Tried a bunch of those tricks myself—plastic isolators, caulks, even the marine-grade stuff. Honestly, I’m with you: nothing’s really bulletproof when you’re dealing with salt air. I used to think slapping sealant under hardware was the answer, but after a couple years I noticed rust showing up in weird spots, like it just trapped moisture instead of keeping it out. Kind of a catch-22.
One thing that’s helped a bit for me is switching to all stainless fasteners and hardware, even though it costs more up front. Still get some tea staining, but at least I’m not replacing things every other year. Galvanized was a total bust—looked rough after the first winter.
I did try those composite shims under post bases too, mainly to keep the wood off the concrete. Not perfect, but at least water isn’t pooling right at the connection anymore. I’ve also started using little rubber washers between metal and wood where I can, just to break up the contact points. Maybe it helps? Hard to say, but I haven’t seen as much rust creep on those spots.
Honestly, I think it’s just about slowing things down as much as possible. Nothing lasts forever out here. Even the “marine” coatings seem to need touch-ups every couple years. If there’s a magic fix, I haven’t found it yet... but raising things up and letting them dry out seems to buy me the most time so far.
You nailed it with the “slowing things down” approach. I’ve spent more time than I care to admit chasing rust around railings and gate hardware—sometimes I swear it’s like whack-a-mole. Stainless is definitely the lesser evil, though I’ve had a few surprises when folks used the wrong grade (304 instead of 316) and suddenly we’re back to square one with pitting.
I’m with you on galvanized—looks good for about five minutes, then the salt air just eats it alive. The composite shims are a clever move. I’ve started using those little plastic post bases that lift everything up off the slab, and it’s made a noticeable difference. Not perfect, but at least I’m not seeing as much rot at the base.
Rubber washers are underrated, honestly. They’re cheap insurance for those weird metal-to-wood spots where moisture loves to hang out. Still, even with all these tricks, I feel like we’re just buying time until nature wins. If someone ever invents truly rust-proof hardware, I’ll be first in line... right after I finish scraping this year’s batch of tea stains.
If someone ever invents truly rust-proof hardware, I’ll be first in line...
- Been there with the “whack-a-mole” rust game.
- Tried saving money with 304 once—regretted it after one season, just like you said.
- Those plastic post bases are a game changer for me too. Not perfect, but better than replacing rotted wood every couple years.
- I use rubber washers anywhere metal meets wood. Cheap, easy, and honestly, they’ve saved me a few headaches.
- Still, like you said, “just buying time until nature wins.” Sometimes I wonder if it’s worth the extra cost for 316 everywhere, but my wallet usually says no...
I hear you on the 316—it’s just brutal on the budget, especially if you’re doing a whole deck or roof edge. I’ve been using those coated screws lately, like the ones with the ceramic or epoxy finish. They’re not perfect, but they hold up way better than regular galvanized stuff for me, at least so far. I still get some rust eventually, but it’s slower. Also, I started hitting exposed fasteners with a dab of marine grease—messy, but it helps. Nothing’s truly rust-proof near salt air, but it feels like every little thing buys you a bit more time.
I’ve tried those ceramic-coated screws too, and honestly, they’re a decent middle ground when you can’t swing the price of 316. I get what you mean about the rust creeping in eventually, though. Around here (right on the coast), I’ve started using a two-step thing: first, I pre-drill and dab a bit of sealant in the hole before driving the screw. Then after everything’s set, I’ll go back and hit the heads with a brush-on zinc paint. It’s not perfect—nothing is with this salty air—but it slows things down.
The marine grease trick is clever, but yeah, it gets everywhere if you’re not careful. I’ve also seen folks use those little plastic caps over screw heads, but they don’t always stay put in high wind. At the end of the day, I guess it’s just about layering up whatever protection you can afford. If anyone’s found something that actually lasts more than five years out here, I’d love to hear about it... because replacing fasteners every few seasons gets old fast.
