Topwood is a new-build coastal home showcasing marine-grade glazing in Salcombe, designed for an exposed salt-air environment with terraces and sea views. IQ Glass supplied a glazing package of slim framed sliding doors, ultra-slim bifold doors, aluminium windows and an oversized glazed entrance composition, all finished in RAL 7039 Matt (Quartz Grey) with a marine-grade coating. The specification balances large-format glazing, clean sightlines, enhanced security and controlled ventilation within a coastal building envelope.
Featured In
Winner of Building Excellence Award 2023: Best Individual New Home
Project Partners
Photography courtesy of Finest Stays.
Location
Salcombe, Devon
Marine-grade glazing in Salcombe for an exposed coastal new-build
The design challenge was to maximise glass across the house while keeping the architecture visually calm and robust enough for a coastal location. Large openings were required to connect the living spaces to the sun terraces and sea views, but the glazing also had to respond to salt-air exposure, elevated wind loading and the visual restraint expected of a high-end new-build home. The envelope was engineered to an assumed site wind load of 1,100 Pa, with marine-grade coating applied to the aluminium profiles. Because the house uses a whole-house MVHR strategy, trickle vents were not required, allowing the glazing lines to remain clean across the elevations.
Slim sliding doors for terrace access and sea views
Primary living areas connect to the terraces through six slim framed sliding doors, each tailored to its elevation. The sliding door package includes a 6.25m wide triple-panel assembly and several one-panel sliders paired with fixed returns, with heights up to 2.70m. These large openings solve the brief for direct terrace access and uninterrupted coastal views while maintaining a disciplined façade rhythm. All sliding doors were upgraded with seven-point locking for security in the exposed setting, and one unit interfaces with an internal balustrade to keep the threshold visually light while maintaining compliant guarding.
Marine-grade aluminium windows and entrance glazing
Across the wider envelope, IQ supplied and installed 23 heavy-duty aluminium windows with marine-grade finish, using a mix of top-hung, tilt-and-turn and fixed formats. Tall tilt-and-turn sashes support secure night ventilation and easier cleaning, while shaped fixed lights up to 3.75m follow the roof geometry and preserve the architectural rhythm of the elevations. The entrance composition is formed from an oversized entrance door framed by four obscured glass side panels, measuring approximately 4.78m by 2.20m overall, bringing diffuse daylight into the hall while protecting privacy from the street approach.
Performance considerations
For marine-grade glazing in Salcombe, the specification needed to address durability, wind exposure, security and long-term visual performance. Aluminium profiles were finished in RAL 7039 Matt with a marine-grade coating to improve resistance in the salt-air environment, while exposed hardware and seals were selected for coastal use. Large panes were specified with heat soak tested toughened glass to reduce nickel sulphide risk on oversized units. The glazing strategy also supports comfort and usability: sliding doors and bifold doors provide direct terrace access, the window package enables controlled ventilation where required, and the MVHR system allows clean elevations without trickle vents interrupting the glazing lines.
Technical details
- Coastal glazing specification: RAL 7039 Matt marine-grade coating to aluminium profiles; assumed site wind load 1,100 Pa; no trickle vents required due to whole-house MVHR; selected large panes heat soak tested
- Slim framed sliding doors: 6 sliding door units; largest assembly 6.25m wide in a triple-panel configuration; heights up to 2.70m; several one-panel sliders paired with fixed returns; upgraded 7-point locking to sliding units
- Ultra-slim bifold doors: 30mm vent + frame sightline; max glass thickness 32mm; max pane size 1200mm x 3000mm; max pane weight 100kg; Uw from 1.6 W/m²K; air permeability Class 4; water tightness Class 7A to 9A; up to 3-point locking
- Aluminium windows and entrance glazing: 23 marine-grade aluminium windows in top-hung, tilt-and-turn and fixed formats; shaped fixed lights up to 3.75m; entrance composition approximately 4.78m x 2.20m with 4 obscured glass side panels
