A home 200 miles inland and a home on the South Carolina coast age differently. Salt air corrodes metal fasteners and HVAC components in years, not decades. Humidity turns a small roof gap into mold within a season. Hurricane season is a planning exercise, not an afterthought.
This checklist covers what coastal SC homeowners in Myrtle Beach, Charleston, Pawleys Island, Hilton Head, and surrounding areas need to do — and when.
Spring (March – May): Post-Winter Inspection Season
Spring is your reset. Before summer heat and hurricane season arrive, inspect everything that took a hit over the cooler months.
Exterior
- Pressure wash exterior surfaces. Winter mold, algae, and salt deposits accumulate on siding, driveways, and walkways. Soft-wash siding, hard-pressure driveways and concrete. Do this before repainting or caulking — you're cleaning the surface you'll be working on.
- Inspect roof and gutters. Look for lifted shingles, cracked caulk around flashing, and debris-blocked gutters. Gutters should be clear before spring rains peak. In coastal areas, check metal fasteners for rust — salt air accelerates corrosion.
- Check caulk around windows and doors. Caulk contracts in winter and can crack or separate. Re-caulk gaps before summer humidity drives moisture inside.
- Inspect deck and fence hardware. Salt air corrodes galvanized screws, hinges, and deck hardware. Check for loose boards, rusty fasteners, and wood rot at post bases — ground contact is where rot starts on coastal properties.
Interior / Systems
- HVAC service call. Coastal HVAC units work harder and corrode faster than inland units. Spring service (filter replacement, coil cleaning, refrigerant check) before peak AC season is worth the $100–$150 it costs.
- Test smoke and CO detectors. Replace batteries. Carbon monoxide detectors near gas appliances.
- Check attic and crawl space. Inspect for moisture intrusion, pest evidence, and insulation condition. High coastal humidity means these spaces need regular monitoring.
Summer (June – August): Hurricane Prep + Maintenance
The Atlantic hurricane season peaks June–November. Most of the preparation work should be done before July 4 — not the day before a storm is forecast.
Hurricane Preparedness
- Inspect and test storm shutters. If you have accordion or panel shutters, deploy and retract them before storm season to confirm they work. A stuck shutter during storm prep is a bad situation.
- Inventory and store emergency supplies. 72-hour kit: water (1 gallon/person/day), food, medications, flashlights, radio, documents in waterproof bag. Review annually.
- Trim trees and large shrubs. Branches within 10 feet of the house are the most common source of storm damage. Trim proactively — not when a storm is 48 hours out and every tree service in the county is booked.
- Know your evacuation zone. Horry County (Myrtle Beach) and Charleston County publish zone maps. Know your zone and your route before you need them.
- Document your belongings. Walk through every room with your phone camera for a video inventory. Store it in cloud storage, not only on your phone. Needed for insurance claims.
Ongoing Summer Maintenance
- Check exterior paint and caulk. Summer heat and UV exposure accelerate paint degradation. Touch up peeling areas before moisture gets in.
- Inspect irrigation system. Look for broken heads and coverage gaps. Adjust schedules for seasonal heat — deep watering 2–3x per week beats daily shallow watering for coastal sandy soils.
- Clean outdoor shower and rinse station. Coastal homes with outdoor showers accumulate mineral deposits and mold. Clean monthly in summer.
Fall (September – November): Post-Season Recovery
After hurricane season winds down, assess any damage and prep for the milder SC winter.
- Post-storm inspection. After any significant storm, walk the perimeter and roof (or hire someone for the roof). Look for missing or lifted shingles, cracked siding panels, water intrusion around windows and doors. File insurance claims promptly — delays complicate the process.
- Gutter cleaning. Fall leaves and pine needles clog gutters quickly. Clear them in November before winter rains. Clogged gutters cause fascia rot and foundation water issues over time.
- HVAC filter change. Change filters before you switch to heating mode. Coastal dust and salt particles clog filters faster than inland homes.
- Winterize irrigation. Coastal SC rarely gets hard freezes, but it happens. Know where your irrigation shutoff is and protect exposed backflow preventers if temps drop below 28°F.
- Inspect siding and paint. Fall is the best time for exterior painting in coastal SC — lower humidity and moderate temps. Address peeling or damaged areas before they worsen over winter.
Winter (December – February): Low Season, High Vigilance
Coastal SC winters are mild, but not maintenance-free.
- Check for moisture intrusion monthly. Walk the attic and crawl space in wet months. A small roof leak that starts in December becomes significant mold by March if ignored.
- Inspect window seals. Condensation between double-pane window panes means the seal is broken — the insulating gas is gone and the glass will fog permanently. A broken seal is cosmetic but degrades insulation value; replacement is worth planning.
- Salt air maintenance. If you have metal railings, light fixtures, or door hardware within sight of the ocean, inspect for rust and corrosion. Marine-grade stainless steel or painted aluminum holds up longer than standard hardware in salt environments.
- Pest inspection. Termites are year-round in coastal SC — not a summer-only concern. Schedule an annual inspection if you don't have a termite bond. Subterranean termites in the Lowcountry cause serious structural damage that's expensive to remediate.
The Salt Air Problem: What It Actually Corrodes
| Component | Salt Air Risk | Maintenance Action |
|---|---|---|
| HVAC condenser coils | Corrosion reduces efficiency | Annual professional cleaning + coil coating |
| Exterior metal fasteners | Rust, structural loosening | Inspect annually, replace with 316 SS if possible |
| Door and window hardware | Rust, sticking, failure | Clean and lubricate quarterly |
| Exterior electrical outlets | Corrosion, GFCI failure | Inspect covers, test GFCI monthly |
| Roof flashing | Faster oxidation than inland | Inspect annually, re-seal as needed |
| Wood decks and fencing | Accelerated paint/stain breakdown | Re-stain every 2–3 years vs. 5 inland |
When to Call a Pro
Some of this checklist you can do yourself. The parts worth hiring out: exterior pressure washing and soft washing in Charleston (wrong technique on the wrong surface causes damage), roof inspection (fall risk + you need to know what you're looking for), HVAC service, and any structural or electrical work.
ProPulse lists verified handymen in Myrtle Beach and handymen in Charleston for the seasonal maintenance tasks that require a professional.