Had a similar experience with stainless myself. We redid some balcony railings a while back, figured stainless hardware was the obvious choice—especially since we're near the coast. Turns out, salt spray and constant humidity still managed to cause some pitting and discoloration after just a couple years. Definitely better than regular steel, but yeah... stainless isn't invincible. Now I always factor in environment specifics before assuming it'll hold up forever.
"Definitely better than regular steel, but yeah... stainless isn't invincible."
Yeah, learned that the hard way myself. Did a shed roof last summer using stainless nails, thinking they'd hold up better. Still spotted rust after one winter—humidity and moisture always find a way in. Lesson learned, I guess.
Yeah, stainless can be tricky like that. Had a similar issue with deck screws a few years back—thought I was being smart going stainless, but rust spots showed up anyway. Turns out, even stainless has grades, and some handle moisture better than others. Still, you're ahead of the game compared to regular steel. Like you said, though:
"humidity and moisture always find a way in."
Can't beat nature every time, but at least we can slow it down a bit, right?
Yeah, stainless isn't bulletproof, that's for sure. Had a similar headache when we redid my uncle's shed roof—thought stainless nails would be the fix, but nope, rust spots popped up after just one winter. Ended up coating them with some sealant, which helped a bit. Makes me wonder if anyone's tried galvanized nails instead? Heard mixed things about them holding up long-term...
- Yeah, stainless nails can be hit or miss depending on grade and quality—seen plenty rust out surprisingly fast.
- Galvanized nails usually hold up better, especially hot-dipped ones. Had a client who used them on a coastal property, and they lasted years without issues.
- Still, even galvanized can struggle if exposed to constant moisture or salt air. Proper ventilation and drainage go a long way in preventing rust.
- If you wanna go the extra mile, copper or aluminum nails can be solid choices too, though they're pricier and not always easy to find.
- Definitely smart move sealing those spots—it's a quick fix but often buys you some extra time.
