Also, for hurricane windows, did you go impact-rated or just heavy-duty?
Tile vs. LVP is a classic beach house debate. I’ve done both, and honestly, tile install is usually pricier—labor alone can be double, especially if you go with anything fancy or oversized. LVP’s gotten way better, though. Unless you’re literally tracking sand in every day, it holds up fine and is way easier on the wallet.
About windows: I bit the bullet on impact-rated. "Trying to figure out if the extra cost is worth it long-term." For me, it’s peace of mind (plus insurance breaks). Heavy-duty is tempting, but after seeing a neighbor’s regular windows eat a palm frond during a storm... yeah, I’d rather not risk it.
Impact-rated windows are one of those things you only regret not getting after the first big storm rolls through. Years ago, I worked on a place where the owners went with heavy-duty but non-impact glass to save money. First hurricane season, a flying chair leg punched right through—ruined their brand new floors and half the drywall. They ended up paying way more fixing everything than the upfront upgrade would’ve cost. Sometimes the peace of mind is worth every penny, especially near the coast.
I hear you on the windows. We tried to cut corners on our first place—figured we’d just board up when storms came. Ended up with water damage that cost way more than impact glass would’ve. Sometimes “cheap” is just expensive in disguise.
Sometimes “cheap” is just expensive in disguise.
Ain’t that the truth. I tried saving a few bucks by skipping hurricane shutters—figured plywood would do the trick. One storm later, I’m drying out carpets with a shop vac and cursing my past self. The “savings” lasted about five minutes, and the smell stuck around for months.
If you’re budgeting for a beach house, I’d say windows and waterproofing are two places you really don’t want to go bargain-bin. Learned that the hard way. The salty air eats cheap stuff for breakfast, too... I swear it’s like living inside a slow cooker set to “corrode.”
Funny how you only find out what corners not to cut after you’ve already tripped over them.
Man, you nailed it with the “slow cooker set to corrode” bit. I once had a client who wanted to save on exterior paint—went with some off-brand stuff that looked fine for about six months. Next thing you know, the siding’s peeling like a sunburn and we’re scraping barnacles off the trim. Ended up costing double to fix it right.
I get wanting to keep costs down, but with beach houses, the ocean’s basically your nosy neighbor who never minds their own business. Cheap windows, doors, or sealants just invite trouble. I’ve seen folks try to DIY waterproofing with hardware store caulk... let’s just say their living room turned into a wading pool after the first nor’easter.
If I had a dollar for every time someone said “it’ll be fine,” I could probably afford my own beach house by now.
