Coastal Building Maintenance

The saying “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure” carries equal weight in addressing the maintenance of buildings and homes, especially in coastal communities.

Elevation of properties along the seashore is important in communities like Navarre Beach, Pensacola Beach, Okaloosa Island, Perdido Key, Holiday Isle, and other properties that border inland waterways.

Best case scenarios provide relief or “blow out” walls on all 1st floor areas of the structure. Also elevated platforms for mechanical equipment will serve to protect from a storm surge. Those properties located directly on the Gulf of Mexico beaches will bear the brunt of wind and windborne debris. Properties that border inland waterways such as Choctaw Beach, Bluewater Bay, Destin Harbor, Cinco Bayou near Fort Walton Beach, Poquito Bayou near Shalimar, Navarre, Gulf Breeze, and Milton near East Bay are all exposed to high water levels.

Observing any condition on a building or home that is missing a part, has loose cladding materials, cracks in siding or foundation components, and generally any condition that concerns the owner or property manager should be noted and followed up with care or at the very least, call a building professional for an opinion.

All along the Gulf Coast line and intracoastal waterway are communities like Midway, Wynn Haven Beach, Florosa, Mary Esther, Miramar Beach, Sandestin, Freeport, Basin Bayou, Portland, Santa Rosa Beach, and Watercolor that have millions of dollars of property that can be upgraded and maintained and will result in annual savings if issues such as window and door maintenance, painting, caulking, waterproofing, roofing maintenance, deck protection, etc. are addressed BEFORE the condition results in major repair efforts.

All along the scenic Highway 30A in South Walton villages including Dune Allen Beach, Blue Mountain Beach, Grayton Beach, Seagrove Beach, Seaside, Seacrest Beach, Lake Powell, Rosemary Beach, and Inlet Beach are subjected to coastal winds that strip the life out of paint, stucco, EIFS, tile, textured decks, pool deck coatings, screen materials, etc. – basically anything exposed to the exterior elements.

When travelling Florida State Highway 98 from Panama City to Pensacola, all the homes, condos, townhouses, commercial buildings, warehouses, industrial facilities, and the like are subjected to coastal climate, environment, and atmospheric conditions that create continuous maintenance and upgrade opportunities for observant owners, investors, contractors, property managers, and facility managers that will be a part of sustainable living on the Emerald Coast of the Florida Panhandle and Northwest Florida.