The beach-proof checklist: 12 specs to ask before buying a cabin
Salt, sun and storms destroy cheap prefab in two seasons. These are the specs that separate a 20-year unit from a 2-year one.
Updated October 2026
Why coastal sites are different
Within 1 km of the sea, salt spray corrodes ordinary steel in months. Add UV, humidity and cyclone-season winds and most budget cabins start leaking and rusting by year two. Ask for these in writing.
Structure
- ✓Hot-dip galvanized steel frame (not only powder coated), with zinc thickness stated
- ✓316 stainless bolts and fixings, not 304 or zinc-plated
- ✓A marine-grade or C4/C5 paint system on exposed steel
- ✓A written wind rating (km/h or Beaufort) and how the unit is anchored
Envelope
- ✓Rock wool or PU sandwich panels of 75 mm or more
- ✓Aluminium or uPVC windows with laminated or tempered glass
- ✓Roof slope and gutters for tropical rain, plus a sealed roof membrane
- ✓Termite-resistant or composite deck, not untreated pine
Paper
- ✓Warranty years for structure, corrosion and waterproofing, separately
- ✓Form E or the right certificate of origin for your country
- ✓Electrical to your local voltage and plug standard
- ✓Photos or video of the exact unit before the balance payment
Questions
Is powder coating enough?
Not by the sea. Powder coat over hot-dip galvanizing is good; powder coat alone chips and rusts underneath.
What wind rating do I need?
Ask your local building rules. In cyclone areas look for a tested rating of at least 150 km/h and proper ground anchors.