Beachfront Building

Make the right choice for a house that lasts.

By Missy Ketchum

From the standpoint of its resident, an oceanfront home is the ultimate in peaceful living. The soothing ocean breezes, salt air and sunny skies, the lull of the surf lapping the shore and the breathtaking view create an atmosphere of tranquility like no other.

From the standpoint of the house, however, living on the ocean is the exact opposite.

“The oceanfront is the most brutal of all climates,” says Richard Skinner III, president of the architecture firm Richard Skinner & Associates, in Jacksonville. “You’ve got high winds with sand, and it’s hard to grow vegetation that will protect the house. You’ve got an enormous body of water that saturates the air with humidity, and you’ve got the sun’s heat, which means the air conditioner is doing battle with the outside environment.”

Water, Wind, Salt, siting, taking in the view, sustainability and energy savings, as well as protecting the beach’s nonhuman habitat are the many considerations that need to be addressed when building beachfront. See what architects and builders say about making the right choices to build a lasting beachfront home in the July issue of Water’s Edge, on newsstands now.

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