This paper is a work-in progress report on the development of sol-gel coatings for high power laser systems in the near-UV, infrared region. Silica, titania and titania-silica acid catalysed sols were prepared by using tetraethoxysilane and titanium isoproxide as precursors. Single and multi-layer coatings were generated by dipping on fused silica substrates. The single films were heated at 500°C and 900°C after deposition in order to investigate the role of the sintering temperature either on the optical properties and on the film laser-induced damage threshold at 1064 nm (Nd:YAG c.w. laser) and 351 nm (XeF excimer laser). The ageing effects due to the exposure to humidity was investigated by testing the damp heat resistance of the coatings in agreement with the ISO environmental test for optical coatings. The silica coatings have been assessed before and after the damp heat test with regard to their laser-induced-damage resistance, reflectance and transmittance properties. The optical parameters (refractive index and extinction coefficient) have been determined by UV-VIS-NIR spectrometry. A global fit procedure based on the simultaneous characterisation of several samples was used for the evaluation of the optical properties of the materials both as single films and inside multi-layer stacks.