Beeswax sounds interesting though—haven't tried that yet. Might be worth experimenting with next time around.
Yeah, silicone's a quick fix at best. I've seen it peel off plenty of roofs after just one harsh winter. Stainless screws are definitely the way to go—cost more upfront, but beats climbing back up there every couple years...trust me on that.
Haha, silicone...been there, done that. Last summer I thought I'd save a few bucks and went with regular screws and silicone sealant. Fast forward to spring—spent half my weekend pulling out rusty nails and scraping off flaky silicone. Lesson learned: stainless screws from now on. Beeswax sounds kinda cool though, might give it a shot on something smaller first...just in case.
"Lesson learned: stainless screws from now on."
Yep, stainless is the way to go. I tried beeswax once on a garden bench—worked surprisingly well, but honestly, stainless screws just save you headaches down the road. Rusty hardware is no joke...been there too many times myself.
Totally agree stainless screws are the gold standard for outdoor projects, but honestly, even stainless isn't foolproof if you're dealing with harsh weather conditions. I've seen plenty of "stainless" hardware corrode after a couple seasons of coastal storms and salty air exposure.
"I tried beeswax once on a garden bench—worked surprisingly well"
Funny you mention beeswax... I had a neighbor swear by coating screws with marine grease before driving them in. Seemed like overkill at first, but after seeing how well his deck held up after a hurricane, I couldn't argue much. Personally, I just make sure to choose high-grade stainless (316 if possible), especially for critical joints or anything structural. Costs a bit more upfront, yeah, but beats spending your weekend wrestling with snapped-off rusty screws... been there, done that, and still have the scars to prove it.
Marine grease sounds messy and pricey... I've had decent luck just dipping screws in regular petroleum jelly before driving them in. Cheap, easy, and no rust issues yet after two winters. Worth a shot if you're on a budget.
