What Are the 3 Key Phases of Creating Your Custom Beachside Property?

Constructing a tailor-made beachside house is very different compared to constructing inland. You have to contend with special environmental issues and stricter guidelines and the constant presence of salt air and moisture. But do not be frightened by that! With the right attitude and the right group, you will find a beautiful coastal resort that is fully equipped to suit the lifestyle that you are used to.

Let’s break down the three major steps that will help you to become a resident of your dream beachside house.

Phase 1: Planning and Acquisition of Property.

Any great custom build begins long before a shovel is thrust on the ground. This is the stage of research, thorough choice and laying the groundwork.

Discovering Your Ideal Seashore Lot.

Location is everything with beachside property. Do you want a remote, isolated piece of shore with privacy as its paramount value? Or would you rather be within walking distance of beach cafes, surf clubs and colorful coastal communities? It will depend on your lifestyle choices, however, there are also practical aspects.

Considering the optimal plot, you will be interested in such factors as the elevation (important for risk of floods), closeness to the real waterline, the current infrastructure, and the local construction laws. Strict height limits, setback requirements and environmental controls are common in coastal areas. Here, it can be of great value to work with an experienced buyer’s agent Northern Beaches because they know the specifics of the onshore policy of the property and may assist you to find the plots that would not only fit your idea but also your practical needs.

Knowledge in Coastal Building Regulations.

You must know what you are allowed to really build there, before you go headlong over a plot. There are good reasons to have the coastal building codes- they are in place to safeguard not only your investment, but the environment as well. You will probably have to deal with the following requirements:

• Bushfire Attack Level (BAL) ratings where the vegetation is close to the coastline.
• Corrosion resistance materials for a salty environment.
• Raise the foundations to account for storm surge.
• Requirements of preservation of native vegetation.
• Limit view corridors in order to preserve the sight lines of neighbors.

This is the time to meet with local council planners, and see the Local Environmental Plan (LEP), and get to know the Development Control Plan (DCP) rules. Believe me, you do not want to get to know about restrictions after you bought the land!

Assembling Your Dream Team

Your beachside construction depends upon the team you have put together. At this stage of planning, begin to interview architects skilled in coastal design as they will know how to build in a way to maximize the views and how to help protect your home against the elements. You will also be interested in starting discussions with builders, engineers, and consultants who will help with every question, such as soil testing, environmental impact assessment, etc.

Phase 2: Design and Approvals

After you land your territory and assemble your team, it is time to write what you have in your head on paper. This is the stage where creativity meets compliance and your dream house begins to be shaped.

Creating Your Custom Design

Together with your architect, you will create designs that will be responsive to the coastal environment, and designs that will be apt in terms of their aesthetic choices. Think about incorporating:

• Big windows and sliding glass doors to take those ocean views.
• Open plan living rooms that do not differentiate between indoors and outdoors.
• Long lasting and low maintenance materials resistant to salt spray and UV rays.
• Cross-ventilation to make use of those refreshing sea breezes.
• Porches that turn into parts of your home.

But the first thing to have is usually preliminary sketches by your architect, which will enable you to figure out the idea before committing yourself to a set of detailed construction drawings. This is an important step of the process–and it is far easier (and more economical) to make alterations on paper than on the building.

Finding Your Way through the Approval Process.

This is where patience is a virtue. Getting development approval (DA) can take a number of months (and in other cases more) to approve the development of coastal property when your designs involve variations or you have an environmental concern. Your application will require plans in detail, site surveys, shadow diagrams and other forms of reports as required by the specific requirements of your location.

During this time, you may encounter requests to provide more details or to make changes to your design. This is normal, do not allow this to discourage you. With every request, you are given a chance to polish your plans and make them as complete as possible. 

A Construction Documentation Finalization.

Meanwhile, as you wait to get approvals, your architect and engineer will be producing the entire construction documentation on which your builder will operate. These elaborate plans indicate what is done in terms of the structure components all the way to finishes, fixtures and fittings. The more comprehensive these documents, the less surprises you are going to receive in the process of construction.

Phase 3: Construction and Completion.

Having the approvals, now is the most exciting (and even a bit nervous) part: it is time to construct your dream house! Here everything you had planned and designed comes to life.

Selecting Your Builder

One of the most important decisions to make is probably the choice of a construction firm. In the case of coastal houses, a builder must have special experience in beach construction. It is essential for them to comprehend the waterproofing needs, what materials can be used for fasteners and fixings to avoid corrosion, and the protection of the structure during construction, all under occasionally harsh coastal weather.

Do not just accept the best price. Research their best done projects on coastal houses, and visit former clients and make sure they have been properly licensed and insured. There is a fine difference between a great coastal builder and one that is just run-of-the-mill; this fine difference means one house that lasts many years and another that has to undergo almost continuous costly repairs.

The Construction Journey

Construction timelines for beachfront houses usually take between 8 and 18 months, depending on your size and design sophistication. Weather can delay coastal constructions at times–it is not always possible to pour concrete in the middle of the storm or to work at heights when the wind is relatively high.

During the process of construction, maintain regular communication with your constructor. Make frequent visits (equipped with adequate safety gear) to the site to observe how things are progressing and to discuss any doubts or issues at the time. Your builder must report to you regularly and be transparent on problems that come along.

It is also the time when you will be making many choices, not only when it comes to floor tiles and cabinets, but also door handles and lights. It may well be daunting but keep in mind that these are the decisions that will turn your house into your home.

The Final Touches

Once the main construction gets completed, the focus shifts to finishing touches that change a house into a home. Outdoor elements such as decking, landscaping, compatible with coastal environments (then looking towards native, salt-tolerant plants) and outdoor entertaining zones may be on your list.

And do not omit those useful outdoor things! With the Australian sun being quite vicious, shade sail installation around your outdoor areas may offer a cool and fashionable shade as you spend your new seaside life. These utility additions greatly improve your outdoor living experience, more so on those beautiful beachside summer days.

A practical completion check will be done with you by your builder, where a list of any minor defects or finishing touches will be drawn. When these have been checked and all the final checks passed by the certifier, you will be given your occupation certificate- the certificate that will declare your house fit to occupy by you!

Your Beachside Dream Awaits

It is no secret that a structured construction of a beachside property is certainly a serious project, yet by dividing it into the three main steps and achieving the objectives of the work Planning and Property Acquisition, Design and Approaches, and Construction and Completion the path to success would be easier and less daunting.

Each phase builds on the previous one, and taking time to do things right at each stage will pay dividends at the end. Yes, of course there are going to be some difficulties on the way. Approvals may be slower than planned, construction may be slowed by weather or you may have to make difficult decisions regarding budgets and priorities. But once you are finally drinking your morning coffee on your deck looking at the sun rising over the ocean in your own constructed sanctuary you will have overcome all the hardships.