Beach houses/Salt corrosion--questions

[Red Clay]

Hello All,

Seeking some advice from those of you who have owned property in coastal areas.

Just returned from Peru, looked at some beach houses there. Looks like corrosion can be a significant problem if not prevented or controlled. The construction of nearly every house in the Lima area is brick or block covered with a type of plaster, mostly hard plaster, not soft like stucco although there might be some stucco construction there also. Is the answer a paint that is corrosion resistant? There are also problems there with corroding metal, door knobs and deadbolt locks, etc. This was observed in houses that were only a few years old.

I was also told that some older beach homes were built using salt water to mix the mortar used with the brick, thus creating a situation over time of corrosion from within the walls. The house we looked at that had this suspected problem was shocking in it's level of deterioration/decay. It's location is one of the best in the whole country but it's almost worthless now, ( to me anyway) it appears to be too far gone to save.

Comments on preventing and detecting these problems?

[Neil]

... in response to Beach houses/Salt corrosion--questions, posted by Red Clay on Feb 24, 2005

[This message has been edited by Neil]

AFter about 30 years the rebar will swell and crack the stucco.  I had to spend alot of money to replace these under every window.  

Also the AC compressor will completely disintegrate after 3 years in the salt air.

Also, place vasoline on the lightbulb tips before you screw them in or you will never get them out without breaking them off.

It is a problem, but some people prefer to live at the beach.

[Golden]

... in response to Beach houses/Salt corrosion--questions, posted by Red Clay on Feb 24, 2005

Good question...so you must have done some serious looking like you mentioned back when we saw you guys at Christmas. How was your trip?

[Red Clay]

... in response to Re: Beach houses/Salt corrosion--questio..., posted by Golden on Feb 25, 2005

Howdy Stranger,

We had a good trip, thanks for asking. We looked at some beaches we hadn't seen before. It will still be awhile though, before we can make a move.

I'll fill you in, maybe we can talk this weekend or get together. We'll call you or you can give us a buzz.

[Gator]

... in response to Beach houses/Salt corrosion--questions, posted by Red Clay on Feb 24, 2005

As a former long-time resident of the lower Florida Keys, Keys West and Cudjoe Key, I would recommend:

1.  On the outside of the house, ie, lights, etc. plastic
   locks a high grade brass.  Strongly recommend nothing
   but stainless steel screws. etc..  Aluminum will pit and is high
   maintance.  Never allow salt water to be used.

2.  Using salt water to mix concrete will cause spalling.
   ANY Slight rust stains coming out of an otherwise  
   innosymptom of spalling. If you see this there are
   problems. A bitch to repair and expensive.  I had
   a porch that had to be removed and replaced.
   Spalling is repaired by digging out the  cracked      
   concrete, cutting off rusted steel, priming the
   remaining exposed area and then concreting over the  
   hole.

3.  There is not really a paint that is corrosion proof.
   It may provide temp. aid but is also high maint.

In shot there are no quick fixes.  Good luck

[Red Clay]

... in response to Re: Beach houses/Salt corrosion--questio..., posted by Gator on Feb 24, 2005

Thanks for the input Gator and Neil.