I hear you on the “marine grade” stuff—learned that lesson with deck screws that were supposed to be stainless but rusted anyway. My trick now is to budget for the renovation, then add 20% for “surprises.” Sometimes it’s enough, sometimes not. Last year, I thought I was being clever by buying reclaimed wood for some interior work—looked gorgeous, but turns out it brought a whole new set of problems (hello, termites).
Honestly, with beach houses, I feel like you’re not just fighting the usual home issues, you’re battling the elements every single day. Salt air is relentless. If there’s any advice I’d give, it’s to invest in the best materials you can afford up front, even if it stings a bit. Cheap stuff just doesn’t make it through a full season. And yeah, expect at least one “how did THAT happen?” moment along the way... keeps things interesting, right?
That reclaimed wood story hits home—tried something similar and ended up with a carpenter ant invasion. Never again. I totally agree on the upfront investment, though sometimes I wonder if there’s a magic formula for how much to actually set aside for those “surprises.” Have you ever found that 20% buffer was way off, either way?
I’ve actually had the 20% buffer be both too much and not nearly enough, depending on the project. With my last place, I barely touched the contingency fund, but with this beach house, I blew past it thanks to hidden water damage behind the walls. Do you think location plays a big role in how much you should set aside? Like, are coastal homes just riskier by default? Sometimes I wonder if it’s smarter to budget based on the age of the house or just expect the worst and hope for the best...
I get where you’re coming from, but I don’t think location is always the main factor. Yeah, coastal homes have their quirks—salt air, humidity, all that—but I’ve run into just as many surprises with old houses nowhere near water. Sometimes it’s just the luck of the draw with what’s lurking behind the walls. Personally, I’d say age and how well it’s been maintained matter more than geography. Still, with beach houses, I’d probably pad the budget a bit extra... just in case.
That’s a fair point—sometimes it’s just the age and mystery behind old walls, no matter where you are. I do think coastal spots add a few extra headaches, though. I once found rusted-out plumbing in a house that was only 15 years old, just from the salty air. Padding the budget for surprises is always smart. You’re thinking about it the right way.
