Garden Domes for Coastal Homes

Why a dome suits the coast

A sea view is one of life's great pleasures, and a garden dome is one of the best ways to enjoy it year-round, in comfort, whatever the coast throws at you.

• The view, framed and sheltered. A dome's panoramic clear panels make the most of a sea view while keeping you sheltered and dry, so you enjoy the coast in comfort all year, not just on calm summer days. Watching the weather roll in across the water from inside a snug dome is a particular joy.
• No rust or rot. Salt air is hard on materials, but polycarbonate doesn't rust or rot, and on the Ultra and Extreme specifications the bolts, nuts and anchors are stainless steel, which resists corrosion too.
• Built for wind. Coastal sites are exposed, and the geodesic shape spreads wind loads across the whole frame, so a properly specified, properly anchored dome is engineered for strength in wind. One owner in Scotland told us their dome came through four major storms, one with 75 mph winds: an owner's experience, not a rating. Polycarbonate is also around 250 times more impact resistant than glass and flexes rather than shatters, so it shrugs off the knocks of a blustery seaside garden.
• Year-round coastal living. A dome turns an exposed garden into a usable, beautiful room in every season: hosting, relaxing, a hot tub with a sea view, a home office overlooking the water.

Specification matters more on the coast, so get it right

This is the crucial point for coastal buyers: the specification you choose really matters on an exposed site.

• Extreme: our recommendation for coastal and exposed sites. Panels twice as thick as Original and stainless steel bolts, nuts and anchors make it our strongest specification, and the one we recommend for sea fronts, clifftops, open coastal gardens and the most wind-battered, weather-exposed sites. If you're right on the front line of the weather, this is the one.
• Ultra: the minimum for a coastal garden. Panels 30% thicker than Original plus stainless steel bolts, nuts and anchors that resist salt-air corrosion. It's the sensible baseline for a coastal garden with some shelter, set back from the front or protected by the house, walls or hedges.
• Original is generally not the pick for a coastal site: it's best kept for sheltered gardens. If your garden is sheltered, a few streets back from the sea, and you choose Original, add the stainless steel hardware kit (check the current kit price) for stainless fixings.

When in doubt on the coast, go up a specification: the extra strength is exactly what a seaside site demands. Our Original vs Ultra vs Extreme guide compares all three side by side.

Anchoring and care by the sea

• Anchor thoroughly. On an exposed coastal site, secure anchoring isn't just important, it's everything. Every dome comes with anchoring brackets: use them all, fix into a solid base and follow the step-by-step guide precisely (see our guide to anchoring a garden dome). The dome's strength in wind depends on it. Prefer not to do it yourself? Our Built for you service can build and anchor your dome, with anchoring only from £249.
• A solid, well-built base. A stable, level base, properly tied down, gives the dome its footing against coastal gales (see our foundations and bases guide).
• Rinse off salt. A periodic rinse with fresh water and a wash with mild soapy water and a soft cloth remove salt deposits and keep the panels clear and in good order; avoid abrasive pads, solvents and close-up pressure washing. It's easy, light maintenance that suits the coastal setting.
• Check fixings after storms. Part of normal upkeep, and especially worthwhile by the sea: confirm the anchors and fixings remain firm after heavy weather. When a storm is forecast, close the door and roof vents.

Frequently asked questions

Sources: polycarbonate material data from A&C Plastics, Piedmont Plastics and KASTLITE.