Oceanfront home care

[AKpilot]

Hello and one more question,

Does anyone have an oceanfront home. I know the views are spectacular and am aware of the extra EXTRA care owning an oceanfront place involves. Tips, horror stories, have at it.

Thanks again,

AKpilot

We're all here, because we're not all there!

[Obie]

Maintenance is constant.Figure about $2000.00 per year for minor maintenance !

I haven't found a smoke detector that lasts more than one year.

Major maintenance like appliance replacement would be about every 3 years.

I have had all of the brake lines and fuel lines rust out on several vehicles,I had an oil filter rust out,and have even had cans of WD-40 rust out.

This is all the price we pay to hear the ocean roar !!It's worth it to me !!

[Guest]

Just watch it rust and enjoy! My motorcycle has the most authentic patina from years sitting out in oceanview and now here.

“Setting a good example is a far better way to spread ideals than through force of arms.”
-Ron Paul

[Kelena]

400 feet from the ocean, but maintenance is intense, sometimes on unexpected things. My wonderful, reliable German car which has never ever given my any trouble starting having issues just a few months after I arrived. Parts started falling off. The electrical went whack-a-doodle. Smoke alarms (mentioned above) misfire and require replacement. Screens I had replaced 18 months ago are disintegrating (my fault: always use vinyl, and never metal frames).

And, the constant in and out at some point, I am nearly positive, removes brain cells and sends them rolling in the deep. That is the only thing that can explain my behavior lately.

[AKpilot]

I love that ocean roar. First time the hubby heard it, he thought it was a storm. Nope, just the Mighty Pacific. In the vein, anyone even been kept awake by the Pacific? The roaring ever get a little too intense? I lived on the ocean in Florida once, and of course, that was a whole different animal. Also how hard is Hala to tame? I would never get rid of it, just wondering if it likes to spread like Albizia.

Thanks guys, you are terrific!
AKpilot

We're all here, because we're not all there!

[Carey]

We rented 1/2 block from Ocean in HPP 7 yars ago, ....
The ocean roar wasn't as bad as a few storms where the waves pounding shook the house.... and this was not ocean front... back just a wee bit... but the views.....oh the views!!!

ANYTHING metal takes a beating...no matter what... forget using a stapler with anything but Monel staples... fasteners will bleed through your paint... stainless is "not-so stainless", chromed items pit, rubber bands turn into a gooey/stiff mess... a builder neighbor would only use fiberglass framed doors & windows

Another neighbor has a 2-story oceanfront house that has always llooked good... they had a garage sale & we asked them how much maintenance, they didn't think it was much, they washed all of the outside windows every week & power washed the whole house every month.... we bought a house 3 miles from the ocean, still have more corrosion issues on the makai side of the house...so even that is not totally away from the salt! and only a very small peek-a-boo corner view of the ocean....:~(

[Kelena]

The ocean is so beautiful and it is nice to gaze upon. It definitely draws you near in a primal way. Breathing it in makes you feel alive. It is exhilarating to feel its spray on you, cooling you briefly on a hot day. It is hard to ignore its pull, but it is probably best to keep your distance. It is a living thing and can take its toll on a home. I am also convinced it sweeps your mind clear of rational thought and turns you into a feral thing.

This lovely creature has kept me awake -- wide awake, and not with gentle murmuring but with noises that sound like distant heavy artillery. It has startled me out of a sound sleep. When that happens, you hear the ventricals of your own heart and you start to wonder why you let it get so close.

I speak not of gentle waves lapping on a beach. This is a powerful thing that has traveled thousands of miles, with all that pent up energy. It nears its destination -- a lovely tropic isle--- it speeds toward it and then..... slams into a hard black cliff covered with lichen. It sounds like a lion in winter, but more like a mewling motherless baby kitten at the moment, or maybe like the soft rustle of a lavalava falling to the grass.

It earned my respect. During the first month of my imprisonment in the Iolani Palace my stay here, I was often startled awake by its presence. When it becomes placid, silvery and calm, that is also startling in its contrast. You wonder at how this bold, blue thing that banged the gong so loudly has silvered over so completely and become so quiet. And you miss the roar and wonder where it has gone and fear the thing powerful enough to bring it back.

[punatic2]

Oceanfront is awesome as long as you have some distance from the cliffs or rocks - most of Puna coast is rocks and cliffs.

Only need to be sure your dwelling uses stainless steel connectors and best is if roof aluminum as galvanized does rust much sooner than expected assuming you are going to use it for catchment.

A garage is absolutely required for vehicles and other equipment storage if you want these things to last.

Appliances not much more of a problem compared to any where else in Puna, best if you wax them once in a while.

Weather is the best because of constant trades as long as house takes advantage of them and it is somewhat less rainy.

The sites and sounds can't be beat.

[SandyS]

“I am also convinced it sweeps your mind clear of rational thought and turns you into a feral thing.”

Prospective from one of the ‘feral things’ here in lower Puna: We were fortunate to stumble across a small lot across the street from the ocean about a decade ago. About three years life circumstances allowed us to have a cottage built on the lot and this became our home.

We worked with a local home designer who was familiar with the area and gave us many great suggestions. He was knowledgeable about orientating the home on our lot to take advantage of the cooling trade winds. He had many suggestions on what building material to use to hold up under the harsh ocean spray. He even kept coming by to make sure the builder was using the materials he recommended.

Even at that we have had to replace our sliding door screens. The plastic frames were in reality only plastic clad steel which rusted from the inside. One refrigerator has been replaced, not from rust but broken inner parts. We were warned to get extended warranties on everything. We have great neighbors that have told us of small things to do to keep electronics working a bit longer. My windows always need washing.

However, the moon reflects beautifully off the ocean at night, the cruise ships look like magical floating cities as they stream by. The sunrises over the ocean can be spectacular, and as the song says, “The sound of the ocean sooths my restless soul”. Some days we are blessed with sighting dolphins or whales swimming by from our lanai.

I feel so privileged to be able to enjoy all of this loveliness every day of the year.

[otter]

High tide @ kona tiki hotel shakes the building, it's intense. I like that place 15 rooms a million dollar view @ 99$ a night.
^ has nothing to do with the original topic. Truely a puna web post.