Victoria Brocklesby, COO at Origin, considers the challenges of choosing the right window and door products for properties in coastal environments and offers her advice on what to look for when deciding
Any property located within 5km (3.2 miles) of the coast, estuary, or tidal river is defined as being located within a marine environment. Living on the coast is a dream for many. Between beautiful views, wonderful seaside walks, and amazing sunsets on your doorstep, there’s a lot to love.
However, it can also come with some disadvantages, especially in Britain. Coastal regions are some of the most volatile environments, with prolonged exposure to harsh weather conditions including storms, wind, and rain. On top of this, you have the everyday contact with salt, sea air and sand which can all cause havoc for doors and windows.
Choosing the right material
Over time, the harsh seaside weather could significantly damage your home’s doors and windows if you don’t choose the most suitable materials. Some materials are stronger than others, but in a coastal environment, choosing something that is reliable and weather-resistant is a must. If you don’t, they simply won’t last, and they will need replacing much earlier than planned. Not only is this a financial burden, but it’s an environmental problem too due to the wastage.
Traditionally, doors and windows are made from one of three materials, uPVC, timber, or aluminium. Aluminium is fast becoming the most popular option for its sleek styles and innate strength. It is also the leading material for extreme environments, including on the coast. It is a fantastic resource for many reasons, including that it shouldn’t be easily damaged by regular rain, wind, or storms, unlike its uPVC and wooden alternatives.
Alongside the weather, the air in coastal regions has a higher salinity than air inland. This means it contains traces of salt from the sea. Over time, this salt will begin to corrode materials. For untreated aluminium, this will cause pitting and leave a white chalky residue – this is aluminium oxide. To prevent this, you must ensure that your aluminium windows and doors are powder coated to a high-quality standard of at least 60 microns. This will protect the windows and doors from wear. If aluminium windows and doors are treated correctly and looked after, they can last for years.
Alongside longevity, another important consideration for coastal properties is making the most of the view. Aluminium is an inherently strong material, meaning it can hold larger panes of glass with slimmer frames than uPVC or timber, providing panoramic views so you can admire more of what is on your doorstep.
Hardware considerations
It isn’t just the frame material for your windows and doors that is important to consider carefully, but its hardware too. The hardware refers to handles and hinges. Whilst these aren’t the first thing you may think of when you picture a window or door looking out across the sea, they are an integral part of their operation. In coastal environments, there are two main options to choose from.
Option one is stainless steel. As an alloy of iron, stainless steel is resistant to rust and corrosion thanks to the chromium which makes up at least 11% of the alloy. This chromium forms a film on the metal to protect it. However, whilst stainless steel is technically rust and corrosion-resistant, there are 50 recognised grades of stainless steel, and some are more resistant than others. For this reason, most stainless steel products are not invincible when it comes to saltwater, but they do present a better option than chrome.
The second option is specially treated aluminium. Similar to the frames, handles and hinges can be treated with a special powder coating to help the metal withstand unforgiving saltwater and sea air. This is Origin’s recommended option as our testing shows that treated aluminium wears better than stainless steel over a prolonged period of time.
Window and door maintenance
Generally, aluminium windows and doors are low maintenance. However, in marine environments, all external elements of a home will require continual maintenance to ensure their longevity. Sticking by an enhanced cleaning schedule for window and door frames and fixtures and fittings in marine environments will significantly increase their lifespan and keep them looking newer for longer. Some manufacturers may even require you to keep a maintenance log as part of their marine warranty.
It is recommended that aluminium frames in corrosive environments are cleaned once a week at a minimum. To clean them, they should be washed down with warm water containing a mild detergent using a non-abrasive cloth. This will prevent a build-up of salt on the frames to minimise corrosion.
In conclusion
The reality of living in a marine environment is that whilst beautiful, it is volatile. Salt in the air and salt water is incredibly harsh on all materials. If you consider how it can dry out your skin during a week-long holiday, just think about what it can do to other materials over months and years. There are steps you can take to prolong the life of your doors and windows, such as choosing the best material and hardware and maintenance, but the reality is that without considered attention, the salt is likely to win eventually. However, with proper care, a high-quality set of aluminium doors and windows can still last.
The main things to ask a supplier to make an informed decision that is right for your property, are:
- Material choice – how is it treated to protect it in marine environments?
- Hardware choice – what coating is applied to protect it in marine environments?
- Warranty – what guarantee is given and is a maintenance log required?
- Maintenance – what cleaning is recommended and how often?