Rusty nails ruining my weekend project

"Switched to coated deck screws since then - bit pricier upfront but definitely cheaper than redoing it again next year."

Yeah, coated screws are usually a solid bet. But I'm curious, did you consider stainless steel screws at all? I've heard mixed things about their durability vs. cost... wondering if they're worth the extra cash or just overkill for garden beds.

I've used stainless steel screws on a few raised beds myself, and honestly... they're great, but probably overkill for most garden projects. A couple years back, I built a small green roof structure using coated deck screws - similar to what you mentioned:

"Switched to coated deck screws since then - bit pricier upfront but definitely cheaper than redoing it again next year."

They've held up perfectly fine through wet winters and hot summers. Stainless might be worth it if you're near saltwater or something, but otherwise, coated screws should do the trick nicely.

Agree with you there - coated deck screws are usually plenty for garden projects. Stainless steel is nice, but unless you're building right next to the ocean or something, they're probably more than you need. I've done a few roof repairs and small outdoor builds with coated screws, and they've held up great through snow, rain, and sun. Like you said:

"bit pricier upfront but definitely cheaper than redoing it again next year."

Exactly my thinking... nothing ruins a weekend quicker than rusty hardware!

I've mostly stuck with coated screws too, but I gotta admit, after my raised beds started looking like a pirate shipwreck last spring, stainless steel started sounding pretty tempting... Anyone else had coated screws fail sooner than expected?

Yeah, I've had similar issues with coated screws, especially in outdoor projects. Even the ones labeled "weather-resistant" eventually rusted out after a couple seasons. Switched to stainless steel last year - bit pricier, but honestly worth it for peace of mind.