- Gotta agree, “maintenance-free” is a myth out here. Salt finds its way into everything.
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“Most folks don’t want to sandblast their fence every couple years.”
Yeah, no kidding. I tried the full strip-and-repaint once—never again unless I’m desperate.
- Had decent luck with the newer polyurea stuff, but only when I was super picky about prep. Skipped a step one year and it peeled like sunburn.
- Stainless is tempting, but my wallet cries just thinking about it. Still, probably cheaper than repainting every other year.
- Rinsing helps, but who remembers to do it after every windy day? Not me...
I hear you on the “maintenance-free” myth—my back gate is proof. I tried that rust converter spray last year, thinking it’d buy me some time, but it just slowed things down for a few months. Prepping is such a pain, but skipping it always bites me later. Stainless looks great but yeah, the price tag... yikes. I’ve started using a leaf blower to get salt and sand off after storms, but honestly, half the time I forget until I see orange spots popping up again.
I keep wondering if all the prep is really worth it, or if I’m just making more work for myself. I tried skipping the sanding and primer on my side gate last fall (just hit it with a rust converter and called it good), but by spring, the rust was back and worse than before. Maybe I just did a bad job, but sometimes I think the “right way” is just too much for stuff that’s gonna get hammered by salt air no matter what.
Have you ever tried those heavy-duty marine paints? I’ve heard mixed things—some folks swear by them, others say it’s just another layer to peel off in a year. The leaf blower idea is clever, though. I usually forget to rinse things down after storms too... feels like there’s always something else to do around the house.
Is stainless really that much better long-term? The price tag scares me, but if it means less hassle every year, maybe it pays off? Or is it just trading one problem for another?
Stainless is definitely less hassle over the long run, but it’s not totally bulletproof either—especially in salty air. I’ve managed a few properties near the coast, and even “marine grade” stainless can pit or stain if you don’t give it a quick rinse every so often. Still, it’s way less maintenance than painted steel or iron.
That said, I honestly think prep work is worth it, even if it feels like a pain. Every time I’ve tried to shortcut (skipping primer, not sanding, etc.), I end up redoing the job twice as soon. Rust converters are decent for a quick fix, but they’re not magic. If you want paint to stick and last, sanding off the loose rust and priming is pretty much unavoidable.
As for marine paints, I’ve had mixed luck. Some brands hold up better than others, but if the base metal isn’t prepped right, even the best paint will bubble or flake off after a rough winter. If you’re on a budget and can’t swap to stainless, I’d say stick with regular steel, but just accept that annual touch-ups are part of life near the ocean. At least that way you’re not shelling out big bucks up front.
I get what you’re saying about prep work, but honestly, I just don’t have the patience (or time) to sand and prime every little thing every year. I’ve actually had better luck with those zinc-rich cold galvanizing sprays—just wire brush the worst rust, spray it on, and call it good for a while. Not perfect, but for stuff like gates and railings, it’s held up longer than I expected. Stainless is nice, but my wallet says otherwise most of the time.
