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Coastal living is the best kind of living, drawing in the fresh ocean air and enjoying sandy walks on the beach in a relaxed sundress. Most people picture ever-blue days, lunch in the sand dunes, and the sweet sound of waves when it comes to living at the coast.
What they don’t take into consideration, however, is that you won’t wear that sundress at all with the amount of wind in your neighborhood; that sunny days can turn chilly quickly, and how rusty everything will look after a few months in your new home.
Here are a few tips and tricks to how you can keep your home in tip-top shape even if the ocean is your closest neighbor, making your days a bit less salty and a bit sunnier.
Prevent Mildew
First of all, it’s important to realize the chances of developing mildew in your new home as the area has a high level of moisture. Preventing it is a lot more pleasant than discovering it, so make sure you take care of this right away. Try to assess your home and determine where any moisture is likely to cling; the kitchen, bathroom and the area behind your bed are likely places for this.
Keep it dry by promoting a healthy airflow throughout your home, install an air dehumidifier if you want to be completely sure, and stock up on some mildew detergents right away so that you can treat it as soon as it’s discovered.
Look after the exterior
While the inside of your home should be kept dry and mildew-free, its exterior is exposed to all sorts of tough elements at all times. A lot of coastal homeowners forget about taking care of the outside of the house until it’s well overdue; not only is this bad news for your home, it’s also a bit more expensive than regularly maintaining it.
Get ahold of a decent pressure washer and give it a good wash once in awhile. It will prevent it from looking weathered before its time as well as helping you to combat that nasty mildew. You can have a look at this article for a great guide on how to pressure wash your house.
Remember that the roof will also need a bit of attention and it’s a lot better to perform regular roof cleaning than having to replace parts of it.
Wipe all surfaces
Finally, the best thing you can do for the inside of your house is to keep it as salt-free as possible. You won’t be able to keep it out at all times, though, but by wiping over every surface you have, you’ll prevent the salty air from deteriorating your appliances. It’s a good idea to do this once a week, at least in the summer when you’re more likely to keep the windows open.
Remember the walls and the windows as well – and consider changing any metal fixtures you have to aluminum or fiberglass. It won’t be affected by the salt and humidity, and you’ll save yourself the dreadful look of rusted metal.
Coastal living is the ideal kind of living when you get used to the elements. By getting into the habits of maintaining your home, it will stay pretty for a long time – and you can slide into a sundress and sit in the backyard, sheltered from wind and exposure.
