how much should I budget to renovate a beach house?

Good points, but I wonder if location plays a big role here? My cousin's beach cabin is pretty sheltered, and they got away with standard materials too. But my friend's place right on the coast took a beating - standard stuff rusted and warped in no time. Maybe it's about balancing marine-grade for critical spots and standard materials elsewhere to keep costs down? Curious if anyone's tried that approach...

That's an interesting thought about mixing materials. I've done something similar - used marine-grade hardware for doors, windows, and deck railings, but stuck with standard stuff indoors. So far, it's held up pretty well. I guess the trick is figuring out exactly which spots are most vulnerable to salt and moisture...maybe trial and error? Either way, your idea seems practical and could definitely help stretch the budget without sacrificing durability.

"I guess the trick is figuring out exactly which spots are most vulnerable to salt and moisture...maybe trial and error?"

Yeah, pretty much nailed it. I'd say doors, windows, and anything metal outdoors are your main culprits. Indoors, standard stuff usually holds up fine - unless you're hosting indoor surfing competitions or something...

Yeah, doors and windows are definitely trouble spots. Had a client whose sliding doors corroded badly within two years - ended up swapping for fiberglass frames. Cost a bit more upfront, but saved headaches later...

"Cost a bit more upfront, but saved headaches later..."

Yeah, fiberglass is solid advice for coastal areas. Learned that the hard way myself - went with aluminum frames thinking they'd hold up fine. Nope, salt air ate right through 'em in no time. Ended up redoing everything with fiberglass after just three years...lesson learned. Honestly, budgeting extra for corrosion-resistant materials from the start saves you money (and sanity) down the road.