how much should I budget to renovate a beach house?

Yeah, I hear you on the reclaimed lumber. My uncle used some old beams in his beach place and they’re still solid after years—guess it’s all about picking the right stuff and not cutting corners with sealing. Contingency fund is a must, though... things just pop up.

Contingency fund is a must, though... things just pop up.

Yeah, I’m starting to realize how true that is. Every time I think I’ve got the numbers locked in, something else comes up—like surprise termite damage or weird wiring. I didn’t expect sealing to matter so much with reclaimed wood, but I guess the salt air really does a number over time. Still trying to figure out how much to pad the budget for all the “just in case” stuff... 15% extra feels low?