What holds up best against Gold Coast salt air and storms?
Asked by Sione, Mermaid Beach · 2026-06-02
Our place is a couple of streets from the beach at Mermaid and the side gate is fully exposed. What should I look for so it does not corrode?
For anything outdoors near the beach, look for an IP weather rating (IP65 or better is a good sign for exposed hardware), sealed keypads and buttons, and corrosion-resistant finishes. A sheltered front door under an eave is a much easier job than a fully exposed gate — match the product to how much rain and spray the specific door actually gets. For gates and sheds, a weatherproof smart padlock is usually more appropriate than a door lock. Whatever you choose, rinse salt off periodically and keep a mechanical key backup, since humidity can occasionally affect electronics.
2 community replies
Look for an IP65+ rating, sealed buttons and corrosion-resistant finishes for exposed doors. Use weatherproof padlocks for gates, rinse off salt, and keep a key backup.
Our first keypad died on an exposed gate within a year. Moved to an IP-rated padlock and it has been fine through two summers.