the hassle of replacing corroded stuff every couple years just isn’t worth it.
I get where you’re coming from, but have you ever tried hot-dip galvanized hardware as a middle ground? I’ve had some luck with it on balcony railings, even right by the water. It’s not as bulletproof as 316, but it’s a lot easier on the budget for bigger projects. Curious if anyone else has seen it hold up—or totally fail—in salty, windy spots?
Galvanized stuff is kind of hit or miss for me. I put in some hot-dip bolts on my deck stairs, and they looked fine for the first year… then the salt air started to win. Not as bad as plain steel, but still got that white powdery gunk after a couple seasons. Maybe my spot just gets more spray than most? Anyone tried painting over galvanized to stretch it out, or does that just make it peel faster?
Painting over galvanized can work, but you’ve gotta prep it right or the paint just flakes off. I’ve seen folks use a vinegar wash first to help the paint stick. Still, with ocean spray, nothing lasts forever… I just accept I’ll be swapping hardware every few years.
Still, with ocean spray, nothing lasts forever… I just accept I’ll be swapping hardware every few years.
That’s pretty much been my experience too, though I keep hoping there’s a magic fix. I’ve tried the vinegar wash trick and even some of those “marine-grade” primers, but honestly, once that salt air gets in, it’s just a countdown. I’ve started using stainless for anything I really don’t want to replace every season, but even that starts to show pitting after a while. Maybe we’re all just fighting a losing battle with the ocean...
- Been working on roofs near the coast for a couple years now—honestly, I’m not convinced anything really stops the rust for good.
- Tried those “marine” coatings too. They help for a bit, but after a season or two, you start seeing orange spots anyway.
- Stainless is better than most, but like you said, even that gets rough after a while. Galvanized stuff just flakes off faster.
- Only thing that’s helped me is rinsing hardware down with fresh water when I remember... which isn’t often enough.
- Sometimes feels like we’re just slowing it down, not stopping it. Maybe that’s all we can do?
