Beach homes on the Mornington Peninsula can be one of the most rewarding places to live. It is an extremely desirable location, but it also comes with extremely special building considerations. To help you in navigating those considerations, there is some informative guidance below. You should always aim to get the most value out of your property and you can do that with a beach house builder on the Mornington Peninsula. They should have experience with building in coastal climates and can guide you through the process in a professional manner. That’s because they’re familiar with best practices and design options for beach homes. Here’s more to consider when it comes to design…
Designing your dream beach house
It is commonly known that beachfront homes can benefit from open floor plans to allow for efficient circulation. The climate here is typically humid and closed-off areas in the home can benefit from ocean breezes and natural light to flow throughout. A stylistic, but useful, addition to the home can include a ceiling fan to avoid the use of air conditioning. To maximise that ocean breeze throughout your home, you can consider a terrace, deck, patio, or large windows. This will also bring in lots of light and give you scenic views of the landscape. A deck is a perfect place to help you take full advantage of the prime location you’ve rewarded yourself with.
Work with a professional Mornington custom builder to enhance your style and make the home a perfect representation of all that is you. The best builders will help you to create a seamless flow from the style and décor inside your home, to the complementary design on the exterior. This is just some simple and sound advice when it comes to the design but there are other environmental conditions you’ll want to account for. There’s a short list of them below…
Things to consider before investing in a beachfront build
Building a custom home on the beach would clearly seem as though you have the ideal location, as far as prime real estate is concerned. Locations like this are also places where the climate has been known to negatively impact infrastructure in and around it. Working with a contractor who knows the area, and how it will impact your build, will give you the ultimate advantage.
Beach-friendly design
Typical homes in suburban or metropolis areas don’t have to worry about water levels, humidity, and high tides. These are some of the things that beach house builders need to be acutely aware of when constructing near the ocean. They’ll help you find a lot with a solid foundation suitable for building, or even find the means to make it so. Your custom home design will have to consider how close the property is to the water, the history of beach erosion, and other local variances.
Close proximity to vast bodies of water inevitably equates to coastal areas being prone to flooding, and your building needs to be conscious to protect you against this. Some beach areas on the Mornington Peninsula may have strict standards regarding elevation for a newly constructed beach home and much more to consider. These are all safety features that have to impact the overall architectural design.
The right materials for beach house builds
Other than concerns about direct exposure to ocean water, like the aforementioned cases of flooding, homeowners also need to be aware of the corrosive nature of salt from the ocean. This can affect many exterior material selection decisions and you’ll need to consider the following:
The right materials for salt air
Your builder will help you to identify and source materials that can tolerate exposure to salt air. You’ll need naturally resistant building materials that are decay-resistant with little or no maintenance.
Alternatives to metal
Metal is well known for its longevity, but some metals will corrode and become vulnerable when constantly exposed to salt air. Not all metal types will corrode at the same rate over time, but the salty sea air and humidity will eventually react with them, and they will deteriorate. There are several alternatives you can explore that are both resilient and water-resistant while remaining aesthetically pleasing. Avoid using metals in exterior trim and siding and, instead, opt for materials that are more weather resistant
Windows & doors
Windows, doors, and other openings can be the weakest points in any structure, and this is exacerbated in coastal environments. When selecting windows and doors for beach homes, you may need to consider reinforced glass or composite wood materials that can withstand strong wind pressure and debris while also increasing the overall stability of your home. You could also consider installing exterior plastic fitting to ensure further protection.
Creating outdoor living space in your beach home
Beach homes present an opportunity to add the ultimate outdoor space and you simply cannot ignore making use of that scenic backdrop. You may already be thinking about it, but a builder can help you to create the perfect outdoor space to spend time with family and friends. You could even consider something more personal like installing an outdoor shower. Whether it is a sitting area or a cosy fire pit, these areas require durable furniture to withstand the elements. When you’ve considered all your options, hire the dream team of construction and design specialists, and they’ll build your custom dwelling, to your specifications, on your beach property.
Choosing the right builder for your home
Building a home near the beach has its own set of rules and you’ll need an expert to keep you in line with them. Take the time to find a reputable builder who has experience in your coastal market. If you choose custom beach house builders, they’ll offer you full-service home-building skills with in-house design capability. They also offer the advantage of being familiar with the unique practices of doing coastal construction. Custom beach house builders maintain strong working relationships with other trusted vendors and subcontractors that can help with the build.
