Yeah, I totally get that logic. We tried patching things up in our old place and ended up spending way more than if we’d just tackled it all at once. Especially with the salt air, stuff just seems to fall apart faster than you expect. It’s a pain to shell out for a big reno, but honestly, peace of mind is worth something too. And yeah, insurance... learned that one the hard way.
We tried patching things up in our old place and ended up spending way more than if we’d just tackled it all at once.
I get where you’re coming from, but honestly, sometimes doing everything at once isn’t always the smartest move either. Have you thought about phasing the reno, focusing on the stuff that’s actually failing first? Salt air’s brutal, yeah, but not every system needs to be replaced at the same time. I’ve seen folks rip out perfectly good windows or floors just because they’re “doing it all.” That can be a waste. Curious—did you get any quotes for partial jobs before going all-in?
Honestly, I get the urge to just fix what’s broken, but sometimes that piecemeal approach drags out the pain (and the costs). We tried phasing our kitchen and bath reno, thinking we’d save, but the constant mess and repeat contractor visits added up. I guess it depends on your tolerance for living in a construction zone. Sometimes ripping off the bandaid is less stressful, even if it feels like a bigger hit upfront.
Sometimes ripping off the bandaid is less stressful, even if it feels like a bigger hit upfront.
This really resonates. I’ve seen so many clients start with “just the kitchen” or “just the floors,” and before you know it, they’re living in a construction zone for months longer than planned. The constant dust and moving furniture around gets old fast. There’s also the risk of costs creeping up when you phase things—contractors often have to re-mobilize, and prices can shift between phases.
That said, I do think there are situations where phasing makes sense, especially if you’re living in the house and just can’t swing being without a kitchen and bathroom at the same time. But for a beach house, if you can manage it, tackling everything at once tends to be more efficient. You’ll probably get better pricing from trades, and the design will feel more cohesive.
One thing I’d add: beach houses have their own quirks—humidity, salt air, and all that. Sometimes it’s worth investing in higher-end finishes up front to avoid headaches later. It’s tempting to cut corners, but I’ve seen cheap hardware rust out in a season... not fun.
All At Once Isn’t Always Cheaper
There’s also the risk of costs creeping up when you phase things—contractors often have to re-mobilize, and prices can shift between phases.
That’s true, but sometimes phasing can actually help with budget control, especially if you’re not 100% sure about your priorities. I’ve had projects where we started with “just the kitchen,” then realized the bathrooms weren’t as bad as we thought, so we could put more money into outdoor spaces. If you do everything at once, you might end up over-improving in areas that don’t need it. Also, living in the space a bit can help you figure out what really bugs you day-to-day. Just my two cents—sometimes slow and steady works too.
