Aluminium Glazing in a Coastal Environment » Sieger Architektur Systems

TECHNICAL ADVICE

Aluminum Glazing in a Coastal Environment

Aluminium framed glazing has many advantages, it is more lightweight than steel, requires less maintenance than timer and has a higher resistance to rust and corrosion.

These advantages can benefit homes in any location but are particularly beneficial to properties in coastal environments.

Buildings within 5 miles of a body of water are classified as being in a marine environment, this includes coastal environments, and therefore all external building materials used need careful consideration.

If a property is classed as being within a marine environment, the glazing used requires specialised coatings and maintenance, to ensure it has a long a dutiful lifespan.

Extra care must be taken as they will be subjected to higher levels of alkaline, moisture and chemicals in the air, which causes damage to some materials.

corner opening minimally framed sliding glass doors leading to a terrace by the harbor

Aluminium Framing

Aluminium has proved to be durable in all environments, and the lack of maintenance it requires makes it ideal for highly exposed areas such as these.

Certain steps must be taken to ensure that the aluminium frames on the glazing are protected and maintain their low maintenance quality.

Marine grade polyester powder coatings are defined as coatings which are between 60 and 80 microns thick as this ensures there is an adequate coating to provide protection from damage or corrosion.

All Sieger PPC finishes meet this requirement as standard, however at Sieger we take extra steps for our framing when it is being used in marine environments.

We recommend pre-anodising the frame and then applying our marine grade PPC. This creates aluminium framing which has excellent durability when faced with harsh environments.

tall ultra slim sliding doors on a luxury coastal home providing an uninterrupted sea view

slim framed sliding glass doors with a beautiful sea view

Glass Specification

External glass panes used in any marine environment, including coastal areas, should also be considered carefully as these are exposed to the same conditions as the aluminium framing.

Specifying a low maintenance coating is one way to protect glass from the salt deposits and chemicals in the sea air. This type of coating involves a layer on the external side of the external pane, which fills in microscopic divots on the glass surface.

By creating an extremely smooth surface on the glass makes it difficult for any deposits from the air to settle.

Another glazing option we recommend specifying for glazing in marine environments is solar control coating. Many properties in marine environments are south facing which means the internal living spaces can become overheated when large glazing elevations are installed.

Solar control coatings are applied to the internal face of the external pane in a double or triple glazed unit and work by reflecting the sun’s infrared rays away whilst keeping heat energy in.

This prevents the property from overheating while preventing heat loss, helping to maintain a comfortable temperature all year round and reducing energy costs.

It is also important to keep in mind the higher levels of rain and wind that exposed properties in these areas might be required to withstand. Please read our article about weather testing to understand these classes in more depth.

For more information contact our technical team who will be able to answer any questions and discuss your project in more detail.

To talk to the team, call 01494 722 882 or email [email protected].

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