How to Maintain Waterfront Exteriors
In Raleigh, North Carolina, the views offered by lakes Johnson, Wheeler, and Benson are beyond compare. Living along the water is a dream for many people. And while there’s lots to love about lakefront living, laying down roots right by the water also comes with caveats, especially when it comes to property maintenance. Waterfront homes must contend with extreme environmental forces on a regular basis, including strong winds, salt, moisture, heavy rains, pests, direct sunlight, and more. If you want your dream house to retain its value and remain a sturdy and safe place to live, you must defend it from these threats to the best of your ability. Here are some key ways to maintain your waterfront home.
How to Maintain Your Waterfront Property
Wash Your Exterior Surfaces Seasonally
No matter where you live, you should thoroughly clean your home periodically either via power washing or manual scrubbing. Those who live on the water must go the extra mile when it comes to washing their exterior surfaces. While every home accumulates dirt, dust, grime, and other contaminants over time, waterfront homes tend to get bombarded by debris to an even greater degree. Consider that lakefront winds swiftly carry water, salt, pests, and sand deposits toward waterfront homes. As days go by, a thick layer of grime can form on your exterior surfaces, namely those directly facing the water. Neglecting to clean your home can allow metal components to rust, wood features to rot, and mold/mildew to form in various places. Washing your exterior at least three times a year will prevent these problems from festering and keep your home looking its best.
Waterproof Your Property
It should come as no surprise that water is the most persistent threat to waterfront properties. While moisture on its own might not seem all that problematic, moisture intrusion can cause your exterior to fade, deteriorate, and/or rot over time. Worse still, external moisture issues can become interior problems if ignored for too long. As such, those living near the water must take waterproofing seriously. For starters, all exterior paint and deck stain products you implement should offer protection against water. You might also apply additional waterproof coatings on top of existing paint and stain for some extra protection. Moreover, all gaps outside and inside your home should be properly sealed via caulking to prevent moisture from entering. Your gutters should also be regularly cleaned to keep water flowing away from your roof and siding.
Select Lighter Exterior Paint Colors
If you live on the water, you might not have much shade. Even if you’ve got some tall trees near your property, parts of your home are bound to be wide open to the sun’s radiation. Over time, the sun’s harsh, direct rays can deteriorate exterior paint and cause it to fade. Not only that, this bombardment of ultraviolet (UV) radiation can heat up your home, forcing you to crank the air conditioning during summer. One way to combat all of these negative outcomes is by painting your home’s outdoor surfaces with lighter colors. Lighter shades are reflective, meaning UV rays bounce off of them. As a result, your home will retain a cooler temperature inside and out, and your exterior paint job will hold up longer in every sense. Your local residential exterior painting experts can help you select the right exterior paint color(s) and type to withstand waterfront living.
Prepare to Repair
Exterior damage is just par for the course when you reside by the water, no matter how well you protect your home from harm. Knowing this, it’s a good idea to have some relevant knowledge and tools at your disposal to patch up your exterior when needed. Some common exterior repairs include paint touch-ups, re-caulking, patching holes and cracks, etc. The sooner you tackle these repairs, the less likely they are to grow into more serious problems. Staying on top of siding repair, for instance, can prevent the need for a total siding replacement job down the line. As always, any repair work that’s outside of your level of expertise should be handled by a reliable professional.
Install Storm Doors and Windows
Lastly, it’s a good idea to outfit your home with storm doors and storm windows. Simply put, storms tend to be stronger by the water than they are further inland. Storm doors and windows protect these features from pests, winds, hail, etc. and increase your home’s insulation rating, thereby cutting energy costs.
Enjoy Your Lakefront Life Longer
Waterfront properties are in high demand, but they’re also high maintenance. If you live by the water or you’re looking to, the experts at Anderson Painting are equipped to help you care for your waterfront property throughout the years. To learn more about us and all we do, call today at 919-610-1855 or email us at info@andersonpaintingnc.com!
