Is your Rye Beach, NH, home too small or outdated? There’s no need to look for a new place when a renovation can turn your home into the ultimate beach house. If you’re considering a remodeling project, you may want to keep these tips in mind:
Think About Your Must-Have Features
Do you need more guest rooms, a bigger entertaining space, or an updated kitchen? Does your home meet current hurricane standards? Before you make a call to a remodeler, make a list of all the features and upgrades you want to include in your beach house.
Improve the View
The spectacular scenery outside your front door is one of the best parts of owning a New Hampshire beach home. If you have an older home, the view may not have been a key consideration when your home was designed and built. Builders reasoned that you could open your door and see the Atlantic any time you wanted.
Fortunately, you can remedy the problem during your remodel. Adding large windows or sliding or French doors will enhance your view. If privacy isn’t an issue, cover an entire wall in your living room or bedroom with floor-to-ceiling windows.
Enhance Air Flow
After a walk along the beach, the thought of returning to a hot, stuffy home isn’t very appealing. Fortunately, your remodeling team can help you take advantage of cool ocean breezes by improving ventilation during your renovation. Depending on the layout of your home, changes may include revising the floor plan, adding doors and windows, or installing ceiling and exhaust fans.
Although good airflow is essential, you may still need to run your heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning (HVAC) system on hot, humid days. Replacing an old, inefficient system with a brand new one can improve the comfort of your home and reduce your utility bills.
Use Materials That Can Withstand Coastal Conditions
Beach homes are particularly prone to developing mold and mildew due to continual exposure to moisture. During your remodel, your renovator will use building products designed to repel water, which will help reduce mold and mildew. Concrete, treated wood, brick, and other products resist saltwater corrosion and help prevent rot and damage.
Hurricane-force winds can damage windows, allowing water to leak into your home. Impact-resistant windows are designed to stand up to strong winds without leaking or breaking and prevent water intrusion.
Expand Your Outdoor Living Area
Your yard offers room to increase your home’s living space. Adding a deck or patio built with weather-resistant materials is like adding another room to your house. Furnish your new space with a selection of comfortable chairs, an outdoor kitchen complete with a state-of-the-art gas grill, or a hot tub. Add a waterproof TV for a movie or game nights.
Consider Adding Pilings
Hurricanes and tropical storms have been getting worse and causing more flooding lately. Unfortunately, that’s not likely to change in the future. In fact, the Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory expects rainfall rates and hurricane intensity to only increase throughout the 21st century.
Even one flood is one too many when you have a beach home. If your home is prone to flooding or is in an area affected by tidal surge, it may be a good idea to raise it on pilings. Although raising your home will increase the cost of your remodel, it’s much less expensive than cleaning and restoring a flooded home.
Winterize Your Home
Getting away to the beach used to be a summertime activity. Once Labor Day arrived, homeowners closed their houses for the year and didn’t return until Memorial Day. Today, more and more homeowners are using their beach homes year-round.
If your home was originally intended for summer use only, it may not be comfortable when the temperature drops. During your renovation, your remodeler can add insulation, upgrade the HVAC system, install a fireplace, and replace drafty doors and windows.
Don’t Overlook Local Regulations
Beach communities usually have their own rules and regulations regarding remodeling, and Rye Beach is no exception. For example, you can’t move a house that’s not up to code, and if you spend more than 50% of the building’s value on your remodeling project, you must bring the entire house up to code. Working with a remodeler who understands the ins and outs of remodeling at the beach, like Oxland Builders, can help you avoid headaches and delays.
Are you ready to remodel your Rye Beach, NH, home? We can help you create a comfortable home that meets all local and national requirements. Contact us and tell us a little about your beach house.
