Yeah, I hear you on the coatings. I’ve done the whole routine—wire brush, primer, topcoat, and then a clear sealer for good measure. Looked great for a while, but after a couple winters, the rust started creeping back in around the bolts and seams. Stainless is expensive up front, but swapping out hardware bit by bit has saved me a ton of hassle. If you’re sticking with coatings, I found that rinsing things off with fresh water every so often helps a little... not a miracle fix, but it slows down the salt buildup.
That’s pretty much been my experience too—no matter how careful you are with prep and coatings, the salt air finds a way in eventually. I’ve spent more hours than I care to admit chasing rust on fasteners and seams, especially on older metal roofs. Swapping to stainless hardware is a pain up front, but honestly, it’s the only thing that’s really held up for me long-term. The price stings, but not having to redo everything every couple years is worth it.
I do think rinsing helps a bit, especially after storms when the salt spray is thick. It’s not a cure-all, like you said, but it buys you some time. One thing I started doing was hitting the seams with a little extra sealant after painting—seems to slow down the creeping rust around those tricky spots. Still, nothing’s totally maintenance-free near the ocean... just gotta pick your battles and stay ahead of it where you can.
Swapping to stainless hardware is a pain up front, but honestly, it’s the only thing that’s really held up for me long-term.
Couldn’t agree more—stainless fasteners are a game changer, even if the initial cost hurts. I’ve also seen some folks try zinc-rich primers under their coatings, but results seem mixed. Has anyone here had luck with those sacrificial anode strips on metal roofs? Curious if they actually make a difference or just add another maintenance item...
I’ve actually had better luck just keeping up with regular cleaning and touch-up paint than messing with anode strips. Tried them once—honestly, they seemed more hassle than help, especially with all the salt in the air here. Stainless is pricey, but at least it’s one less thing to babysit every season.
That lines up with what I’ve seen, honestly. Anode strips sound good in theory, but in practice—especially with coastal humidity and salt—they’re just another thing to monitor. Regular cleaning and spot painting really do go a long way, even if it feels like a never-ending chore. Stainless is expensive upfront, but you’re right, it’s less maintenance over time. I’ve had some luck with powder-coated hardware too, though it’s not foolproof. Sometimes the simplest approach wins out when you’re fighting the ocean air...
