Common maintenance issues in coastal properties around Bude
6 min read ·
Living near the coast is great — but the weather here is hard on buildings. Salt air, strong winds and rain driven sideways off the Atlantic all speed up wear and tear. These are common problems for properties around Bude, North Cornwall & North Devon, and what you can do about them.
Exterior paintwork and timber
Paint on windows, doors, fascias and exterior timber breaks down faster on the coast. Once it cracks or flakes, water gets into the wood behind and rot follows. Keeping on top of exterior decorating is far cheaper than replacing rotten timber.
Check south- and west-facing elevations first — they take the worst of the weather.
Gutters and downpipes
Blocked gutters overflow down walls, soaking masonry and eventually showing up as damp patches inside. Moss, leaves and debris are the usual culprits. Clearing gutters at least once a year — ideally in late autumn — prevents a lot of problems.
Sealant and grout
Sealant around windows, doors, baths and showers doesn't last forever. When it cracks or comes away, water gets behind it. Replacing tired sealant is a small, inexpensive job that protects everything around it.
Condensation, damp and mould
Holiday lets and second homes that are closed up for weeks at a time are prone to condensation and mould, especially over winter. Good ventilation helps a lot. Where plaster has been damaged by past damp, it's important to deal with the cause before repairing the wall.
Corroding metal fixings
Salt air rusts ordinary steel fixings, hinges, brackets and screws surprisingly quickly — you'll often see rust streaks running down from them. When replacing exterior fixings, stainless steel or suitably coated fixings last much longer.
Sand, grit and floors
Sand walked in from the beach wears floors quickly, particularly in holiday lets. A decent entrance mat and a hard-wearing floor in the hallway make a real difference.
Slippery paths and patios
Damp, shaded paths grow algae and moss quickly and can become slippery. Pressure washing a couple of times a year keeps them safer and looking better.
A simple seasonal checklist
- Spring: check exterior paintwork and timber after winter; wash down paths and patios
- Summer: good weather for exterior decorating and repairs
- Autumn: clear gutters and downpipes; check sealant around windows and doors
- Winter: keep empty properties ventilated; check for signs of damp or leaks
If you own a holiday let or second home and aren't always around to check, a list of jobs and the property postcode is enough for us to get started.