"Glad to know I'm not alone in learning this lesson the hard way."
You're definitely not alone. I've had similar experiences—thought galvanized nails would do fine outdoors, but even those started showing corrosion after a year or so. Switched over to stainless steel hardware since then. It's pricier upfront, but honestly saves you from headaches and extra labor later on. Plus, it keeps your projects looking professional and clean long-term, which is always a bonus.
"Switched over to stainless steel hardware since then. It's pricier upfront, but honestly saves you from headaches and extra labor later on."
Wish I'd read this thread a couple months ago. I built a raised garden bed and figured galvanized nails would hold up fine since they're supposed to resist rust. Well, fast forward to last weekend, and I'm already seeing rust streaks down the wood. Pretty frustrating considering the time I spent staining and sealing everything.
Ended up pulling out a bunch of nails and replacing them with stainless screws—lesson learned the hard way, I guess. Definitely agree it's worth spending a bit more upfront to avoid redoing your work later. Rust stains are no joke, especially when you've put effort into making something look nice.
Galvanized hardware can be hit or miss. Did you use hot-dipped galvanized nails or were they electro-galvanized? The hot-dipped ones usually hold up better outdoors, but even then, rust can happen eventually. Stainless steel screws are definitely the safer bet long-term, especially for garden beds. Have you tried anything to get those rust stains out, or are you just letting them fade naturally? Curious if there's a good solution for that...
I've had similar issues with galvanized nails in the past—hot-dipped definitely lasts longer, but even those eventually rusted out on my deck railing after a few years. Stainless steel screws are pricier upfront but honestly worth it if you don't want to redo things later.
As for the rust stains, I've had decent luck using a mix of white vinegar and baking soda. Just make a paste, apply it to the stains, let it sit for about 15-20 mins, then scrub gently with a stiff brush and rinse off. It doesn't always remove everything completely, but it definitely fades the stains enough that they're not an eyesore anymore. Might be worth a shot before you resign yourself to letting them fade naturally...
I've been down this road myself. A few years back, I built a small pergola and figured galvanized nails would do the trick—budget was tight, so stainless steel seemed like overkill. It looked great for about two summers, then the rust started creeping in. Lesson learned there.
"As for the rust stains, I've had decent luck using a mix of white vinegar and baking soda."
I've tried that vinegar-baking soda trick too, and it does help quite a bit. Another thing you might try if you're still seeing stubborn stains is oxalic acid—sounds scary, but it's in deck brighteners and wood cleaners you can find at the hardware store. I picked some up last summer after a neighbor recommended it, and honestly, it worked better than I expected. You just mix it with water, brush it on, let it sit a bit, and rinse thoroughly. Just be sure to wear gloves and eye protection because it's stronger than vinegar.
In the end, stainless screws are definitely worth the extra money for outdoor projects. My wallet complained at first, but my future self thanked me later when I wasn't redoing everything!
