Exterior Home Improvements for Florida Homes

Florida exteriors face sun, humidity, hurricanes and, near the coast, salt. On the Space Coast, three questions shape almost every project: how close you are to salt water, whether your address is inside a city or in unincorporated Brevard County, and whether an HOA has a say.

What matters most on the Space Coast

Salt air goes after metal. Wood, vinyl and composite don't corrode, but fasteners, flashing, hinges, railings and metal roof panels do. Barrier island homes, in Melbourne Beach, Indialantic, Indian Harbour Beach and Satellite Beach, take the most salt, and sheltered spots under eaves collect more because rain doesn't rinse them. Manufacturers' coastal definitions run from a few hundred feet to 10 miles, so each warranty decides what's covered at your address. See our salt-air corrosion guide.

Wind and code. Brevard isn't in the High-Velocity Hurricane Zone, but roofing products still need a Florida product approval covering your home's design pressures. The Florida Building Commission says the 2026 code, effective December 31, 2026, adds corrosion rules for fasteners within 3,000 ft of a saltwater coastline, so ask which edition applies to your permit.

City limits decide who permits the work. Brevard County issues permits only in unincorporated areas, including Viera, Suntree and Merritt Island. Melbourne, Palm Bay, West Melbourne and the beach towns run their own; a Melbourne mailing address doesn't settle which applies. Our Brevard permit guide lists each office.

Where to start

• Aging, leaking or storm-damaged roof? Start there, and repaint only after roof, window and stucco repairs. Read roof replacement cost in Brevard County and roof permits in Florida.
• Choosing a roof near the ocean or lagoon? Compare the best roofing materials for Florida and check metal warranties against your distance to salt water. Many Galvalume warranties exclude salt-exposed sites.
• Want privacy or a pool barrier? Pick a material in the best fence materials for Florida, check fence permits in Brevard County, then price it with privacy fence cost in Melbourne.
• Faded, chalky or mildewed paint? Look for cracks first, and repair stucco before you repaint. See exterior painting cost in Melbourne.
• Rust stains, bulging stucco or cracks that return? It may be a water or movement problem, not a paint job. Stucco repair cost in Brevard County explains when to call an engineer.
• Cracked driveway, or want it wider? Read concrete driveway cost in Melbourne. The apron usually crosses public right-of-way, which needs its own permit.

What drives the cost

Our Florida planning ranges, for budgeting rather than quotes:

We found no reliable Florida price data for stucco repair. Sealing typical hairline cracks is included in the painting ranges; water damage behind stucco costs far more.

Permits and approvals

• Roofs. A full reroof needs a permit and a state-licensed roofing contractor, unless you qualify as an owner-builder.
• Fences. Unincorporated Brevard requires a permit with a survey, except when repairing less than half the fence like for like. Melbourne requires a permit and limits front-yard setback fences to 4 ft and 50% opacity.
• The $7,500 exemption. Melbourne says Florida's new exemption doesn't affect its city ordinance permits, which include fences and driveways.
• Painting. We found no Melbourne or Brevard County permit rule for repainting, but structural repairs or new windows may need one.
• Notice of Commencement. A permitted job over $5,000 generally needs one recorded before the first inspection.
• HOAs. Colors, fences and roofs often need approval. Since July 1, 2026, an HOA can't require a building permit before reviewing your application, so apply to both at once. See HOA approval in Florida.

Before you hire

Ask each contractor to quote the same written scope: products and approval numbers, a per-sheet decking price on a roof, fastener and hardware materials near salt water, and prep steps and coats on a repaint. Compare them with why contractor quotes differ, and check licenses and insurance with hiring a contractor in Melbourne.

Schedule painting for the drier months, roughly late fall through spring. After a new roof passes final inspection, book a wind mitigation inspection and send the report to your agent.