from different weather conditions. Due to moisture in the air, your beach house will need a fresh coat of paint probably every year. Using good quality paint sealer will not only add extra life to the paint but also recondition uneven surfaces.
Lower Inside Humidity Levels
There is no way you can avoid moisture and humidity in your beachfront property. But you can take measures to reduce the humidity level inside. One way to do that is by ventilating your house during the daytime and making sure it gets ample sunlight and everything is dried to the maximum level. Another way is to get yourself dehumidifiers which will reduce the moisture indoors and can work during nights as well. The more moisture or humidity accumulates inside, the more chances of your house getting affected by mildew and mold.
Since you must have invested heavily to buy beachfront property, seeking professional advice will always be helpful. Regular maintenance will increase the life of exterior as well as interiors of a beach house and promptly fixing any areas that require repairs will be less troublesome and less costly.
Waking up to mesmerising views of the sea every morning is probably the dream of every Karachiite, thanks to the breathtaking beauty of Sea View, Karachi. If you are interested in buying properties near Sea View, you can check out Zameen’s Karachi listing page for buying a property in DHA and properties in Clifton areas. You can also check our comprehensive analysis of Clifton vs. DHA, which will give you a fair understanding of property prices as well as the facilities offered in both areas. For more on the best areas to invest in Karachi and real estate investment opportunities in Pakistan, keep following Zameen Blog.
