Five Ways to Care for Your Beach House

The images of nature's fury are familiar: Storms ripping off roofs, angry seas attacking coast lines. Those are scary events, but the fact is that everyday exposure to sun, wind, sand and water can also do costly damage to the beach homes we love so much.

Sun fades paint and can degrade wood siding, roofing and decking. Sand can scour wood surfaces. Water can infiltrate the smallest opening in the shell of a house, and once inside, it is an insidious enemy. And salt can corrode nails and metal elements that hold the house together.

So beach houses require special attentionespecially roofs, windows and siding.

"This is the 'envelope' of a structure," says Beth Judge, a coastal hazards specialist. "If the 'envelope' isn't sound and tight, the house is compromised."

But there are many common-sense materials and techniques that offer protection.

Avoid carpeting also. Small area rugs may be used and shaken out. Or, even better, try fiber rugs and mats such as open-patterned sisal and coir. The sand will gather underneath and can be swept up.

Best tip for your floorskeep as much sand outside as possible. How?

"Fiber-cement, or concrete siding, as we call it, is a terrific product for beach homes," comments New Jersey builder John Goodhue. "We have found that it is totally wind-proof, which is the most important consideration at the Jersey shore. It looks like wood, requires very little maintenance and can be painted any color. However, I must admit that cedar siding is still my favorite, because it is natural, doesnt blow up in a hurricane, and when painted a light color, it weathers to that beautiful silvery color that looks so great on the beach."

Goodhue is not alone in his fondness for wood siding. It outsells all other siding products for coastal homes, but experts say that it does require looking after. Water and condensation from leaks can get in behind the boards and shingles and cause decay.

So if you are considering siding with wood, listen to the experts:

To maintain siding:

Painting
John Pisarro of Eagle Paint in Englewood, NJ, legendary throughout the country for his technical and color expertise, feels that stain is the best solution for a beach house with wood siding, but he warns that no stain or paint currently available will withstand the hazards of coastal elements for more than a couple of years.

"However, new developments are coming on line very fast and I think it would behoove beach home owners to keep up with them," he urges. "New elastomenic paints with special water/sun resistance are becoming available."

Priming is vital to protect surfaces exposed to sun, wind, sand and salt spray.

According to the National Association of Home Builders, steeply pitched roofs deflect winds the best. The organization also recommends that nailed connections between wood framing elements should be reinforced with hardware.

Windows
What's a beach home without a good view of the ocean? Beach home windows have to withstand a lot, so it pays to pick the right type.

On the beach, shutters aren't just decoration. Louvered versions can filter out the hot afternoon sun and yet let in breezes, thereby keeping air in circulation and controlling moisture build up. When a storm is pending, shutters can be closed tight. Solid-panel shutters mounted outside offer most protection in severe storms.