Now I keep a spray bottle by the back door and give everything a rinse after storms. Feels ridiculous, but hey, cheaper than replacing hardware every couple years...
Honestly, that’s just smart. Salt air eats through “marine grade” stuff faster than most folks realize. I started using a rinse too—feels tedious, but it’s way less hassle than swapping out rusted screws every season. Sometimes low-tech wins.
Salt air eats through “marine grade” stuff faster than most folks realize.
Yeah, that’s the truth. I used to think “marine grade” meant it’d last forever—nope. The rinse routine feels a bit silly at first, but it’s way less hassle than dealing with seized-up hinges or corroded latches. Have you tried any protective sprays or waxes? I’ve wondered if those are worth the cost, or if a good rinse is really all you need.
- Totally get where you’re coming from. “Marine grade” fooled me too.
- Rinsing does help, but I’ve had some luck with a cheap can of silicone spray on hinges and locks—nothing fancy.
- Honestly, waxes seem overpriced for outdoor stuff. A rinse and a quick spray go a long way.
- Don’t skip the rinse, though... learned that the hard way with my old deck furniture.
I’ve been burned by the “marine grade” label too—turns out it’s not magic. What’s worked for me is a three-step routine: rinse everything down after salty days, dry off the worst spots (especially under hardware), then hit hinges and locks with silicone spray. I tried waxes, but honestly, they just made stuff sticky and didn’t last. If you’ve got any exposed screws or bolts, a dab of grease helps too. Learned that after my shed door seized up one winter... not fun.
That’s a solid routine—especially the part about drying under hardware, which a lot of folks skip. I’ve seen “marine grade” hardware corrode faster than expected, too, especially on coastal homes where wind drives salt into every crevice. Have you noticed any difference between stainless and galvanized fasteners in your setup? I’ve found even 316 stainless can pit if it’s not cleaned regularly, but maybe that’s just the local conditions here. Curious if anyone’s tried those plastic or nylon washers as a buffer under metal hardware... seems like it could help, but I haven’t seen much long-term data.
