"Hot-dipped have a thicker zinc coating and hold up better against corrosion."
Good point, but I've seen even hot-dipped galvanized nails rust eventually with cedar. Makes me wonder—does sealing the wood itself before installation help slow down corrosion, or is that just wishful thinking?
Sealing the wood might help a bit by reducing moisture absorption, but cedar itself is naturally acidic and tends to react with zinc coatings over time. I've seen projects where stainless steel fasteners were the only real long-term solution, especially in humid climates. Makes me curious though—has anyone tried coated screws or nails specifically rated for cedar? Wondering if they actually hold up better in real-world conditions...
I've tried those coated screws labeled specifically for cedar on a fence project a couple years back. Honestly, they held up better than regular galvanized nails, but after about three years, I still noticed some corrosion starting around the heads. Stainless steel is pricier, sure, but from my experience, it's the only thing that's truly worry-free long-term. If you're set on coated fasteners, just keep an eye on them every year or two...
"Stainless steel is pricier, sure, but from my experience, it's the only thing that's truly worry-free long-term."
Couldn't agree more. I've seen plenty of fences after storms, and stainless fasteners consistently outperform coated ones. A bit more upfront cost beats replacing rusty screws later...trust me, been there!
Interesting points, but honestly, stainless isn't always the magic bullet people think it is. I had a green roof project a couple years back where we went all-in on stainless fasteners, thinking they'd hold up perfectly. Turns out, even stainless can show corrosion if it's constantly exposed to moisture and organic acids from plants. Don't get me wrong—still way better than coated screws—but it's worth remembering nothing's completely foolproof. Learned that one the hard way...
