During Hurricane Matthew the Fort Pulaski gauge at the mouth of the Savannah River reached 12.56 feet above mean lower low water on October 8, 2016, the highest it had recorded, according to the National Weather Service.
On the coast the reserve conversation starts with weather. Salt air shortens the life of metal railings, HVAC condensers, light fixtures and exterior paint. Flood-prone ground floors and elevator pits need a plan for pumps and equipment, and roofs carry wind exposure that inland buildings do not.
Insurance makes the roof line sharper still. Fannie Mae now accepts a master policy that does not insure roofs at replacement cost. If your carrier settles a roof claim on actual cash value, depreciation comes off the payment, and the shortfall has to come from reserves or owners.
Chatham County counted 295,291 residents in 2020. Its condos range from historic district conversions to Tybee Island beach buildings, and each brings its own list of components.
Components to watch here
- Roof and windCoverage terms and age drive what a storm claim pays.
- Salt exposureRailings, balconies, condensers and fasteners corrode years ahead of inland schedules.
- Ground-floor equipmentPumps, electrical rooms and elevator pits below flood level.
Cost and coverage
Fees here follow the statewide pattern: about $1,500 to $5,000 for a small community and $7,000 to $15,000+ for a mid-rise or high-rise condo, going by published price lists. That is a guide, not a quote; see the cost guide for what moves the figure.
We match communities across Chatham, Bryan, Effingham and Glynn counties, including Savannah, Tybee Island, Richmond Hill, Pooler and the Golden Isles.