How Climate Change is Affecting Your Lake House

Photo courtesy of YouMatter

On the Lake Homes Realty Blog, we often cover how to handle inclement weather at your lake house. Whether it’s snowheat, or extreme weather in general, we understand how nature’s elements can impact lake property more than traditional real estate. But what about the slow, seemingly irreversible changes in overall global weather patterns? Yes, we’re talking about climate change.

These gradual changes in our earth’s environment may be harder to recognize, but they still impact your lake property. To understand more, we talked with Katie Severance, realtor and author of an upcoming book: “The Brilliant Home Buyer: Buying a Home in the New Economy.” Armed with her extensive real estate work and personal experience on Lake George, she shared her expertise on how climate change is affecting your lake house.

What is Climate Change?

Photo courtesy of NASA – Global Climate Change

It’s been more than 50 years since the Stanford Research Institute first spoke about climate change. In 2021, climate change continues to be a heavily discussed topic among environmentalists, businesses, politicians, and families at dinner tables. There’s a lot to understand about climate change, but in short, climate change is a detrimental phenomenon that refers to the significant changes in average weather conditions across the globe. 

A significant part of climate change is global warming, the increase in average global temperature due to excess carbon dioxide (CO2) in the atmosphere. These increased CO2 levels trap heat within the atmosphere, making the earth hotter. This process is also known as the “greenhouse effect.” Here in the U.S., the burning of fossil fuels for electricity and gas emissions for transportation are two huge contributors to the greenhouse effect.

What Does Climate Change Mean for Lakes?

Photo courtesy of Pinterest

Climate change operates like a domino effect. When global temperatures rise, it affects every component of the natural world. With bodies of water specifically, rising temperatures cause Antarctic ice caps to melt and ocean levels to rise. Besides water level, hotter air means more powerful hurricanes, more frequent droughts, and heavier rainfall. In freshwater systems specifically, this can mean increased flooding and sediment erosion, both of which can affect your shoreline. It also impacts lake stratification, which in turn, is detrimental to the homeostasis of aquatic life. 

Although the exact impact of climate change on your lake house will vary based on your region, the two biggest things to keep in mind for your lake property are wind and water. For water specifically, consider both water quality and water table. “You want to know how the water table and water quality have been impacted in the last five years,” Katie says. “One of the ways to learn this information is to get the lake association’s minutes from their meetings if they meet monthly.” She also adds that talking to a local insurance broker could be helpful since they know your specific insurance needs.

How Can I Protect My Lake Home?

Photo courtesy of Northern Lights Landscapes

As climate change continues to worsen, your lake home’s likelihood of avoiding floods becomes more precarious. Katie adds, “Now more than ever, when you go to buy a property, you need to get flood insurance.” By law, realtors need to disclose to buyers whether their home is in a flood zone. But just because your home isn’t in a flood zone doesn’t mean you should neglect insurance. 

Looking at FEMA maps, asking for an elevation certificate, and ensuring that your house is on the highest soil point can all help protect your home from flooding. “Water is lazy,” Katie says. “It goes to the place that’s easiest to run to.” As such, make sure your gutters slope away from your house. The basement is also important to consider. Katie recommends installing both a French drain and a sump pump to ensure that your basement won’t flood. 

As lake homeowners, we’re proclaimed lovers of nature. That said, it’s on us to do our part in protecting the planet from the continued effects of climate change. In addition to protecting your property, check out these resources to make more green decisions in your own life.

Weatherproof Your Decks and Docks for Longer Life

Building a deck or dock costs thousands of dollars, why not build it to last?

Though the process of weatherproofing can be costly and time consuming, it can save you in semi-frequent repairs and even reconstruction in the future.

Benefits of weatherproofing

Aside from perhaps an open flame, water is the most dangerous element your wooden structures can be exposed to.

By weatherproofing your deck or boat dock, you can ensure that building materials are protected from the elements as well as organic matter that can weaken the stability of your structure.

applying wood sealant

Rain water and other moisture can sink into the wood if not sealed properly, causing the material to rot away over time.

Additionally, moisture rich wood tends to mold, which is dangerous to both the integrity of the material and yours and your guests’ health.

Unsealed or non-weatherproof structures are also vulnerable to dry rot  caused by certain fungi. These organisms cause wood to become spongey in composition and therefore, unstable.

Weatherproofing also helps to maintained the aesthetic of your dock or backyard deck by preserving its color and polish.

Disadvantages of weatherproofing

The biggest drawback to weatherproofing your wooden structures is that the process is not a one-time investment.

Most experts recommend resealing decks and docks annually, which means homeowners are looking at a reoccurring maintenance cost.

According to Home Advisor,  higher-end structures can cost upwards of $1800 a year to maintain; however, the article also sites the average person spends around $831 sealing or weatherproofing a deck.

In areas where there is frequent rain or high humidity, homeowners may be looking at repeating this process multiple times a year.  This is especially true in areas such at the lake where structures are regularly subjected to large amounts of water.

Additionally, homeowners should note that clear sealants may need to be reapplied more often than colored ones.

Weatherproofing materials

When it comes to the materials recommended for weatherproofing your boat dock or deck, determine whether you want to use a waterproof stain or sealant, or if you want to bypass normal wood for a synthetic building material.

As previously stated, if buyers chose the first option, a sealant or stain of some kind, they run the risk of costly, annual reapplication. However, this is the more affordable option, especially for smaller or preexisting structures.

A single quart of sealant can cost anywhere from about $8 to more than $50, depending on the brand. For the higher-end material, an amount this size can cover about 240 square feet.

The average deck is approximately 300 to 400 square feet.

The second option would be to build your structure with a non-wood material, such as composite decking.

These boards are made of both plastic and wood fibers, mixed with a number of other additives such as pigments and UV inhibitors. This mixture is then heated to form a sturdy building material that is flame resistance, easier to maintain and fades less easily.

Low-end composite board costs about $4 per square foot, but can exceed $7 per square foot for higher end, more aesthetically pleasing material.

Though the start up cost can be expensive, this product’s longevity paired with reduced maintenance obligations make it an increasingly appealing alternative.

Preparing Your House for Extreme Weather

construction workers inspecting a home being built

Living in the South, there is one thing we have learned; you can never be too cautious about taking the steps needed to provide adequate protection for us and our homes when it comes to extreme weather.

In some parts of the South, houses can experience all sorts of extreme weather. From hurricanes, tornadoes, thunderstorms with straight line winds, to even the occasional snowstorm.

No matter where you live, you will always be faced with the possibility of having to deal with the types of elements that our ever-changing weather will give.

Building your home to accommodate for some of these aspects could be a lifesaving investment.

Wind Damage

At some point during the year we will be exposed to some type of wind. This can be particularly true with a home on the lake.

There will be wind during spring and fall thunderstorms, from the threat of tornadoes, as well as strong winds with the passage of fast moving cold fronts that will bring snow and rain.

Here are a few ideas to help construct your house to overcome the threat of strong winds.

  • Hurricane Straps: Hurricane straps are designed to help hold your roof to your wall during high winds. These straps can also be located at the bottom of your studs, helping hold your walls down to the bottom plates of your home. It is better for these straps to be installed while your building is under construction. If your building has been completed without these straps, get in touch with your local contractor to see if your building can be modernized with these straps.
  • Extra Attic Bracing: This can also be done while in the stages of construction. But, you can always retrofit and add to the existing bracing that you have now.
  • Window and Door Shutters: Operating shutters will provide you the extra protection against wind damage to your doors and windows.

Load and Limb Damage

The damage caused will depend on your location. If you live up North, or in areas that receive a lot of snowfall, you will need to take precautions to accommodate the extra weight from the long lasting effects of the snow.

If you live south, in some of the more wooded areas, you will need to protect yourself from falling limbs due to higher winds. Here are a few precautions to consider:

  • Extra Roof Bracing: No matter in which part of the country you live, it is always a good idea to add a little extra bracing. Taking this precaution will help you, especially in areas where you are exposed to a large amount of snowfall. The excessive amount of weight that is accumulated during these periods of snowfall will put a strain on your roof. Bracing will also help protect from any damage caused from falling objects, such as tree limbs and branches.
  • snow on roofType of Roof: The type of roof should also be considered when you are building or remodeling. A metal roof could help add extra weight bearing capacity needed for long lasting protection. In some areas, windy conditions will blow away parts of a shingle roof. This can cause leaks (that will cause more damage to your home). In some colder locations, these shingles become brittle and break during high wind conditions, causing the same potential for leaks.

Regardless of the type of construction projects you are involved with, be sure to get in touch with your local contractor to help with precautions you will need to take to prepare your home for extreme weather.