Window dressings that survive a wet sill

Materials that shrug it off

ABS waterproof shutters and faux wood Venetians are unaffected by moisture. PVC backed rollers wipe dry. Real timber Venetians, unlined Romans and any blind with a card or timber batten will eventually swell, bow or spot with mould.

• ABS shutters: our default anywhere condensation is chronic.
• Faux wood Venetians: timber look, no timber problems.
• Wipe clean rollers: fast to dry, easy to clean.
• Avoid: real wood slats, card battens, unlined natural fabrics.

Fitting so the reveal can breathe

A face fixed blind that stands slightly off the reveal lets air circulate behind it, which dries the glass far faster than a tight recess fit. On the worst windows we will recommend face fixing even though a recess fit looks neater, and explain why.

Kent housing stock realities

Marsh cottages, seafront flats and Victorian terraces with original sashes are the frequent offenders. Where the glazing cannot be changed, moisture tolerant materials plus a habit of wiping the sill in January is the pragmatic answer we give.