A patio on the water is one of the best jobs we get to build. It is also where the wrong materials fail first. Salt carried on the breeze settles on every surface, and in the parts the rain never washes, it sits and works on the steel. Choosing the right product for the distance from the water is what keeps a coastal patio looking new.
Where it matters in our area
- The Redlands bayside: Cleveland, Raby Bay, Ormiston, Wellington Point, Victoria Point and Redland Bay.
- Brisbane’s bayside suburbs such as Wynnum and Manly.
- Canal and river homes on the northern Gold Coast, around Hope Island, Coomera and the Broadwater.
A few streets back from the water, the standard range is usually fine. Right on the water, or facing the bay breeze, it pays to step up.
Standard Colorbond, Ultra and stainless
Genuine COLORBOND® steel comes in more than one grade. Standard Colorbond suits most suburban sites. Colorbond Ultra has a heavier coating system made for severe coastal and industrial sites, and Colorbond Stainless is for the harshest spots. BlueScope publishes which product suits which site, based on the distance from breaking surf or calm salt water and the local conditions. We check your address against that guide rather than guess.
The unwashed areas
Rain cleans the top of a roof. It does not reach the underside of the gutters, the tops of beams under the roof, the inside of a flyover gap or the bottom of the posts under a deck. Salt builds up there, holds moisture and starts corrosion. On a coastal patio those sheltered spots, not the roof, are where trouble starts.
Fixings and flashings
- Screws and bolts are chosen for the site. Near the water that means fasteners rated for marine conditions, often stainless.
- Different metals touching each other, such as copper or lead with steel, cause rapid corrosion. We keep them apart.
- Cut ends and swarf (the steel filings from cutting and drilling) are cleaned off on the day, because they rust and stain the sheets.
Louvres and aluminium
Aluminium does not rust, which is one reason louvred roofs suit waterfront homes. The louvre systems we install are made from Australian aluminium and stainless steel. Salt still dulls the finish and gets into the moving parts, so the same rinse routine applies.
Insulated panels by the water
Insulated panels have steel on both faces. The top face is washed by the rain; the ceiling face is sheltered. On a waterfront patio we pick the panel and its coating for the site, and the rinse routine includes the ceiling and the panel edges.
The rinse routine
- Hose down the sheltered parts with fresh water every few months, more often right on the water: gutter undersides, beams, post bases and the ceiling.
- Use a soft brush and mild detergent if there is build-up. No harsh cleaners or pressure washers on the paint.
- Keep soil, mulch and pot plants away from the post bases.
- Clean the gutters so they drain, because standing water and leaves hold salt against the steel.
BlueScope’s warranties depend on the right product being used for the site and the steel being looked after. Ask us and we will explain what applies to your build.
Wind on the water
Waterfront lots are exposed. Wind comes across the water with nothing to slow it, so the wind rating at a canal or bayside address is often higher than a few streets back. The engineering for every patio we build uses the rating for your site, with footings and tie-downs to suit.
Council rules near the water
Redland City Council keeps buildings and structures 9 m back from a canal wall, revetment wall or artificial lake, and the City of Gold Coast restricts building near revetment walls on canal lots. Footings near the water need care. We check those rules before we design.
Choosing colours by the water
Colour does not change how well the steel resists salt, but it does change how it looks over time. Lighter colours show less fading and stay cooler in the sun; very dark colours show salt marks sooner between rinses. Surfmist, Shale Grey and similar light colours are popular on waterfront patios for that reason. We bring colour samples to the quote so you can see them against the house in daylight.