Living by the sea, gazing at the blue of the Aegean or Ionian, is the dream of most Greeks. But what is idyllic for us is a daily nightmare for the building materials of our home-and especially for our windows and doors.
Have you ever noticed coastal homes with "bubbles" on their window frames, the paint peeling off, or white spots resembling spider webs appearing under the coating? That is the mark of salt corrosion. If you are building or renovating a home near the coast, choosing the right aluminium window requires special specifications to avoid throwing your money away.
Let us see how to permanently shield your investment.
Aluminium itself does not rust like iron. However, in environments with high chloride concentrations (i.e. salt from the sea) and high humidity, it suffers a phenomenon called filiform corrosion.
The air carries tiny salt crystals that settle on the window frame. The salt finds its way through microscopic pores or imperceptible scratches in the paint and begins to "eat" the metal beneath the colour. The result is that the paint blisters and eventually cracks, completely destroying both the aesthetics and the protection of the window.
Do not be fooled into thinking only homes "washed by the waves" are at risk. Due to the strong winds in Greece, the sea breeze can carry salt up to 1–2 kilometres inland.
In a flat in central Athens, standard powder coating is more than adequate. However, in a house on Mykonos or Chalkidiki, standard paint is doomed to fail. Before the aluminium is coated, it undergoes a chemical pre-treatment. In basic windows, this pre-treatment is not aggressive enough to remove all contaminants and seal the metal against sea chlorides.
To sleep soundly, the aluminium industry has developed specialised protection methods. When requesting quotes for a coastal property, you must demand the following:
This is a strict specification (based on the European Qualicoat standard). When a profile has Seaside Class treatment, it means that before entering the oven for powder coating, it has undergone an "enhanced" chemical pre-treatment (removal of at least 2 gr/m² of material from its surface). This ensures that the paint adheres superbly to the clean metal, drastically reducing the chances of corrosion.
If you want the ultimate, "bulletproof" protection against salt, the answer is Pre-anodising. Here we combine the best of both worlds: the aluminium profile is first anodised (an electrochemically hard oxide layer is created to shield the metal). Then, on top of this already impenetrable surface, powder coating is applied in your colour of choice. It is like wearing double armour on your window. Even if the outer paint is deeply scratched, the salt will stop at the anodised layer!
If you prefer a metallic, minimal aesthetic (shades of silver, grey, Inox, bronze), you can choose directly anodised windows. Anodising never peels. However, for coastal use, a large anodising thickness is required-at least 20 micrometres (Class 20 or 25 per the Qualanod standard).
Even the best pre-anodised window needs a little help from you:
The secret is not to let salt "sit". Rinse the exterior profiles frequently with plenty of fresh water (not a pressure washer-just a simple hose or sponge).
Never use bleach, wire wool or caustic liquids. A soft cloth with a little neutral washing-up liquid is all you need.
Salt does not only attack the aluminium but also the hinges and locks. Lubricate the moving parts (hardware) with specialist sprays (e.g. silicone or PTFE) once or twice a year.
Buying a simple, cheaply painted aluminium window for your seaside holiday home is a false economy. In fewer than 5 years, corrosion will make its appearance.
💡 Key Takeaway: Demand from your manufacturer a certified Seaside Class coating or Pre-anodising and make sure your sea view stays as beautiful as the windows themselves!
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