Putting the money into the deck and siding first makes a ton of sense, especially near the ocean. I learned that the hard way too—first year in, I thought I could get away with just patching up some old cedar boards on the porch. By spring, half of them were warped or splitting, and I ended up ripping out more than I’d planned. Ended up costing more than if I’d just done it right from the start. Treated pine isn’t glamorous, but it’s forgiving when you need to swap out a board or two.
I get what you mean about interiors being easier to upgrade later. We lived with a pretty ugly kitchen for almost three years because we had to redo windows and flashing first. Not fun, but at least we weren’t dealing with leaks or mold. The only thing I sometimes wonder is if waiting too long on interiors can drive you nuts—my partner was ready to tear out those cabinets herself by year two.
Curious if you did anything special for salt protection? We tried a marine-grade sealant on our new deck last summer, but I’m not sure if it’s really making a difference or just marketing hype. Also, did you find any exterior materials that held up better than expected? Always looking for something that’ll last more than a couple seasons without costing an arm and a leg...
Totally relate to the “ugly kitchen” situation—ours had this weird faux-brick backsplash that drove me nuts, but we had to focus on the roof and siding first too. I keep hearing mixed things about marine sealants. We tried one on our railings, and honestly, I can’t tell if it’s helping or not. The salt air just seems relentless. One thing that surprised me was how well fiber cement siding held up compared to wood—wasn’t cheap, but after two winters, it still looks new. I do wonder if there’s a magic bullet for decks though... everything seems to need constant touch-ups.
Fiber cement siding is a total game changer, right? We swapped out our old wood for it a couple years back and honestly, I wish we’d done it sooner. The price tag stung, but it’s been basically zero maintenance compared to the constant repainting before. Decks though... ugh. I swear, no matter what “miracle” sealant I try, the boards still end up looking weathered by summer’s end. Maybe there’s some secret trick out there, but if there is, my deck hasn’t gotten the memo.
Man, I hear you on the deck struggle. I swear, my deck boards age faster than I do. Tried every “guaranteed” sealer out there—oil-based, water-based, unicorn tears... nothing keeps that fresh look for long, especially near the coast. Fiber cement siding though? Worth every penny. If only they made decks out of that stuff, right? Maybe one day we’ll get a miracle product that actually works for decks, but until then, I’m just embracing the weathered look and calling it “rustic beach charm.”
Fiber cement siding’s a game changer, no doubt. I remember patching up cedar shingles every other year—felt like painting the Golden Gate Bridge. As for decks, I’ve tried ipe and composite, but even those fade or get slippery. Honestly, budgeting for a beach house reno? I’d pad it by at least 20% over what you think, just for all the “surprises” salt air brings. And yeah, that weathered look grows on you after a while... or at least that’s what I tell myself when the boards start curling.
