The Northern Beaches region of Greater Sydney is a coastal paradise that we’re lucky to call home. With beautiful beaches and clear, turquoise water, it’s the ultimate lifestyle for many Australians. However coastal living comes with a different set of checklists for maintenance to preserve the beauty and functionality of all of the creature comforts of your home.
From tending to low-maintenance gardens to streamlining your home cleaning, Northern Beaches residents can maintain their property in top condition for many years without costly and annoying repair issues if they look after it with enough care and attention.
Here are some of the most important tips to remember for our lovely community of Northern Beaches homeowners to keep their properties looking and feeling pristine.
Keep dust & pollen at bay
As we enter prime spring cleaning season, it’s important to flush out all the little and large elements that collect in your home. Once you’ve got rid of all the clutter, outgrown clothes and unused items accumulated throughout the year, turn your attention to the property itself. Moving items will throw dust around and have you sneezing more than usual, meanwhile, open windows and balcony doors will invite pollen and other small particles or even flying insects inside.
It’s important to maintain a good airflow to flush out the staleness of winter, but you should also vacuum regularly to remove what settles. Cordless vacuum cleaners are great for larger spaces since they allow you to avoid the irritation of getting tangled up or having to constantly replug your appliance in throughout the home, and they can also help you get into awkward places, such as underneath desks and areas like attics without plug sockets.
Embrace the coastal landscape
One of the best parts about living in the Northern Beaches area is its breathtaking and distinctly Australian flora. This stunning natural beauty makes the entire region instantly iconic, so you want to recreate this in your outdoor decking, terrace and garden areas too.
For low-effort outdoor maintenance, stick with mostly native plants that are not only going to flourish, but are resistant to local pests, can withstand harsh weather conditions in summer and winter, and even survive long periods without watering. You’ll support local biodiversity while creating a vibrant garden that only requires occasional trimming and pruning.
Pro tip: Consider mulching around your plants. This helps to lock in moisture in the soil naturally, which will also reduce your need to water your garden.
Stay vigilant for pests
Many of the classic homes on the Northern Beaches adopt a Hamptons style or distinctly Australian architecture that really complements coastal living. Locals love their timber homes. But you know who else loves timber? Termites. These insidious creatures bury themselves in your walls, floors and even the foundations of your home without you even knowing, until the damage is so great it affects the structural integrity of your timber frames.
Since termites impact 1 in 5 homes in Australia and termite-related damage is not covered in most home insurance policies, it isn’t something you want to leave to chance. Ensure you have a pre-emptive pest inspection booked annually to keep these hungry critters at bay, and protect your valuable Northern Beaches asset.
Roof maintenance
Your roof has to stand up not only to the heat of summer but also to Sydney storms, hail and the salty air that comes as part and parcel of living on the coast. So you need to step up your roof maintenance on the Northern Beaches, compared to living in other areas of Sydney.
Regularly check for blocked gutters, loose or damaged tiles, rust if you have a metal roof and any other signs of degradation. Get on top of them quickly to prevent these minor aesthetic issues from becoming a considerable, expensive and even emergency problem. You should also apply a protective coating to your Northern Beaches property exterior, to help further shield it from the harsh elements.
Energy efficiency
Nobody likes bill shock. The cost of electricity in Australia rarely goes down, so this is a golden opportunity to audit your electricity use and develop efficiencies. If you are building or renovating on the Northern Beaches, ensure you have quality insulation to help reduce your heating and cooling expenses. You should also use energy-efficient doors and windows that minimise heat transfer and help keep your home comfortable all year round.
Ensure you are choosing energy-efficient appliance models, because these account for a moderate proportion of your overall electricity consumption. This way you will not only be helping reduce your household expenses, but also your carbon footprint.
Manage moisture & mould
Mould is serious business. When it sets in, it can be almost impossible to remove. It damages your home while having a major impact on your health. In fact, 8% of Australian childhood asthma cases are attributed to damp and mouldy living conditions, which unfortunately thrive in the Northern Beaches due to the high humidity levels.
Ventilation is critical and your internal systems need to be regularly cleaned and inspected so your property won’t become a breeding ground for mould and subsequent health risks. Installing exhaust fans in the kitchen and bathroom will also help, and they will need to be properly cleaned and maintained as well as any heat pump or air conditioning devices.
Regularly inspect your property for leaks or water damage, especially after heavy rains, and address any issues immediately.
Regular plumbing checks
The salty air on the Northern Beaches of Sydney can be a major issue for your plumbing without regular maintenance. Because this salty air can accelerate pipe corrosion, coastal plumbing systems are far more susceptible to damage.
You can do surface-level inspections, but it is heavily advised to bring in the experts for this one. Book a plumber in your calendar once a year in winter to check for any existing damage from the preceding summer, and you will be able to repair small problems before they become big ones.
Deck & patio care
Outdoor living is one of the best parts about living on the Northern Beaches, so keeping your decks and patios looking their best is essential, not only for aesthetics, but for safety as well. They will need to be regularly cleaned and sealed every couple of years to protect the wood from the elements and the onset of rot. If you have stone or tile patios then regularly check them for cracks or other damage to avoid them becoming a greater problem down the track.
Fences are equal targets for the salty air, so Colorbond or sealed options are recommended to shield against rust and other damage. For an existing fence, a lick of weather-resistant paint or sealant will help extend its lifespan and keep it looking great all year round.
Property maintenance tips: tackle it seasonally
On the surface, the list above may seem like a lot of hard yakka. But it becomes very manageable if you break your property maintenance down by seasons.
For example, spring can be the time of year to hoover up the dust and pollen, and bring in the pest inspectors to check for termites. Summer is the best time to check your roof ahead of storm season and a golden chance to inspect all of your other outdoor areas. Autumn time is the best season for checking gutters and heating systems ahead of winter, while the colder months are when you can bring in the plumbers and turn your attention to the interior of your home.
By adopting this tailored approach to maintaining your home on the Northern Beaches and factoring in environmental considerations, you can be proactive and avoid major repair bills down the road. But it is vital to get this important maintenance done, because the dream lifestyle can quickly turn into a nightmare if left unchecked.