Sometimes the simplest approach wins out when you’re fighting the ocean air...
Couldn’t agree more. I tried going all-in with fancy coatings and sacrificial metals, but honestly, just keeping up with cleaning and touch-ups has made the biggest difference for me. It’s a grind, but it works. Stainless is pricey, but I’ve noticed way less hassle since switching out a few key pieces. Powder coat looked great at first, but once it chips, rust sneaks in fast. Hang in there—it’s a battle, but you’re not alone.
Stainless is pricey, but I’ve noticed way less hassle since switching out a few key pieces.
I hear you on stainless, but honestly, my wallet just can’t handle swapping everything out. I’ve had decent luck with regular steel and a couple coats of Rustoleum every season. Not perfect, but it’s kept things from falling apart so far.
I get where you’re coming from on the cost—stainless isn’t cheap, especially if you’re trying to swap out a whole setup. I used to do the same thing as you, just hitting everything with Rustoleum or whatever sealant I had on hand. It worked okay for a couple seasons, but I started noticing the little spots I missed would turn into big headaches after a rough winter. Once salt air gets under chipped paint, it’s game over for regular steel.
I finally bit the bullet and switched out the fasteners and hinges on my shed doors to stainless after a gnarly nor’easter basically welded them shut with rust. Not a fun afternoon with the grinder, but I haven’t had to mess with them since. I still use painted steel for stuff that’s easy to swap out or not super critical, but for anything that’s a pain to replace, stainless has saved me a ton of hassle long-term. Sometimes it’s worth spending a little more upfront just to avoid the endless cycle of sanding and repainting... especially around here where the salt never really lets up.
That’s pretty much been my experience too—once the salt gets in, it’s just a matter of time before you’re dealing with seized-up hardware. I’ve tried a few different coatings and even some “marine grade” paints, but honestly, nothing holds up as well as stainless for stuff that’s exposed all year. The upfront cost stings, but I’d rather swap out a few screws now than have to replace an entire door or gate down the line.
Curious if anyone’s had luck with those zinc-plated options? I see them at the hardware store and they’re always cheaper, but I’ve never trusted them for anything that actually matters near the coast. Maybe they’re fine for interior stuff, but outside... I don’t know. Anyone actually get a few seasons out of them without rust creeping in?
I’ve tried zinc-plated hardware a couple times—mostly for quick fixes or spots I didn’t think would get hammered by salt spray. Even with a couple coats of clear lacquer, I started seeing rust within a year, sometimes less. Maybe if you’re a mile or two inland you’d get away with it, but right on the coast? I just don’t trust them for anything structural or exposed. Stainless is pricey, but it’s the only thing I’ve found that actually holds up long-term. Has anyone had better luck with hot-dip galvanized stuff? I’ve heard mixed things but never tested it myself.
