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Salt air is one of the toughest tests an outdoor light can face. In coastal conditions, it's usually corrosion, not rain, that ends a fitting's life early, and a light can look fine on the outside while it fails within. You don't have to live right on the beach for this to matter: salt air affects homes throughout coastal areas. Choosing the right fittings from the start, and looking after them, saves you replacing lights every year.
SHOP COASTAL-FRIENDLY FITTINGS
Why an IP rating isn't enough
An IP rating tells you how well a fitting keeps out water and dust. It says nothing about how well it stands up to salt air. In coastal conditions, you need both the right rating and a coastal-friendly fitting.
READ OUR IP RATINGS ADVICE
Choose coastal friendly for coastal conditions
Our coastal-friendly fittings are made from materials that resist salt air better than standard fittings, so they're less likely to rust or oxidise, and they keep looking good for longer. If you live anywhere in a coastal area, they're the right choice for the outside of your home.
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Coastal Friendly
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Don't forget the screws and brackets
Screws and brackets are often where corrosion starts. When we say a fitting is coastal friendly, we mean the fitting itself. The screws, bolts and brackets used to mount it may not be, and they can still rust or corrode.
- Mixed metals: Be wary of mixing metals. Different metals touching each other can corrode where they meet, especially in salt air.
- Mounting screws: The screws that fix the fitting to the wall can rust or corrode too, so choose them as carefully as the fitting itself.
- Protect them: A little petroleum jelly, such as Vaseline, or oil over the screws goes a long way towards giving them a long life. It also stops them seizing up, so when it's time to change a globe, the screws come out easily without stripping.
- Stainless steel fittings: A wipe with baby oil helps keep them looking good for longer.
How to find them at Zebbies
- Online: Look out for our Coastal-Friendly symbol when you shop.
- In store: Our coastal-friendly fittings carry the same symbol. Ask our sales consultants to point you to them, and they'll help you choose the right one.
Look after your coastal-friendly fittings
Coastal friendly doesn't mean maintenance-free. These fittings cope with salt air far better than standard fittings, but they still need regular care to last.
- Rinse them: Switch the lights off first, then give them a gentle rinse with fresh water every one to three months, and more often in direct sea spray or after storms. Never use a pressure washer, as it can force water past the seals. Wipe away any salt build-up with mild, soapy water and a soft cloth, then dry the fittings off completely. For extra protection, you can wipe the fitting down with a light, oil-based product.
- Protect the screws: Re-apply petroleum jelly or oil to screws and fixings each time you clean. It's a small job that adds years.
A good choice inland too
Coastal-friendly fittings are more robust than standard outdoor fittings, so they're a great option anywhere if you're looking for quality that lasts.
