For many property owners, this is the first time living in an ocean-air environment and they do not realize that the salt air, sand and dry heat requires a disciplined maintenance regiment of your property vital to maintaining its value and curb appeal as the years pass. This short article will discuss four easy steps you can take to protect your home while eliminating any costly repairs and damage.
Sealing Windows and Doors
A common mistake we see as a construction company is that property owners fail to seal their doors and windows on an annual basis. In the States, we can seal our doors and windows every 3-5 years and not experience problems, but down here it must be done every year or they leak water. As you know, the soil is sandy and when the wind blows it’s much like a sand blaster slowly chipping away at your caulk and seal. Don’t be caught in the next rain storm with water streaming through your doors and windows. Have a professional seal your doors and windows once every year or receive water damage and mold problems in the future.
Sealing your Roof
The roof of your home is one of the most important aspects of the structure. It must have a proper pitch to divert the flow of rainwater and it must be sealed every year or it will leak causing drywall damage and mold. As a construction company we are happy when it rains because our phones light up the next day because property owners fail to seal their roofs properly. 90% of the roofs in Peñasco are made of concrete because wood doesn’t hold up well in this climate and termites are a problem. The problem with concrete however is it absorbs water and slowly erodes your roof from within compromising its integrity causing it to leak unless you take the steps necessary to protect it. First you must professionally seal your roof with a membrane roofing system designed for concrete and once installed it must be maintained once a year by coating it with a special waterproof sealant. Doing so will eliminate any leakage and add years to the life of your roof.
Maintaining Tile Floors
Ceramic tile is the material of choice for flooring here in Puerto Peñasco and it’s commonly used outdoors for terrazas and patios. Tile floors look great and are easy to keep clean but the tile grout needs special attention due to the climate. The sun, salt air and sand break down the tile grout and pieces of grout will chip away leaving gaps. Many condo patios are tiled and a common problem condo owners face is when the grout breaks away and it rains the water will seep into those gaps and leak below into a neighbor’s unit. A condo owner will be responsible for any water damage caused to a unit below. An annual inspection and repair of your tile grout is essential to maintaining your tile floor and eliminating any future problems.
Consider a Maintenance and Repair Program
A maintenance and repair program is a great way to keep up with property repairs while maintaining your property’s appeal especially if you do not occupy the residence year round. I recommend you consider a company that will visit your home every 30 days and conduct a routine inspection while making repairs to any issues discovered which are included with the program. Think of a maintenance program as an insurance policy against future repairs and renovations.
For more information about how you can maintain your home or any available maintenance programs here in town feel free to contact me at sales@rockypointhomebuilders.com or by phone at 815-553-2683.
About the author: Joseph Sanchez is president of Rocky Point Home Builders a design/build contractor specializing in custom home design, construction and renovations. He resides here in Puerto Peñasco with his wife and two children and is originally from Chicago.

PHOTO CAPTIONS
Workers apply a water proof sealant to a concrete roof after a properly installing a waterproof membrane.
All windows and doors should be sealed once a year to prevent water from entering during a storm.