Couldn’t agree more about the prep. I learned the hard way—first year in this house, I figured “marine grade” meant I could skip the fiddly bits. Nope. Six months in, hinges looked like they’d been dredged up from a shipwreck. Lesson learned.
Here’s how I handle it now, just in case it helps anyone: First, I take the time to pull all the old caulk and clean every joint. If there’s even a hint of old sealant or gunk, it’s coming out. I use a plastic scraper and a little acetone (carefully—don’t get it on the paint). Next, I tape off the edges so the new bead is neat. I always go for a high-quality polyurethane caulk, not silicone—silicone doesn’t stick as well to painted wood or some metals, at least in my experience.
After that, I let it cure for a couple days before exposing anything to salt air. If you’re swapping out hardware, I’d recommend stainless steel, but even then, I hit the screws and hinges with a little lanolin spray after install. It’s messy, but it keeps the rust away way longer. And yeah, I still check everything every six months or so—just part of living near the ocean, I guess.
Funny thing is, sometimes the expensive stuff fails just as fast as the budget gear if you skip these steps. My neighbor dropped a fortune on “coastal” windows and still had leaks because the installer rushed the job. It’s not glamorous work, but it beats replacing rotten sills or scraping off rust every season.
Anyone else tried those composite window frames? I’ve heard they’re less prone to swelling and cracking, but haven’t made the leap myself yet.
I get where you’re coming from about polyurethane caulk, but honestly, I’ve had better luck with silicone around my windows.
Maybe it’s the brand, but mine’s held up for three years now—no leaks yet. I do agree on the stainless hardware, though. Even then, I still get those weird orange stains sometimes... salt air finds a way.“silicone doesn’t stick as well to painted wood or some metals, at least in my experience.”
- I hear you on the silicone. Honestly, I’ve seen it last a good while if the prep is solid—especially if you get all the old paint and dust off first. Some brands just seem to bond better, too. I’m guessing you lucked out with a good batch or maybe just nailed the surface prep.
- Polyurethane’s my go-to for painted wood, but it’s a pain to clean up and can yellow over time. Silicone’s easier on the hands, though... and doesn’t stink up the whole place.
- Stainless hardware—man, even the so-called “marine grade” stuff isn’t immune. I’ve swapped out plenty of rusty screws that were supposed to be 316. Salt air is relentless. Sometimes those orange stains are just surface iron deposits from wind-blown dust, not actual rusting of the hardware itself.
- If you’re getting three years without leaks, you’re doing something right. Around here, I always tell folks: check those seals after any big storm, just in case.
- Anyone else notice aluminum windows seem to hold up better near the coast than vinyl? Vinyl warps on me every time after a few seasons of sun and salt...
Yeah, I’ve noticed the same thing with vinyl—mine started to bow and get chalky after just a few summers. Aluminum frames seem tougher, but I do get some corrosion around the screws. Honestly, I’m starting to wonder if fiberglass might be worth the higher price. It’s supposed to handle expansion and salty air better, right? Still, nothing beats checking seals after a storm... learned that one the hard way.
Honestly, I’m starting to wonder if fiberglass might be worth the higher price. It’s supposed to handle expansion and salty air better, right?
Funny you mention fiberglass—I've put in a few of those lately and folks seem pretty happy with how they’re holding up near the coast. They don’t get that chalky look like vinyl, and you don’t see as much corrosion as with aluminum. But yeah, sticker shock is real... they’re not cheap.
That said, have you checked out composite frames at all? Sometimes they fly under the radar but can take a beating from salt air too. I’ve seen them outlast both vinyl and aluminum in some spots. Only downside is, if you care about color matching or want something custom, options can be a bit limited.
And checking seals after storms—I feel that. Lost count how many soggy window sills I’ve found after a nor’easter rolled through. Do you notice any drafts or leaks after those big storms, or is it mostly just cosmetic stuff like chalking and bowing? Always curious where the real headaches start for folks living by the water...
I swapped out my old aluminum windows for fiberglass a couple years ago—right after a brutal winter left me with puddles on the sills. The fiberglass has been solid, but honestly, I still get a bit of draft when the wind’s really howling. Nothing like before, though. Has anyone else noticed that composite frames can feel a little “plasticky” compared to fiberglass? I was tempted by the lower price but wasn’t sure about the long-term feel.
I hear you on the draft—fiberglass is a big step up from old aluminum, but it’s not magic. I swapped to fiberglass after years of salty air eating away at my metal frames, and they’ve held up better than I expected. About composites: I checked them out, but honestly, the feel just didn’t sit right with me either. They seemed a bit flimsy, almost like a heavy-duty plastic toy. Fiberglass isn’t perfect, but it feels sturdier in my hands. The draft’s still there when the wind’s wild, but at least I’m not mopping up puddles every winter. Sometimes I wonder if it’s just the way these newer frames seal compared to the old heavy stuff...
Totally get what you mean about fiberglass feeling just a bit more solid than the composite stuff. I went through the same decision process—composite looked good on paper, but in person, it just didn’t inspire much confidence. Fiberglass isn’t perfect, but at least I’m not fighting off rust every year. Drafts are annoying, though... I swear, no matter what frame you pick, if the wind wants in, it finds a way. Maybe it’s just a trade-off for living near the ocean—salt air keeps us on our toes.
- Fiberglass definitely holds up better than the old aluminum frames I had—those things corroded like crazy after just a few winters.
- Drafts are still an issue for me too, even with new seals. I wonder if it’s more about how the window’s installed rather than the material?
- Composite looked nice but felt a bit flimsy in person, totally agree there.
- Have you tried those foam weatherstrips? Not perfect, but they help a bit with the wind sneaking in.
- Salt air is relentless... sometimes I think it’s just part of coastal life.
Drafts are still an issue for me too, even with new seals. I wonder if it’s more about how the window’s installed rather than the material?
Honestly, installation makes a huge difference. Even the fanciest fiberglass or vinyl won’t save you if the frame isn’t squared up or they skimped on the flashing. I learned that the hard way—replaced my old aluminum sliders with fiberglass, but the installer didn’t insulate the gaps properly. Still felt like a wind tunnel. Ended up pulling the trim and stuffing in low-expansion foam myself, then sealing with caulk. Not glamorous, but it actually helped.
And yeah, salt air... I swear it finds every weakness. I wipe down the frames with fresh water every few weeks, which seems to slow the corrosion a bit. Not perfect, but better than nothing.