Florida’s home prices and rents have seen some of the nation’s highest increases. However, the tropical climate and beautiful beaches that draw so many people in can devalue rentals, especially near the coast. Learn how intense sunlight and salty air compromise properties and increase your maintenance duties.
What Florida Landlords Must Know About Coastal Conditions
While most Florida property owners are rightfully wary of hurricanes’ destructive winds and heavy downpours, sunshine and salt can be highly damaging when left unchecked for a long time.
Surface discoloration: The sun radiates ultraviolet light, which breaks down the chemical bonds that give objects color. Sun-induced discoloration is generally irreversible, requiring you to repaint or replace items once they fade.
Corrosion: Salt air can damage various building materials. Metals like steel and aluminum are especially susceptible to this corrosion — bad news for plumbing, electrical and HVAC system components.
Wood damage: Salt causes delignification, a phenomenon where the natural polymer that binds wood fibers weakens and makes lumber more prone to decay.
Porous material degradation: Concrete, mortar, stone, clay and plaster are vulnerable to salt weathering. It happens when salt crystallizes and dissolves cyclically, causing materials to crack, crumble and disintegrate.
5 Tips for Preventing the Sun and Salt Air From Depreciating Your Rental
Minimizing the effects of sunlight and salt air on condo units can be more challenging than on properties with yard space, but you can still neutralize them. Here are five things you can do to keep these elements from depreciating rentals.
1. Switch to UV-Resistant Fabrics
UV-resistant fabrics block or reflect unwanted radiation from the sun. They’re thick and tightly woven, reducing the gaps between threads and making it harder for UV rays to penetrate the material. Their fibers inherently resist UV light or have received specialized treatments to offset this radiation.
Additionally, lighter and more vivid hues absorb less UV radiation than their darker and paler counterparts.
2. Install Window Coverings
Blinds, shades, shutters, curtains and drapes can block sunlight, but they also obscure the view. Alternatively, you can use window film or upgrade to energy-efficient windows. Windows with low-emissivity coatings prevent significant solar radiation from penetrating the glass, including UV light.
3. Adopt Smart Devices
Smart blinds and shades regulate sunlight penetration and temperature. AI-powered, programmable garage door openers automatically open doors on schedule and minimize sun damage during peak sunlight hours. Smart air purifiers filter out contaminants, including salt, to keep indoor air healthier.
4. Treat Wooden Features
Protective finishes make hardwood flooring, furniture and other wooden home design elements less susceptible to discoloration, delignification and salt weathering. Those in sunlit areas need extra attention, as they’re more prone to aging quickly.
5. Seal All Gaps
Airtight interiors are less vulnerable to the effects of salt air. You can seal all familiar sources of air leakage, like gaps around windows and doors, or hire a professional energy auditor to identify all leaks and teach you how to fix them permanently.
Prioritize ventilation and air purification. Airtight spaces trap pollutants inside, so ensure you have mechanisms to remove them without opening doors or windows.
Stop the Elements From Depreciating Your Rental Properties
No property manager wants rentals to lose value on their watch, so do everything you can to help your units withstand Florida’s elements. Start with these recommendations to prevent rental property depreciation due to intense UV light and corrosive salt air.
Evelyn Long is a writer that specializes in housing market trends. She is also the editor-in-chief of Renovated Magazine, where she writes essential resources for renters and homeowners. She has contributed to several other publications like the National Association of Realtors and Realty Executives.