If you just bought a new home near the coast of Marco Island, you should understand that beach home maintenance is absolutely necessary and a bit more involved than your average home. Homes near the beach are generally more difficult to maintain because materials like wood and metal are more likely to become brittle or oxidize due to a combination of moisture, salt air, sand, and wind.

Review your home insurance policyHow To Maintain Your Beach House

It’s never a bad time to review your insurance policy for your beach home, because you may be missing out on coverage you need or discounts. For example, adding hurricane shutters or hurricane windows could save you quite a bit in monthly premiums. Make sure you know what your deductible is for named storms, wind, and other coastal-specific deductibles; some insurance companies won’t cover homes on the coast, so make sure you know exactly what your policy covers.

Power wash your beach home

Your beach house needs the occasional rinsing, especially if you live directly on the ocean. Paints do help seal in moisture to a degree, but salt can penetrate just about anything. For this reason, it’s a good idea to power wash your home at least once a year if you live a few miles away from the ocean, and more frequently if you are oceanfront.

Add protection to your deck or other wood surfaces

You can apply a wood stain or sealer if you desire to protect your deck or other wooden surfaces from the elements; if you don’t stain your deck at the coast, expect the wood to turn a gray color within about 6 months.

Remove rust and corrosion from metal surfaces

The best way to remove rust from outdoor fixtures is to assess the situation and start with something mild like this Goo Gone rust remover. This product is good for fixtures that have pitting and a few rust spots that don’t require a wire brush or sandpaper. Some people even submerge door or cabinet handles in this solution to remove the rust. If pitting has occurred, you’re better off using light abrasion, however for extreme cases you want to use a chemical solution after you use a wire brush.

With a little routine maintenance, you can avoid costly problems down the road. If your beachfront home is not your primary residence, consider hiring a professional maintenance company or a local individual to clean and maintain your home while you’re not there. This will help ensure that your property is safe and secure year-round.

For more information on homes for sale on Marco Island, contact my office at any time - Browse more homeowner information below:

Property Taxes in Marco Island
How Trusts Can Benefit Property Owners
Will My Homeowner's Insurance Cover Me After a Hurricane?
Sanding and Refinishing Wood Floors
The Most Cost-Effective Energy Source for a Single-Family Home
Posted by Guy Amato on

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