Keeping rust at bay when you're near the ocean

Still, nothing’s totally safe from salt air... just gotta keep an eye on it.

That’s the truth. Even the “marine grade” stuff seems to give up after a while. I’ve seen some folks try aluminum flashing as a cheaper alternative, but then you get into issues with galvanic corrosion if it touches other metals. Do you ever bother with protective coatings, or do you just swap out the worst bits when they start looking rough? I feel like it’s always a trade-off between time and money.

I’ve tried a few coatings - Rust-Oleum and some of those clear sprays - but honestly, nothing seems to last more than a season or two with the salt in the air. I end up just keeping a stash of spare hardware and swapping out the worst offenders when they get crusty. It’s annoying, but less hassle than trying to keep up with constant recoating. Aluminum’s tempting, but yeah, mixing metals is a headache... learned that the hard way on my gate hinges.

Yeah, I’m right there with you - tried all the sprays and miracle paints, but the ocean just laughs at my efforts. I’ve started buying hardware in bulk too. Swapping out rusty screws is basically a new hobby at this point. Tried stainless once, but even that gets spotty after a while. Mixing metals? My fence looked like a science experiment gone wrong... lesson learned.

Yeah, the ocean air just eats through everything, doesn’t it? I thought stainless would be my answer too, but those little rust spots still showed up after a year or so. Galvanized didn’t last much longer for me either. I tried using those rubber washers under the screw heads - helped a bit, but nothing’s perfect. At this point, I’m just checking things every few months and swapping out whatever looks rough. It’s like a never-ending battle...

Tell me about it... I swear the salt air is out to get me. Tried the so-called “marine grade” hardware once - pricey, and honestly, still got those sneaky rust freckles popping up. Has anyone had luck with powder coating? Or is that just money down the drain too?