It may be the house of your dreams with its beautiful views and peaceful, sought-after location, but when it comes to its windows, doors, and general exterior, a coastal property has a few extra challenges to contend with. Fierce winds, salty sea spray, and moisture-laden air can all take a heavy toll on homes near the seafront. Therefore, long-lasting windows, doors and superior glazing are vital to ensure your beautiful coastal property stands up to the harsh climate it resides in. So, if you live on the East Sussex coastline and you are thinking about home improvements, there is no need to research which windows and doors are best for your coastal home, as we have done the legwork for you.
Which windows are best for seaside homes?
We are well versed in the benefits of using timber for windows, doors, and other bespoke joinery within a home. Apart from its versatility, timber is also a sustainable material when it is sourced properly. For inland properties, we tend to use kiln-dried redwood to make our windows. This is a softwood that is not only easy to work with, but is also durable and long-lasting. We use redwood that has been kiln dried because the process lessens the moisture content to make sure the wood does not warp. Kiln drying is faster than letting the wood dry out naturally and, therefore, the level of moisture can be controlled.
For coastal properties, we typically advise owners to choose a hardwood variety for their windows and doors rather than the softwood options generally used on inland properties. As a rule, hardwoods tend to be denser than softwoods, making them sturdier and more weather resistant. However, this is a general classification and cannot be relied on completely.
Saltwater can make light work of corroding paint from the windows and doors if they are not shielded effectively. At Parsons, our professional joiners coat all timber windows and doors with Teknos End Grain Sealer prior to painting, providing them with the ability to lock in moisture and preventing them from drying out. This is then followed by two layers of Teknos Water-Based primer, as well as two coats of Teknos Water-Based Topcoat.
For coastal properties, we would typically apply additional coats of paint to windows and doors when crafting them in our East Sussex workshop to help protect them from the harsh elements they will endure. Having hardwood external joinery will provide extra protection and strength when the paint eventually wears away and the hardwood is exposed. Hardwood is much more able to withstand the elements than softwood because it is slower growing and, therefore, boasts a tighter grain for more extra stability and strength.
Our confidence in our workmanship and in the end products we craft is reflectedin the 30-year guarantee that comes with every timber product we provide.
That said, although we recommend a hardwood variety for coastal properties, we can use any type of timber for windows and doors. Every element of your new windows and doors will be made by hand, by our professional joiners. So, if you have a preferred timber type in mind, just let us know and we will use it.
Which type of glazing is best for beachfront properties?
No matter the style of your home, our timber sash windows will enhance its natural elegance. We work with a complete variety of property types in East Sussex, from new builds to listed properties and conservation areas.
Glazing is an important consideration for coastal properties to ensure the strong, cold winds that can visit in winter do not affect your comfort. Plus, if your property lies within the heart of a bustling seaside tourist hotspot, you will want to keep traffic and street noise to a minimum too, not to mention those noisy sea gulls!
Double glazed sash windows in Hastings and East Sussex
Many customers are not aware that we can retrofit double glazing into your existing box frames, or we can make completely new frames if your existing ones are beyond repair.
Listed properties and conservation areas are not a problem for us either. We are approved installers of a new vacuum-insulated glass technology called Fineo that not only boasts an ultra slim profile that can easily be retrofitted into all timber windows and doors (so the original historical frames are maintained), but will also save you embarking on a lengthy planning application process. This is because no planning approval is needed.
Check out this recent Fineo glass project we undertook in Hastings, East Sussex:
The client of this beautiful four bed, terraced property in the heart of Hastings Old Town wanted new sashes for all the windows in the property that were exact replicas of the original sashes. Plus, the client wanted to glaze the windows with Fineo vacuum insulated glass.
Our workshop in East Sussex created new wooden sashes made to the same design as the originals but glazed them with 7.7mm thick Fineo glass. This popular insulated glass is suitable for anyone wanting a premium, energy efficient glazing option. Despite being so thin, the glass boasts thermal efficiency that is superior to that of triple glazing. It is an excellent choice for owners of period properties that have historically struggled to find an energy efficient alternative to single glass panes that a planning officer is happy to approve. Vacuum insulated glazing is not only super-efficient at keeping the heat in and the cold out, but it is a smart choice for keeping noise pollution under control too.
Overall, our premium specification timber windows are the perfect way for customers to enjoy the seaside landscape that surrounds their coastal property whilst enjoying the superior thermal and noise-reducing benefits they can offer.
If you are looking to improve the energy performance, longevity, and durability of your beach-front home, handcrafted hardwood windows and doors glazed with Fineo glass are the right choice for you. Contact us at your leisure and we will be happy to chat with you further and supply a quote.
